appearance of written words; visual impression of text
Refers to how written characters look on the page or screen, including font, layout, and overall visual feel.
See also: 字面
This document has a cluttered text appearance and is hard to read.
literal meaning; superficial meaning
Focuses on the surface-level meaning of words or sentences, often contrasted with deeper implications or context.
See also: 字面
Just looking at the text's appearance, the book seems difficult, but the content is surprisingly easy.
Don't take his words at face value.
If you only follow the literal meaning, you'll miss the real intention.
Compound of 文字 (moji, 'written character') and 面 (tsura, 'surface, face'), with rendaku voicing to -zura. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word transparently combines the concepts of 'character' and 'surface' to mean either the visual face of text or its surface-level meaning.