侧面 cèmiàn lateral side
lateral side; side; aspect; profile
How to remember 侧面: 侧 side + 面 face = lateral side.
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How it is used
- Literally the side/profile of something - 从侧面拍照 (cóng cèmiàn pāizhào) take a photo from the side.
- Very common figuratively as 'an indirect angle' or 'one aspect': 从侧面了解 (cóng cèmiàn liǎojiě) find out indirectly, through the back channel.
- Contrast 正面 (zhèngmiàn, the front / head-on / direct) and 反面 (fǎnmiàn, the reverse/negative side). 侧面 = sideways or roundabout, neither for nor against.