一面(いちめん)

いちめん
noun, adverb
one side; entire surface
1. one side, one aspect
One particular aspect or facet of something that has multiple dimensions. Used when acknowledging that there is more to something than what is being discussed.
それは問題(もんだい)の一面(いちめん)にすぎない。
That is only one aspect of the problem.
彼(かれ)には優(やさ)しい一面(いちめん)もある。
He also has a gentle side.
厳(きび)しい上司(じょうし)だが、部下(ぶか)を大切(たいせつ)にする一面(いちめん)も持(も)っている。
He is a strict boss, but he also has a side that values his subordinates.
2. entire surface, as far as the eye can see
Describes a wide area completely covered or filled with something. Often used for natural scenes like fields of flowers or snow.
一面(いちめん)の雪景色(ゆきげしき)だった。
It was a snowscape as far as the eye could see.
春(はる)になると、この丘(おか)は一面(いちめん)菜(な)の花(はな)で黄色(きいろ)く染(そ)まる。
In spring, this hill is dyed yellow with rapeseed flowers as far as the eye can see.
台風(たいふう)の後(あと)、庭(にわ)は一面(いちめん)水浸(みずびた)しになっていた。
After the typhoon, the entire garden was flooded.

一面(いちめん) has two distinct uses. Sense 1 ("one aspect") focuses on a partial view of something multifaceted. Sense 2 ("entire surface") describes a wide expanse covered uniformly.

Common collocations

Sense 1:

Sense 2:

Usage

  • In newspapers, 一面(いちめん) also means "front page" (新聞(しんぶん)の一面(いちめん))
  • Sense 2 often appears as an adverb directly modifying a noun: 一面(いちめん)の雪(ゆき)
general
Added 2026.2.15 9:17 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
11000/11184_ichimen