面する

めんする · mensuru · JLPT N1 · verb-suru

to face on

🏢 面 (face/surface) + する (do): doing a face toward something, so the building faces the street

面 means face or surface, and する means to do. Together, 面する means a building's front is turned to face a place, such as a street or the sea.

面 — enclosure 囗 + 自 (nose/face inside)
Originally a pictograph showing a face framed by an outline, with 自 (nose) inside representing the central feature of the face. The early meaning was 'face,' which extended to 'surface,' 'side,' and 'aspect.' In simplified Chinese, 面 also absorbed 麵, adding the meaning 'flour/noodles.'

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