noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
unmasked; without a mask
Used in contexts like kendo, noh, or other masked activities to describe a person not wearing a mask. Often appears as 素面で or 素面の.
noun, na-adjective, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
face without makeup; unpainted face
Archaic term for a face without makeup or cosmetics. Modern Japanese typically uses 素顔 (すがお) instead.
See also: 素顔 (すがお)
It's dangerous to spar without a mask during kendo practice.
He wouldn't say such a thing when sober.
Let's talk again once we're sober.
In old texts, 素面 refers to a face without makeup.
The kanji 素 means 'bare' or 'unadorned', and 面 means 'face' or 'surface'. The compound literally means 'bare face'. The reading すめん is the standard on'yomi combination. The alternative reading しらふ is more common for the 'sober' sense.