Face Shape and Personality

The overall shape of the face is the first thing a face reader looks at. Chinese tradition links face shapes with the five elements: a long rectangular face is "wood", a round face "water", a square face "metal", a triangular face "fire" and a broad, solid face "earth".

The main face shapes

Long rectangular face (wood)

The forehead is as wide as the jaw line. Traditionally called the face of the well-born: intelligent, quick and good with numbers, far-sighted, careful and calm. People with this face often succeed in life and are drawn to leadership, government or management. Another reading describes an open, straightforward person who is lucky, works hard at any task and is in good health; employers looking for a diligent team member are advised to look for this face.

Round face (water)

Excellent people skills: a good talker who reads others well, gets on with everyone, controls their emotions and looks on the bright side. Clever and quick, with good health. Some readings add a playful, sociable side, with a large circle of friends.

"Moon" face (very round and soft)

Polite, gentle and peace-loving, with little interest in fame or riches.

Square face (metal)

Firm, with clearly defined bones and muscles. Steady, determined and very straightforward, especially in business; can be stubborn and slow to change their mind. Often found in leaders, managers and politicians, and among sportspeople in combat sports. A woman with a square face is hard-working and patient and tends to lead in the marriage. Another reading describes a reserved, orderly person of few words who takes time to make friends.

Triangular face, wide forehead and pointed chin (fire)

High ideals and a rich inner life: a dreamer and reader who looks for reasons and prefers a simple life to social events. Suited to philosophy, the arts, academic work, and investigative work such as research or detective work. Quick to learn and very bright; some readings say their words do not always match their actions, so friendships may be short. A triangular face can also mean a playful, fun-loving and ambitious person who turns criticism into success.

Half-triangular face (wide top, blunt lower jaw)

Intelligent, quick, fond of beauty and the arts, though sometimes lacking patience or courage. A woman with this face is charming and sweet, with a happy family life.

Oval face

Ideal for artists: always creative, never still, doing things differently from everyone else and fond of the unconventional. If the lower part is pointed, the tradition warns of someone who talks more than they deliver; if the upper part is pointed, the opposite: they do what they say.

Diamond face

Brave, decisive and a natural group leader from childhood, loyal to friends; can be combative. Average at work they dislike, but outstanding at work they love.

High, prominent cheekbones

Imaginative, fun-loving and happy, an excellent and trustworthy speaker who is respected and liked wherever they go.

Size and proportion

Small face

Private and modest, shy in front of others, avoids getting involved in other people's affairs. Careful and detailed in work and thought, so rarely makes mistakes.

Long face

Steady and patient, sensitive and well mannered, but tends to hold on to past mistakes; the advice is to let go and manage stress.

Long, narrow face

Very sociable, with a wide circle of friends and acquaintances; fun-loving, with happiness and difficulty taking turns. The tradition advises extra care to avoid accidents.

Narrow jaw

Private and slow to trust, with few but chosen friends. The old texts warn that promises may not always be kept, so this person should take care to follow through on their word.

Reading the whole face

Chinese face reading looks at five key features: the eyebrows, eyes, nose, mouth and ears. No single feature decides a reading; a face reader always combines them, together with the face shape, to form an overall picture.