Styles of Facial Make-up

脸谱的种类

What appeals to foreigners most might be the different styles of facial make-up, which is one of the highlights of Chinese opera and requires distinctive¹ techniques of painting. Exaggerated designs are painted on each performers face to symbolize² a characters personality, role, and fate. This technique may have originated from ancient religions and dance. Audiences who are familiar with opera can know the story by observing the facial painting as well as the costumes. Generally, a red face represents loyalty³ and bravery； a black face, valor⁴； yellow and white faces, duplicity； and golden and silver faces, mystery.

最吸引外国人莫过于不同风格的变脸，这是中国戏曲的一大亮点，并要求与众不同的化妆技术。夸张的设计是画在每个表演者的脸上象征着人物的个性，角色和命运。这种技术可能起源于古代的宗教和舞蹈。熟悉歌剧观众可以通过观察脸部化妆以及服饰知道的其故事。一般情况下，红脸代表忠诚和勇气;黑脸代表英勇，黄脸和白脸代表口是心非;以及金脸和银脸代表神秘。

Besides color, lines also function as symbols. For example，a figure can be painted either all white on his face, or just around the nose. The larger the white area painted, the more viperous⁵ the role.

除了颜色，线条也有象征意义。例如，一个人物在他的脸上画的全部是白色，或只是鼻子周围。被画的白色区域越大，表示这个角色越阴险。