面する|めんするmensuru[3]nakadaka (mid-high)
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- suru verb (irregular), intransitive verbto face on; to look out on to
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 面する(めんする) |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 面します(めんします) |
| Negative (nai) | 面しない(めんしない) |
| polite (masen) | 面しません(めんしません) |
| classical zu / nu | 面せず・面せぬ(めんせず・めんせぬ) |
| Past (ta) | 面した(めんした) |
| polite (mashita) | 面しました(めんしました) |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 面しなかった(めんしなかった) |
| polite (masen deshita) | 面しませんでした(めんしませんでした) |
| Te form | 面して(めんして) |
| Potential | 面できる(めんできる) |
| Passive | 面される(めんされる) |
| Causative | 面させる(めんさせる) |
| Causative passive | 面させられる(めんさせられる) |
| Conditional (ba) | 面すれば(めんすれば) |
| tara | 面したら(めんしたら) |
| Volitional | 面しよう(めんしよう) |
| polite (mashou) | 面しましょう(めんしましょう) |
| Imperative | 面しろ(めんしろ) |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
- Synonym臨むのぞむNeutralFaces an occasion or situation, overlooks scenery, or takes something on with a set attitude, as in 「試合に臨む」; 「面する」 is about a building's orientation.
- Synonym向くむくNeutralTurns or points in a direction, as in 「南向き」, and can mean being suited to something, as in 「教師に向く」; 「面する」 centers on fronting a street or the sea.
- Synonym向かうむかうNeutralMeans heading toward or facing something, with a wide range of uses; 「面する」 centers on buildings fronting a street or the sea.
- Synonym対するたいするNeutralMeans being directed at or toward something, or how one treats it, as in 「質問に対する答え」; 「面する」 is about spatial orientation.
- Related向かい合うむかいあうNeutralUsed when people, lines, or buildings face each other, as in 「向かい合って座る」; 「面する」 is a one-sided facing outward.
- Related向き合うむきあうNeutralMeans seriously confronting a problem or the other person; 「面する」 leans toward facing in a physical, spatial sense.
- Related直面ちょくめんNeutralMeans being directly confronted with hardship or crisis, as in 「危機に直面」; 「面する」 is about spatial facing.
- Related対向たいこうNeutralCovers facing or moving toward each other, as in 「対向車」; 「面する」 is about facing a place.
- Related面と向かうめんとむかうNeutralAn idiomatic phrase for meeting someone in person, face to face; 「面する」 is about spatial orientation.
- Related相対するあいたいするWrittenA written/formal word for standing opposite one another; it can also mean being in opposition, while 「面する」 is simply about facing a place.
- Related正対せいたいWrittenWritten/formal term for facing something squarely front-to-front; 「面する」 is about a building's orientation.
- Related差し向かうさしむかうWrittenWritten/formal word for two people sitting face to face; 「面する」 is about a building's orientation.
- Related対すたいすWrittenA written/formal variant of 「対する」; 「面する」 is about spatial orientation.
- Antonym後ろ向くNeutralMeans turning around to face away; it contrasts with 「面する」 only in the forward-vs-backward direction of facing, and the usage does not really correspond.
Use 「面する」 for a building fronting a street, the sea, or some place, as in 「海に面した部屋」. For taking on an occasion use 「臨む」, for a crisis 「直面」, for sitting face to face 「向かい合う」, and for seriously tackling a problem 「向き合う」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only


