(がくめん)

がくめん
noun
face value; nominal value
1. face value; nominal value; par value
The value printed on a security, bond, or currency, as opposed to its market value.
この(かぶ)額面(がくめん)は100(えん)だ。
The face value of this stock is 100 yen.
額面(がくめん)市場(しじょう)価格(かかく)(こと)なる。
Face value and market price are different.
額面(がくめん)1(まん)(えん)商品券(しょうひんけん)をもらった。
I received a gift certificate with a face value of 10,000 yen.
2. at face value; literally
Used figuratively to mean taking something at its stated or apparent value.
(かれ)言葉(ことば)額面(がくめん)どおりに()()ってはいけない。
Don't take his words at face value.
額面(がくめん)どおりに()()ると、(かれ)賛成(さんせい)しているように()こえる。
Taken at face value, it sounds like he agrees.
その発言(はつげん)額面(がくめん)どおりに(しん)じるのは(あぶ)ない。
It's risky to believe that statement at face value.

額面(がくめん) literally means "the face/surface of an amount" — the value printed or written on something.

SENSE 1 — FINANCIAL:
The stated value on securities, bonds, stamps, gift certificates, and currency.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 額面(がくめん)金額(きんがく): face amount
  • 額面(がくめん)価格(かかく): par value
  • 額面(がくめん)以上(いじょう): above par
  • 額面(がくめん)以下(いか): below par

SENSE 2 — FIGURATIVE:
額面(がくめん)どおり means "at face value" or "literally" — accepting something as it appears without looking deeper.

KEY EXPRESSION:

  • 額面(がくめん)どおりに()()る: to take at face value (often used with a warning not to)

RELATED TERMS:

  • 時価(じか): market value, current price
  • 定価(ていか): list price, retail price