noun
Refers to the physical outer surface or exterior of something, often contrasted with the inside or substance.
うわべだけきれいにしても、中身が伴わなければ意味がない。
Just making the surface look nice is meaningless if the content doesn't match.
このケーキはうわべは固そうだが
noun
outward appearance; looks; facade
Often used figuratively for a person's superficial appearance or a situation's outward show, implying it may not reflect the truth.
彼の優しそうなうわべに騙されてはいけない。
Don't be fooled by his kind-looking exterior.
うわべだけの付き合いでは、本
This cake looks hard on the outside, but it's soft inside.
A superficial relationship based only on appearances won't lead to true friendship.
Compound of 上 (うわ, 'upper') + 辺 (べ, 'vicinity, side'). The reading うわべ is a native Japanese word (yamato-kotoba).