How to say "face" in Japanese

• 対するたいするJLPT N3approx.Common
  suru verb (irregular)The verb sense of 'face': to be positioned opposite or directed toward something, with the '(each other)' nuance of two parties or things facing one another. It describes relative position, not the body part.
• 顔かおJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounThe noun for the face itself: a person's or animal's face as a body part, and by extension their looks or facial features. The default choice when 'face' means the body part.
  ヘレンはみんなにほめられて顔かおを赤あかくした。↗

  Helen blushed at their praise.
• 向かうむかうJLPT N4approx.Common
  godan verb, intransitive verbThe verb of turning or heading toward: to face a direction, orienting the body or oneself toward something. Choose it when 'face' is an action of directing yourself toward a place or target.
  一いち日にち中ちゅうコンピューターに向むかってるから、結構けっこう電磁波でんじは浴あびてる。↗

  I sit in front of a computer screen all day, so I get pretty heavily bombarded by electro-magnetic waves.
• 面おもてJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounCovers 'face' as the face or front of a thing — its surface or outward side — not a person's face. For the body part, 顔 is the word you want.
• つらCommon
  nounA person's face with the blunt, unflattering flavor of English 'mug' — the word when speaking critically or dismissively of someone's face. Not the neutral choice; that is 顔.
  蛙かわずの面つらに水みず。↗

  Like water off a duck's back.

Use 顔 for the body part and looks, 「対する」 and 「向かう」 for verbs of facing or turning toward, 面 for the face or front of a thing, and 「つら」 for the blunt 'mug' nuance.

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

• 対するたいするto face (each other)
• 顔かおface
• 向かうむかうto face
• 面おもてface
• つらface
• 面めんface
• 向けるむけるto turn (towards)
• フェイスface
• 表面ひょうめんsurface
• 顔面がんめんface (of person)
• メンツface
• 面影おもかげface
• 建前たてまえface
• 面目めんぼくface
• 立ち向かうたちむかうto fight against
• 対向たいこうcounter-
• 顔つきかおつき(outward) looks
• 切羽きりはface
• 文字盤もじばんdial (of a meter, watch, etc.)
• 冒すおかすto brave
• 面持ちおももちexpression
• 顔かんばせcountenance
• 差し当たるさしあたるto face (a situation)
• 面部めんぶface
• 面体めんていface
• 向かい合わせるむかいあわせるto face
• 券面けんめんface (of a bond, bill, etc.)
• 上張りうわばりface
• 面皮めんぴface
• 眉目びもくface
• お顔おかおface
• 面目次第めんぼくしだいface
• 対すたいすto face (each other)
• 相見るあいみるto face
• 尊顔そんがん(one's) countenance
• 矢面に立つやおもてにたつto be in the firing line
• キャンペーンモデルposter girl
• 沽券こけんdignity
• 合わせるあわせるto face
• 表おもてface (i.e. the visible side of an object)
• 向くむくto face (e.g. east) (of a building, window, etc.)
• 手前てまえone's standpoint
• 向き合うむきあうto confront (an issue)
• 臨むのぞむto face (a situation, crisis, etc.)
• 直面ちょくめんto face
• 合わすあわすto face
• 当面とうめんto confront (an issue)
• 赴くおもむくto become
• ぶつかるto encounter
• 肩身かたみhonour
• 見えるまみえるto face (an enemy)
• ぶち当たるぶちあたるto face (trouble, difficulties, etc.)
• 字面じづらface (of a piece of type)
• 広告塔こうこくとうface (of a company, group, etc.)
• ベビーフェイスbabyface
• うけるto face (south, etc.)
• 当たるあたるto face
• 具合ぐあいface
• 決まりきまりcountenance in front of another person
• 色しょく(facial) expression