面
contributes the sense of the face and · Kangxi radical 176
contributes the sense of the face and, by extension, any surface or side — though in most characters it works instead as the sound miǎn
The oldest form drew an outline of a head with a single eye inside it, using the eye to stand for the whole face. In the modern square shape you can still find that eye: the 目 sitting inside the outer frame, with the top stroke as the brow line and the frame closing around it like the edge of the face. In simplified writing 面 also took over the job of 麵 "flour, noodles," so the same graph now covers two unrelated meanings.
面 at a glance
- Meaning
- contributes the sense of the face and
- Strokes
- 9
- Characters
- 8
- Role
- Contributes meaning and sound
- Kangxi radical
- 176
Characters with 面 (5 of 8)
Frequently asked questions
What does the component 面 mean?
面 means "contributes the sense of the face and". In the characters that contain it, it contributes meaning and sound.
How many Chinese characters contain 面?
8 characters in this dictionary contain 面.
Is 面 a radical?
Yes — 面 is Kangxi radical 176, one of the 214 traditional indexing radicals used to organise Chinese dictionaries.
How many strokes does 面 have?
面 is written in 9 strokes.