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正面 (しょうめん) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N2 Freq. Frequency Top 5,000 Meanings 1
noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', prefix
front ; facade ; main entrance
Refers to the front side of a building, object, or space; also used attributively to mean 'directly facing' or 'head-on'. As a prefix, it indicates something is frontal or direct.
めん
から
問もん
題だい
に
取と
り
組く
ん
だ
。
He tackled the problem head-on.
Kanji 正 correct, justice, righteous Similar words 前ぜん 面めん 前面 is more about the front surface or foreground of something, while 正面 emphasizes the direct front or the side meant to be faced.
表おもて 表 is the front or outer side in a general sense, often contrasted with 裏 (back). 正面 is more specific to the direct front or facade.
Etymology Compound of 正 (しょう, 'correct, straight') and 面 (めん, 'face, surface'). The combination straightforwardly yields 'the straight-facing side'.