面|めんmen[0]heiban (flat)

1. nounface
   二人ふたりは面めんと向むかった。↗

   They confronted each other.

   二人ふたりの男おとこが面めんと向かい合むかいあった。↗

   Two men met face to face.
2. nounmask; face guard
   その男おとこはトラの面めんをかぶっていた。↗

   The man wore a mask of a tiger.
3. noun, martial artsstriking the head (in kendo)
4. nounsurface (esp. a geometrical surface)
   そよ風かぜで池いけの面めんにさざ波なみが立たった。↗

   A gentle wind made ripples on the surface of the pond.
5. nounpage
6. noun, suffixaspect; facet; side
   ある面めんでは、人生じんせいは残酷ざんこくなものだ。私わたしたちの１人１人ひとりひとり大おおきな問題もんだいが用意よういされている。↗

   In a way, life is a cruel thing. It holds major problems in store for each one of us.
7. noun, suffixchamfer
8. countercounter for broad, flat objects, levels or stages, e.g. in a video game

• Synonym顔かおNeutralThe everyday word for the face. 「面」(めん) usually means a mask, face guard or kendo head strike, and sounds bookish for the face alone.
• SynonymフェイスNeutralA loanword for the face, used mainly in beauty and branding contexts, as in 「フェイスパック」.
• Related顔つきかおつきNeutralA person's looks and expression. 「面」 leans toward things that cover the face or the face's outward appearance.
• Related面持ちおももちWrittenThe look that shows on someone's face, as in 「神妙な面持ち」; it focuses on the emotion expressed.
• RelatedうわべNeutralSurface or outward appearance, often with the nuance of mere surface, as in 「上辺だけの付き合い」.
• Related外面がいめんNeutralAs がいめん, the outer surface of an object; as そとづら, the manner one shows to people outside.
• Related外側そとがわNeutralThe outside or outer side of something, the counterpart of 「内側」; it indicates position.
• Related表情ひょうじょうNeutralThe emotion showing on the face. 「面」 does not refer to facial expression.
• Related局面きょくめんWrittenWritten word for the state of a game or the stage of a situation, as in 「新たな局面」; also an aspect of things — a different sense from the mask 「面」.
• Related側面そくめんNeutralThe side of an object, or one aspect of a matter, as in 「意外な側面」.
• Related様相ようそうWrittenThe appearance or state of things, as in 「戦争の様相を呈する」.
• Related仮面かめんNeutralA mask, also figuratively a disguise, as in 「仮面をかぶる」. 「面」 itself can refer to a Noh mask.
• Related顔色かおいろNeutralThe colour of the face: complexion and expression, focusing on skin tone and changes in mood.
• Related相好そうごうWrittenWritten word for the features, now seen mostly in 「相好を崩す」, to break into a broad smile.
• Related面貌めんぼうWrittenWritten word for a person's looks; also used figuratively for the face of things, but rare.
• Relatedオモテ面おもてめんNeutralThe front of paper, a coin, a medal and the like, the opposite of 「裏面」. 「面」 alone means a mask or the face.
• Related上っ面うわっつらCasualColloquial for the surface, a shallow outer layer, as in 「上っ面だけの知識」; derogatory.
• Related上面うわつらWrittenRead うわつら, it means surface or outward appearance; a written-style word, rarely used.
• Related面差しおもざしWrittenA person's features or looks, as in 「父の面差し」.

「面」 is the word for masks, face guards and the kendo strike to the head. For the face in everyday speech use 「顔」; for a surface, 「表面」 or 「上辺」; for a disguise, 「仮面」; for an aspect of something, 「側面」.

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

1. （め↗ん）表情ひょうじょうを隠かくす、頭部とうぶを守まもるなどの目的もくてきで顔かおを覆おおうもの。
2. （め↘ん　語義ごぎ1より）剣道けんどう、槍道そうどう、短たん剣道けんどう、なぎなたにおける技わざ。面めん打うち。
3. （め↘ん）平面へいめん。物体ぶったいの表面ひょうめん。厚あつさのない二次元にじげんの広ひろがり。
4. （め↘ん）ページ。
5. 名誉めいよ。
6. 相手あいて自身じしん。
7. 鏡かがみ・硯すずりを数かぞえる際さいに用もちいる助数詞じょすうし。