一面

いちめん

one side, the other hand

JLPT N1

Character Breakdown

Usage of 一面

The word 一面 (yímiàn) has two main uses in Mandarin Chinese. First, it can mean "one side" or "one face" of something, such as a building or an object. For example, you might say 照片显示建筑物一面 to describe a photo showing one side of a building.

Second, 一面 is commonly used in a grammatical pattern to express two simultaneous actions or states, similar to "while" or "at the same time" in English. This is often seen in the structure 一面...一面..., indicating that two things happen concurrently. For example, 一面音乐一面作业 means "He listens to music while doing homework."

Common Collocations

  • 一面...一面...: indicates two simultaneous actions or states
  • 一面: a one-sided statement (used in more formal or literary contexts)

Notes

When used in the simultaneous action pattern, 一面 is often repeated to emphasize the parallel nature of the actions. It is different from 一边...一边..., which is more colloquial but similar in meaning. Avoid confusing 一面 (one side) with 一面 (simultaneous actions) by paying attention to context.

This word is useful for describing physical sides or faces of objects and for expressing concurrent activities in conversation.

Example Sentences

He listens to music while doing homework.

This photo shows one side of the building.

He wants to rest on one hand, but on the other hand worries about unfinished