断面(だんめん)

だんめん
noun
cross-section; cross-sectional view
sciencedescriptive
1. cross-section; cross-sectional surface
The surface or shape exposed when an object is cut through, or a diagram showing such a view. Used in technical, scientific, and everyday contexts.
ケーキの断面(だんめん)がきれいだ。
The cross-section of the cake is beautiful.
断面(だんめん)図(ず)を見(み)てください。
Please look at the cross-sectional diagram.
この木(き)の断面(だんめん)には年輪(ねんりん)がはっきりと見(み)える。
The tree rings are clearly visible in this tree's cross-section.

Compound of 断(だん) (cut) + 面(めん) (surface). Refers to the surface revealed when something is sliced through. Used both technically (engineering, science) and colloquially (food photography, where showing a beautiful cross-section is popular on social media — often called 萌(も)え断(だん)).

Common collocations

  • 断面(だんめん)図(ず): cross-sectional diagram
  • 断面(だんめん)積(せき): cross-sectional area
  • 断面(だんめん)を見(み)せる: to show the cross-section
  • 萌(も)え断(だん): visually appealing cross-section (of food, slang)

Related words