How to say "facade" in Japanese

• 正面しょうめんJLPT N2approx.Common
  no-adjective, prefixThe natural word for the architectural facade: the front of a building, its main face or frontage. Fits descriptions of what a building looks like from the front.
  正面しょうめんのドアは鍵かぎがかかったままだった。↗

  The front door remained locked.
• 前面ぜんめんCommon
  nounMeans the front part or surface of something, or the frontage of a site; it can render facade when the front side of a structure is meant, but it is not tied to buildings.
  車くるまの前面ぜんめんガラスは砕くだけて粉々こなごなになった。↗

  The front windshield of a car was smashed to pieces.

Use 正面 for the front or main face of a building — its facade — and 前面 for the front part or surface of something generally, including frontage; for the architectural face of a building, 正面 is the more specific choice.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 正面しょうめんfront
• 前面ぜんめんfront part
• ファサードfacade
• 表構えおもてがまえthe front of a building
• 表皮ひょうひfacade