正面(しょうめん)

しょうめん
noun
front, facade, directly ahead
direction
1. front, facade, front side
The front part or surface of a building, object, or person. Often refers to the main entrance side of a structure.
建物(たてもの)の正面(しょうめん)に入(い)り口(ぐち)がある。
The entrance is at the front of the building.
駅(えき)の正面(しょうめん)に大(おお)きな広場(ひろば)がある。
There is a large plaza in front of the station.
この写真(しゃしん)は正面(しょうめん)から撮(と)ったほうがいい。
It would be better to take this photo from the front.
2. head-on, directly, squarely
Used adverbially with から to mean confronting something directly without evasion. Implies facing an issue or challenge straightforwardly.
問題(もんだい)に正面(しょうめん)から向(む)き合(あ)う。
To face a problem head-on.
彼(かれ)は批判(ひはん)を正面(しょうめん)から受(う)け止(と)めた。
He took the criticism squarely.
困難(こんなん)な課題(かだい)に正面(しょうめん)から取(と)り組(く)む姿勢(しせい)が大切(たいせつ)だ。
It is important to have the attitude of tackling difficult challenges head-on.

Usage

As a noun, 正面(しょうめん) refers to the front side of something. With the particle から, it forms the adverbial expression 正面(しょうめん)から, meaning "head-on" or "directly." This adverbial use is very common and carries a nuance of not avoiding or evading.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 前面(ぜんめん): front surface (more physical/spatial, less figurative)
  • 表(おもて): front side, surface (everyday word for "front" of flat objects)

Related Words

Compare: 表(おもて) (front side, surface)
Compare: 向(む)かい (facing, opposite, across)
Compare: 前側(まえがわ) (front side)
Compare: 背面(はいめん) (back side)
Compare: 表側(おもてがわ) (front side)
Compare: 向(む)かい合(あ)わせ (facing each other)
Compare: 真(ま)ん前(まえ) (right in front)
general
Added 2026.2.24 15:05 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
13000/13189_shoumen