面おもて

also: おも · も · もて

お

も

て

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 1,000

Meanings

1

noun

face

Refers to the front of the head, facial expression, or metaphorical face (e.g., honor, reputation).

彼かれは面おもてを赤あからめた。
He blushed.
面おもてを洗あらってから朝あさごはんを食たべる。
I wash my face and then eat breakfast.

2

noun

surface

The outer or top side of an object, or the face of a flat thing like a coin or card.

机つくえの面おもてをきれいに拭ふいてください。
Please wipe the surface of the desk clean.
コインの面おもてには桜さくらの模も様ようがある。
There is a cherry blossom design on the face of the coin.

3

noun

mask (esp. noh or kyogen)

Only with reading おもて / もて

Specifically a mask used in traditional Japanese theater like noh or kyogen. Restricted to readings おもて and the obsolete もて.

能のう楽がく師しは面おもてをかぶって演えんじる。
Noh performers wear masks when they act.
この面おもては江え戸ど時じ代だいのものだ。
This mask is from the Edo period.

Written forms

面Usage38%
- おもて
  Primary kanji form; most common reading is おもて.
- おも
  Rare reading おも, mostly found in old or literary contexts.
- も
  out-dated reading
  Obsolete reading も; not used in modern Japanese.
- もて
  out-dated reading
  Obsolete reading もて; not used in modern Japanese.
おもてUsage43%
Kana spelling is common when the reading is おもて, especially to avoid confusion with other kanji readings.
おもUsage19%
も
out-dated reading
もて
out-dated reading

Kanji

面mask, face, features

Similar words

顔かお
顔 is the common word for 'face' in everyday speech. 面 (おもて) is more literary or used in set phrases.
表ひょう面めん
表面 is a technical term for 'surface' in scientific or formal contexts. 面 (おもて) is more general and often implies the front or top side.

Etymology

The kanji 面 originally depicted a face with an eye. The reading おもて is native Japanese, while おも is a rare variant. The obsolete readings も and もて are historical.