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メッキ (めっき) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Freq. Frequency Top 20,000 Conjugation Meanings 1
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', transitive verb
plating ; coating ; gilding
usually written using kana alone
Refers to a thin layer of metal applied to a surface, or the process of applying it. Can be used literally for metal plating, or figuratively for a superficial covering.
部ぶ
品ひん
に
クロム
メッキ
を
施ほどこ
す
。
Apply chrome plating to the part.
2
noun
pretense ; façade ; sham
usually written using kana alone
Figurative use: a superficial appearance or false front, like a thin layer hiding the true nature. Often used in expressions like メッキが剥げる (the pretense comes off).
Written forms メッキ Usage 81%
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling is standard; the word is usually written in kana.
めっき Usage 19%
Hiragana spelling, also common.
鍍金めっき
Kanji form for the literal plating sense; rarely used.
滅めっ 金き
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form for the literal plating sense.
Kanji 滅 destroy, ruin, overthrow Similar words コーティング コーティング is a broader term for any coating (paint, resin, etc.), while メッキ specifically refers to metal plating or a thin metallic layer.
金きん 箔ぱく 金箔 is gold leaf, a thin sheet of gold applied to surfaces, whereas メッキ is a process of depositing metal onto a surface, often electrochemically.
Etymology The reading めっき is a sound shift from めっきん (滅金), literally 'extinguish metal', referring to the process of coating metal. The kanji 鍍金 is a later assignment. The figurative sense developed from the idea of a thin, deceptive covering.
