文面

• Reading: ぶんめん
• Romaji: bunmen
• Kanji breakdown: 文 (bun) — writing, text, sentence; 面 (men) — surface, face, aspect
• Pronunciation: /bɯm.men/

Meaning

Text; wording; content of a letter or document. The actual words used in a written message, as opposed to its spoken or implied meaning.

Used when discussing the specific wording or tone of a written communication — an email, letter, notice, or contract. 文面からすると (judging by the wording) is a common construction used to infer intent or tone from what is written. Distinct from 内容 (subject matter) in that 文面 focuses on how something is phrased rather than what it concerns.

Examples

1. メールの文面からすると、先方はかなり不満を持っているようだ。 Judging from the wording of the email, the other party seems quite dissatisfied.
2. 丁寧な文面の手紙が届いたが、内容は厳しい要求だった。 A politely worded letter arrived, but the contents were actually a harsh demand.
3. 契約書の文面をよく確認してから署名するよう弁護士に言われた。 The lawyer advised me to carefully review the wording of the contract before signing.

Usage Guide

Context: correspondence, business communication, legal documents, email

Tone: analytical

Origin & History

Sino-Japanese compound. 文 means writing or text, 面 means surface or face — literally the 'surface of writing', referring to the words as they appear on the page.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal