Back

On'yomi
メン・ベン
MEN / BEN
Kun'yomi
おも・おもて・つら
omo / omote / tsura

mask · face · features · surface

Details

Strokes9
Frequency#186
Radicalface(9)
Old Form

Stroke Order

Loading...
Strokes9

Component Breakdown

=

丆 + 囬

Cultural Context

Etymology

Shape of mask covering face. Face.

Symbolism

Face, surface, interview. Represents face.

Related Culture & Scenes

  • Enjoying a meal

Words & Expressions

Four-Character Compounds

喜色満面

きしょくまんめん

being all smiles with joy; being all smiles with joy

効果覿面

こうかてきめん

having an immediate effect; taking immediate effect; having an immediate effect

三面六臂

さんめんろっぴ

rush of business; versatility; man who can do the work of many; rush of business

四面楚歌

しめんそか

being surrounded by enemies on all sides; being betrayed (forsaken) by everybody; being surrounded by enemies on all sides

天罰覿面

てんばつてきめん

the certainty of divine punishment; Swift is Heaven's vengeance; the certainty of divine punishment

八面玲瓏

はちめんれいろう

beautiful from all sides; perfect serenity; affability; beautiful from all sides

八面六臂

はちめんろっぴ

competent in all fields; jack of all trades; very active in many fields; competent in all fields

反面教師

はんめんきょうし

bad example from which one can learn; good example of what not to do (esp. how not to behave); negative example; bad example from which one can learn

面従腹背

めんじゅうふくはい

pretending to obey but secretly betraying (someone); pretending to obey but secretly betraying (someone)

人面獣心

じんめんじゅうしん

beast in human form; beast in human form

四角四面

しかくしめん

square; formal; prim; square

得意満面

とくいまんめん

triumphant air; smugness; triumphant air

裏面工作

りめんこうさく

string-pulling; backstage manoeuvering (maneuvering); string-pulling

面向不背

めんこうふはい

flawless; flawless

面従後言

めんじゅうこうげん

pretending to obey someone to his face but badmouthing him behind his back; pretending to obey someone to his face but badmouthing him behind his back

面目一新

めんもくいっしん

undergoing a complete change in appearance; changing something out of all recognition; a rise in one's reputation; undergoing a complete change in appearance

面目躍如

めんもくやくじょ

demonstrative of one's worth; worthy of one's reputation; living up to one's name; demonstrative of one's worth

因果覿面

いんがてきめん

the swiftness of retributive justice; the swiftness of retributive justice

顔面蒼白

がんめんそうはく

one's face turning pale (ashen); the color being drained from one's face; one's face turning pale (ashen)

鬼面仏心

きめんぶっしん

having the face of a devil and the heart of Buddha; having a stern face but a tender heart; having the face of a devil and the heart of Buddha

局面打開

きょくめんだかい

breakthrough in the situation; break in the deadlocked situation; breakthrough in the situation

蓬頭垢面

ほうとうこうめん

(with) unkempt hair and dirty face; being indifferent to one's personal appearance; (with) unkempt hair and dirty face

面壁九年

めんぺきくねん

facing a wall for nine years in meditation (by Bodhidharma at Shaolin Temple); facing a wall for nine years in meditation (by Bodhidharma at Shaolin Temple)