凹凸(おうとつ)

おうとつ
noun
unevenness; bumps and dips
descriptive
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.
道(みち)の凹凸(おうとつ)が激(はげ)しい。
The road is very bumpy.
凹凸(おうとつ)のある地面(じめん)は歩(ある)きにくい。
Uneven ground is hard to walk on.
この壁(かべ)は凹凸(おうとつ)が少(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 凹(おう) (concave) and 凸(とつ) (convex). The two characters visually represent their meanings — 凹(おう) looks indented and 凸(とつ) looks protruding.

Common collocations

Usage

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.

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