正面(しょうめん)

しょうめん
noun
front, facade, directly ahead
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:

  • 正面(しょうめん)玄関(げんかん): front entrance
  • 正面(しょうめん)口(ぐち): front gate/entrance
  • 正面(しょうめん)から向(む)き合(あ)う: to face head-on
  • 正面(しょうめん)衝突(しょうとつ): head-on collision

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)
general
Added 2026.2.24 15:05
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