Translation and Meaning of: 面 - omo

The Japanese word 面[おも] is a fascinating term that carries deep meanings and varied uses in everyday Japan. If you are studying Japanese or simply interested in the country's culture, understanding what this expression represents can open doors to new discoveries. In this article, we will explore its meaning, origin, writing in kanji, and how it is used in different contexts. Additionally, we will provide practical tips for memorizing it and curiosities that go beyond the dictionary.

Meaning and usage of 面[おも]

Men [omo] is a word that can be translated as "face," "surface," or even "aspect." It is often used to refer to the front part of something, whether a physical object or an abstract situation. For example, in expressions like 面を向ける (おもをむける), which means "to turn one's face," or 面白い (おもしろい), which means "interesting" or "fun," but originally refers to the idea of something that "shows its face."

In everyday life, the Japanese use this word subtly, often in contexts that go beyond its literal meaning. It appears in both formal and informal conversations, demonstrating its versatility. Its use is also present in martial arts, such as kendo, where 面 refers to the protective mask worn by fighters.

Origin and writing in kanji

The kanji 面 is composed of 9 strokes and belongs to the group of commonly used characters in Japan. Its origin dates back to ancient Chinese, where it represented the idea of "face" or "surface." Over the centuries, its meaning has expanded to include more abstract concepts like "side" or "perspective." This explains why it appears in so many compound words in modern Japanese.

An interesting fact is that the radical of this kanji (⺆) is associated with ideas of covering or enveloping, which makes sense when we consider terms like 面会 (めんかい), which means "face-to-face meeting." This detail helps to understand why 面 is not limited to just the physical sense, but also to the act of "facing" situations or people.

Tips for memorizing and using 面[おも]

For those learning Japanese, an effective way to remember this word is to associate it with images of the human face or objects with well-defined sides, like a cube. Another strategy is to practice with simple sentences, such as "Please lend me that interesting book," where 面 appears in the term 面白い.

It is worth noting that 面[おも] should not be confused with similar words, such as 顔 (かお), which also means "face," but has a more literal and everyday use. While 顔 is used to describe a person's face, 面 tends to appear in more formal or metaphorical contexts, such as in expressions and proverbs.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 顔 (Kao) - Face, the front part of the head where the eyes, nose, and mouth are located.
• 表情 (Hyōjō) - Facial expression, the appearance of the face that conveys emotions or feelings.
• マスク (Masuku) - Mask, an object used to cover the face, often used for protection or disguise.
• フェイス (Feisu) - Face, a term in English often used in contexts related to appearance or design, but it can also refer to the face.

面

Romaji: omo
Kana: おも
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n3

Translation / Meaning: face

Meaning in English: face

Definition: the surface or appearance of something.

Example Sentences - (面) omo

See below some example sentences:

化学は面白いです。

Kagaku wa omoshiroi desu

Chemistry is interesting.

Chemistry is interesting.

• 化学 - chemistry
• は - Topic particle
• 面白い - interesting
• です - the verb "to be" in polite form

なんか面白いことが起こるかもしれない。

Nanka omoshiroi koto ga okoru kamoshirenai

Something interesting might happen.

Something interesting might happen.

• なんか - Noun that indicates something vague or undefined.
• 面白い - adjective that means "interesting" or "fun".
• こと - Noun meaning "thing" or "fact".
• が - Particle that indicates the subject of the sentence.
• 起こる - Verb that means "happen" or "occur".
• かもしれない - Expression that indicates possibility or uncertainty, equivalent to "perhaps" or "maybe".

この番組は面白いですね。

Kono bangumi wa omoshiroi desu ne

this program is interesting

This program is interesting.

• この - this
• 番組 - program
• は - Topic particle
• 面白い - interesting/fun
• です - verb ser/estar (polite)
• ね - confirmation particle

この作家の小説はとても面白いです。

Kono sakka no shousetsu wa totemo omoshiroi desu

This writer's novel is very interesting.

• この - demonstrative indicating proximity, in this case "this"
• 作家 - noun that means "writer"
• の - particle indicating possession, in this case "of"
• 小説 - noun that means "romance" or "novel"
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "about"
• とても - adverb meaning "very"
• 面白い - adjective meaning "interesting" or "fun"
• です - auxiliary verb that indicates the polite form of the present, in this case, "é"

この喜劇はとても面白いです。

Kono kigeki wa totemo omoshiroi desu

This comedy is very funny.

This comedy is very interesting.

• この - demonstrative determiner meaning "this"
• 喜劇 - Noun that means "comedy"
• は - particle that marks the topic of the sentence
• とても - adverb meaning "very"
• 面白い - adjective meaning "interesting" or "fun"
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form

このシリーズはとても面白いです。

Kono shirīzu wa totemo omoshiroi desu

This series is very interesting.

• この - demonstrative pronoun "this"
• シリーズ - noun "series"
• は - Topic particle
• とても - adverb "very"
• 面白い - adjective "interesting/fun"
• です - verb "ser/estar" in the polite form

この文章はとても面白いです。

Kono bunshou wa totemo omoshiroi desu

This sentence is very interesting.

• この - Demonstrative pronoun meaning "this" or "this one".
• 文章 - Noun that means "text" or "written document".
• は - Particle that marks the topic of the sentence.
• とても - Adverb meaning "a lot".
• 面白い - adjective that means "interesting" or "fun".
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form.

この仕掛けはとても面白いですね。

Kono shikake wa totemo omoshiroi desu ne

This trick is very interesting

This device is very interesting.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this" or "this here"
• 仕掛け - noun that means "device" or "mechanism"
• は - topic particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• とても - adverb meaning "very"
• 面白い - adjective meaning "interesting" or "fun"
• です - verb to be or to be in the polite form
• ね - final particle indicating confirmation or search for agreement

この土地の面積はどのくらいですか？

Kono tochi no menseki wa dono kurai desu ka?

What is the area of ​​this land?

What is the area of ​​this land?

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this" or "this here"
• 土地 - noun meaning "land" or "property"
• の - particle that indicates possession or belonging
• 面積 - noun meaning "area" or "surface"
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• どの - interrogative pronoun meaning "which"
• くらい - adverb meaning "approximately" or "about"
• です - verb to be in the polite form
• か - interrogative particle indicating a question
• ？ - punctuation mark that indicates a question

この断面は非常に滑らかです。

Kono danmen wa hijō ni subarashii desu

This cross section is very smooth.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this" or "this here"
• 断面 - noun meaning "cross-section"
• は - topic particle, used to indicate the subject of the sentence
• 非常に - adverb meaning "very" or "extremely"
• 滑らか - adjective meaning "soft" or "smooth"
• です - verb to be in the polite form