1.
the entire sky; the whole sky; all across the sky
Describes the sky in its entirety, typically when it is completely covered or filled by something — clouds, stars, a sunset glow, etc.
A compound of 空 (sky) and 一面 (the whole surface, all over). Paints a picture of the sky as a single vast expanse uniformly covered or filled by something. Common in literary and descriptive writing.
Common collocations
- 空一面に広がる: to spread across the whole sky
- 空一面を覆う: to cover the entire sky
- 空一面の雲: clouds across the whole sky
- 空一面が灰色になる: the entire sky turns gray
Similar words
- 一面の雪: snow covering everything — 一面 can be combined with other surfaces too
- 見渡す限りの空: as far as the eye can see across the sky
Usage
The pattern ～一面 is productive and can be applied to other surfaces: 海一面 (the entire sea), 野原一面 (across the whole field). It always conveys the image of something stretching uniformly over the entire area.