<p>They can be used interchangeably. If there has to be some subtle differences, 眼, eye, we see by eyes; when we look at people, we usually first look at their faces. 面.thus 面熟 in particular refers to 'people are familiar'. NS.X explains the differences well.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-12T20:18:22.713Z
again question easily answered by looking up iciba：
all １０ sample sentences for 面熟 are about people looking familiar， whereas 眼熟  has ３ sample sentences about rooms，handwriting ，or pieces of ivory， besides ７ about people looking familiar。
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-13T00:15:09.543Z
@S.Rhee - All that tells me is that both could be used in _similar_ contexts. It doesn't actually answer my question (about whether there are subtle differences / reasons to prefer one over the other).
DaoWen
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-13T04:56:08.457Z
one context is all people，the other context is objects as well as people
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-12T19:39:10.823Z
2015-01-13T02:06:58.320Z
2015-01-13T02:06:58.320Z
Sophy
<p>They are not fully interchangeable.</p>

<p>In 面熟/脸熟, 面/脸 are nouns for 'familiar what'. 面熟/脸熟 means 'familiar face'.</p>

<p>In 眼熟/耳熟, 眼/耳 are functioning as adverbs for 'how is it familiar'. 眼熟 means 'looks familiar', 耳熟 means 'sounds familiar'.</p>

<p>As a result, 面熟/脸熟 are mostly used for people, 眼熟/耳熟 can be used on anything that you can look at or listen to. For a familiar face, either one is fine.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-12T23:03:50.553Z
2015-01-12T23:03:50.553Z
NS.X.
<p>I've always assumed that you use 面熟 for people because they have a face (面). However, I recently heard a native speaker use 眼熟 about a person.</p>

<p>Are the two phrases fully interchangeable?</p>

<p>If not, what are the subtle differences (which I'm apparently missing)?</p>

<vocabulary>
What's the difference between 眼熟 and 面熟?
# What's the difference between 眼熟 and 面熟?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-01-12)

I've always assumed that you use 面熟 for people because they have a face (面). However, I recently heard a native speaker use 眼熟 about a person.

Are the two phrases fully interchangeable?

If not, what are the subtle differences (which I'm apparently missing)?

**Tags:** vocabulary


---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2015-01-12. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

They are not fully interchangeable.

In 面熟/脸熟, 面/脸 are nouns for 'familiar what'. 面熟/脸熟 means 'familiar face'.

In 眼熟/耳熟, 眼/耳 are functioning as adverbs for 'how is it familiar'. 眼熟 means 'looks familiar', 耳熟 means 'sounds familiar'.

As a result, 面熟/脸熟 are mostly used for people, 眼熟/耳熟 can be used on anything that you can look at or listen to. For a familiar face, either one is fine.


---

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-01-12. Score: 0

They can be used interchangeably. If there has to be some subtle differences, 眼, eye, we see by eyes; when we look at people, we usually first look at their faces. 面.thus 面熟 in particular refers to 'people are familiar'. NS.X explains the differences well.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: again question easily answered by looking up iciba： all １０ sample sentences for 面熟 are about people looking familiar， whereas 眼熟  has ３ sample sentences about rooms，handwriting ，or pieces of ivory， besides ７ about people looking familiar。  
> **username_0**: @S.Rhee - All that tells me is that both could be used in _similar_ contexts. It doesn't actually answer my question (about whether there are subtle differences / reasons to prefer one over the other).  
> **username_2**: one context is all people，the other context is objects as well as people  

---

