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仮面 (かめん) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N1 Freq. Frequency Top 5,000 Meanings 1
noun
mask
A mask worn over the face, especially in performance, costume, ritual, or fictional contexts. For everyday sanitary masks, マスク is usually the more natural word.
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An old mask is displayed on the wall.
2
noun
disguise ; guise ; mask
Figurative use for a false outward appearance that hides someone's real nature, feelings, or intentions. Common in expressions such as 仮面をかぶる and 仮面の下.
Written forms 仮か 面めん Usage 100%
Standard kanji spelling for both the physical mask and figurative disguise senses.
カメン Usage <1%
Kanji 仮 sham, temporary, interim Similar words マスク More common for everyday face masks, medical masks, sports masks, and many modern practical uses; 仮面 sounds more like a full face-covering mask or a figurative disguise.
覆ふく 面めん Emphasizes covering the face to hide identity, as in a masked person or anonymous activity; 仮面 can be a theatrical object or a figurative false persona.
変へん 装そう Refers to disguising oneself by changing appearance, clothes, hair, etc.; 仮面 specifically evokes a mask or a false outward face.
Etymology A Sino-Japanese compound written with 仮, associated here with false or provisional appearance, and 面, face or surface; literally a 'false face' or mask.
