額面

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 額面 (がくめん) is a noun for the printed face value of an instrument or the surface meaning of words.
• Basic usage: 額面より安く買う uses the printed voucher amount as a price baseline, while 言葉を額面どおりに受け取らない warns against accepting a statement solely at surface value.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Printed value and literal reading
  • 額面より compares transaction price with printed value, whereas 額面どおり figuratively concerns the surface of words. The latter does not involve a financial certificate.