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面と向かう (めんとむかう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression, godan verb (-u)
meet face-to-face ; confront directly
Used when people meet in person, often implying a direct, sometimes confrontational, encounter. The expression emphasizes facing someone directly rather than communicating indirectly.
勇ゆう
気き
が
なかっ
た
。
I didn't have the courage to complain to his face.
Similar words 対たい 面めん 対面 is a noun meaning 'face-to-face meeting' and is more formal, often used in business or official contexts. 面と向かう is a verb phrase that emphasizes the act of confronting someone directly, often with a personal or confrontational nuance.
向む かい 合あ う 向かい合う means 'to face each other' in a physical or positional sense, without the confrontational implication. 面と向かう specifically implies a direct personal encounter, often with tension.
Etymology Compound of 面 (めん, 'face') + と (particle) + 向かう (むかう, 'to face'). The phrase literally means 'to face toward someone's face', emphasizing direct confrontation.
