面 means “face, surface”

めん · men

Also: mask, features

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

おも, おもて, つら

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

メン, ベン

Taught in grade 3 · 9 strokes

The story

A flat surface, a mask, a face: 面 captures them all. In kendo, 面 is the strike to the head. In Noh theater, carved wooden 面 transform actors into gods and demons. Every surface tells a story.

Used in 面白い (omoshiroi, interesting) and 表面 (hyoumen, surface)

Words with 面

• 面白 (おもしろ, omoshiro): interesting / funny

More from Colors & Shapes

• 太 thick
• 細 thin
• 赤 red
• 青 blue
• 白 white
• 黒 black
• 色 color
• 黄 yellow
• 緑 green
• 紫 purple
• 金 gold
• 銀 silver

Learn 面 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.