(おうとつ)

おうとつ
noun
unevenness; bumps and dips
1. unevenness; bumps and dips; irregularity of surface
Physical roughness or variation in height on a surface. Describes terrain, roads, or textures that are not flat or smooth.
(みち)凹凸(おうとつ)(はげ)しい。
The road is very bumpy.
凹凸(おうとつ)のある地面(じめん)(ある)きにくい。
Uneven ground is hard to walk on.
この(かべ)凹凸(おうとつ)(すく)ないので、塗装(とそう)しやすい。
This wall has few bumps, so it is easy to paint.

凹凸(おうとつ) is a noun formed from (おう) (concave) and (とつ) (convex). The two characters visually represent their meanings — (おう) looks indented and (とつ) looks protruding.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 凹凸(おうとつ)がある (to have bumps)
  • 凹凸(おうとつ)(はげ)しい (very bumpy/uneven)
  • 凹凸(おうとつ)のない表面(ひょうめん) (a smooth surface)

USAGE NOTES:
Often appears in descriptions of roads, terrain, and materials. Can also be used figuratively to describe an uneven situation, though the literal usage is far more common.