In US, we talked about "good cop, bad cop." There is no confusion. Good cop is nice and bad mean.

I have frequently heard and used the Chinese equivalent. We say "white face, black face" (白脸, 黑脸). And we "sing" the faces, not play the cops — "You sing the white face, I will sing the black face." I have long assumed that white face is the good cop and the black face bad. This fine point was never tested. It is more a figurative speech of "let sing white face and black face" and the episode will play out.

Few weeks ago, I was coached (first time, as a VP, by a manager. She did a great job.) to sing white face. I was a bit confused, "Do you want me to be nice?" Sheepishly, she said, "Well, someone else is more suited to be the nice guy..." She was not comfortable telling me that I look mean naturally. "Should I sing black face then?" She looked startled (does Sin-Yaw really speak Chinese, she doubted), "No! White face is the mean guy. Red face is the nice guy."

I was culturally embarrassed, but proceeded to play the assigned role (nicely, if I may say that myself). Being curiously obsessive on details (also known as anal retentive), I researched.

In Chinese Opera, the actor who plays the historical figure 曹操 (Cao Cao) always paint the face white. Cao Cao was a Machiavellian and successful leader. He was the most successful politician in his era, but he fought against the most loved hero 关公 (Guan Gong) who was poignantly killed. The Guang Gong figure always paints the face red.

Amazing how expressive these faces.

I theorized that "white face, red face" is the correct usage. But southern Chinese are less versed with the Chinese Opera, also called the Beijing Opera, that is most popular in the north and thought it more logical to oppose white with black. Since black seems dark, white will naturally be the good cop.

Chinese Opera is addictive and usually symbolic. White face symbolizes not trust-worthy and red patriotic and loyalty. If a person died tragically, the face is "scarred." Cruel murderers are marked by a green line. Those who wish to explore should check out with 长安大戏院 (ChangAn Theater) in downtown Beijing.