側面(そくめん)

そくめん
noun
aspect; side; flank
1. aspect; facet
One particular feature or way of looking at something; a perspective.
問題(もんだい)の別(べつ)の側面(そくめん)を見(み)る。
To see another aspect of the problem.
この政策(せいさく)には経済的(けいざいてき)な側面(そくめん)もある。
This policy also has an economic aspect.
文化(ぶんか)には様々(さまざま)な側面(そくめん)があり、一(ひと)つの見方(みかた)だけでは理解(りかい)できない。
Culture has various aspects and cannot be understood from just one perspective.
2. side; flank
The side surface of something; lateral part.
建物(たてもの)の側面(そくめん)に入口(いりぐち)がある。
There's an entrance on the side of the building.
車(くるま)の側面(そくめん)に傷(きず)がついた。
There's a scratch on the side of the car.
箱(はこ)の側面(そくめん)に名前(なまえ)が書(か)いてある。
There's a name written on the side of the box.

側面(そくめん) has both a physical meaning (the side of an object) and a figurative meaning (an aspect or facet of something). The figurative use is more common in everyday language.

SENSE 1 — FIGURATIVE (aspect, facet):

  • 別(べつ)の側面(そくめん): another aspect
  • 側面(そくめん)から見(み)る: to view from another angle
  • 側面(そくめん)を持(も)つ: to have an aspect
  • 経済的(けいざいてき)な側面(そくめん): economic aspect
  • 心理的(しんりてき)な側面(そくめん): psychological aspect

SENSE 2 — PHYSICAL (side, flank):

  • 建物(たてもの)の側面(そくめん): side of a building
  • 車(くるま)の側面(そくめん): side of a car
  • 側面(そくめん)衝突(しょうとつ): side-on collision

CONTRAST:

  • 側面(そくめん): side, aspect (concrete or abstract)
  • 面(めん): face, aspect (broader, more general)
  • 観点(かんてん): viewpoint, perspective (from which one looks)
  • 局面(きょくめん): phase, situation (of events or developments)

Related Words

Related: 局面(きょくめん) (phase, situation)
general
Added 2026.1.16 18:47 · Revised 2026.4.16 12:08
05500/05779_sokumen