平面(へいめん)

A flat, two-dimensional surface. Composed of 平(へい) (flat/level) + 面(めん) (surface/face). Used in everyday language, architecture, and mathematics.

Common collocations

• 平面(へいめん)図(ず): floor plan; plan view
• 平面(へいめん)幾何学(きかがく): plane geometry
• 平面(へいめん)的(てき): flat; two-dimensional (also figuratively: lacking depth)
• 平面(へいめん)交差(こうさ): at-grade intersection (roads crossing on the same level)
• 平面(へいめん)駐車場(ちゅうしゃじょう): surface-level parking lot

Similar words

• 立体(りったい): three-dimensional object — the conceptual opposite of 平面(へいめん)
• 表面(ひょうめん): surface — refers to the outer face of an object, not necessarily flat
• 水平(すいへい): horizontal; level — describes orientation rather than dimensionality

Usage

When used as a modifier (平面(へいめん)的(てき)), it can describe something figuratively as lacking depth or dimensionality, such as a flat, uninteresting character in a novel.