外がい面めん

also: そとづら

が

い

め

ん

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

outer surface; outside; exterior

Physical outer surface or exterior of an object.

この箱はこの外がい面めんはとても滑なめらかだ。
The outer surface of this box is very smooth.

2

outward appearance; external appearance

How something looks from the outside, often contrasting with inner reality.

彼かれは外がい面めんは穏おだやかだが、実じつは短たん気きだ。
He appears calm on the outside, but he's actually short-tempered.

3

manner with others; demeanor; outward bearing

Only with reading そとづら

Specifically read そとづら. Refers to one's behavior or attitude shown to others, often with a nuance of putting on a front.

彼かれは外そと面づらがいいから、初しょ対たい面めんの人ひとには好すかれる。
He has a good manner with others, so people he meets for the first time like him.

See all 12 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

外そと面づらがいいto be pleasant/nice-looking to outsiders (often while being harsh at home)
彼かれは外そと面づらがいいが、家か族ぞくには冷つめたい。
He puts on a nice face for others, but he's cold to his family.
外がい面めんを飾かざるto embellish one's outward appearance
彼かの女じょは外がい面めんを飾かざることに気きを使つかっている。
She's very careful about dressing up her outward appearance.

Kanji

外outside
面mask, face, features

Related words

表ひょう面めんN3sense 1
表面 is the more common word for a physical surface, while 外面 can also describe a physical exterior but leans more toward figurative outward appearance.
うわべ sense 2
上辺 emphasizes a superficial, possibly deceptive appearance, similar to 外面's sense of outward appearance versus inner truth.

Opposites

内ない面めんN1
内面 refers to the inner surface or inner self, the direct opposite of 外面's outer surface or outward appearance.

Don't confuse with

外がい見けんN3sense 2
外見 usually refers to a person's or thing's visual appearance, while 外面 (がいめん) can also mean this but additionally has the そとづら reading for one's put-on manner toward others.

Word family

外がい面めん的てき
external; superficial; outward

Written forms

外面Usage100%
- がいめん
  Standard kanji spelling for the reading がいめん. High priority.
- そとづら
- げめん
そとづら
Kana spelling for the reading そとづら, used for the 'outward manner' sense.
げめん

Etymology

Compound of 外 (outside) and 面 (surface, face). The reading がいめん is the standard on'yomi, while そとづら uses the kun'yomi for 外 and a variant reading for 面.