Since　the　tribology　properties　of　rough　surfaces　are　closely　related　to　its　topography,　one　of　the　most　important　ingredients　in　tribology　research　is　to　find　an　appropriate　tool　to　analyze　and　characterize　rough　surfaces.　The　elementary　theory　of　contourlet　which　is　a　good　method　for　multi-scale　and　multi-direction　signal　analysis　was　introduced　and　an　application　of　contourlet　in　rough　surface　analysis　was　demonstrated.　It　was　found　that　contourlet　is　more　sensitive　to　curved　features　than　general　two　dimensional　wavelets;　it　is　possible　to　become　a　new　powerful　tool　for　rough　surface　analysis　and　characterization.　©　(2012)　Trans　Tech　Publications,　Switzerland.