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 2026.6.8 23:06

05500/05779_sokumen