斜面

• Reading: しゃめん
• Romaji: shamen
• Kanji breakdown: 斜 (sha/nana) — diagonal, slanting; 面 (men/omo) — surface, face
• Pronunciation: /ɕa.meɴ/

Meaning

Slope; incline; slanting surface. A surface that is tilted at an angle from the horizontal.

A noun used in geography, construction, skiing, and disaster reporting. Common contexts include mountainous terrain, ski slopes, and landslide-prone areas. Also appears in physics when discussing inclined planes. Frequently paired with 急な (steep) or なだらかな (gentle).

Examples

1. 急な斜面を登るのは体力がいる。 Climbing a steep slope takes a lot of physical stamina.
2. 大雨で斜面が崩れる危険がある。 Heavy rain can put slopes at risk of collapsing.
3. スキー場のなだらかな斜面で練習した。 I practiced on the gentle slope at the ski resort.

Usage Guide

Context: geography, construction, skiing, disaster reporting

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 斜 (sha, diagonal/slanting) + 面 (men, surface/face). A geometric term literally meaning 'a surface that slants,' borrowed from classical Chinese mathematical and geographical vocabulary.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal