Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
建前 (たてまえ, tatemae) Japanese meaning: public stance | Kotomora
Report an issue with this page
は
違ちが
う
こと
が
多おお
い
。
A politician's public stance and true feelings are often different.
At the meeting it was all official positions; I couldn't hear anyone's real thoughts.
Usage patterns 〈 人ひと 〉 が 建たて 前まえ を 言い う for someone to state their official position (rather than true feelings)
He's just saying it for form's sake; his real feelings seem different.
建たて 前まえ が 行おこな われる for a framework-raising ceremony to be held
The framework-raising ceremony for the new house is scheduled for next month.
建たて 前まえ 上じょう は 〈 事こと 〉 officially / on the surface, ...
〈 場ば 所しょ 〉 で 建たて 前まえ をする to hold a framework-raising ceremony at a place
The carpenters held a framework-raising ceremony on that plot of land.
Expressions 本ほん 音ね と 建たて 前まえ true feelings vs. public stance; real motive vs. stated reason Related words 表向き describes how something appears on the surface to outsiders, while 建前 specifically contrasts one's stated position with private true feelings.
棟上げ and 建前 both refer to the ceremony held when a building's framework is completed, with 棟上げ being the more traditional term.
上棟式 is the more formal, ceremonial term for the same event that 建前 refers to colloquially.
建前 is the official stance or principle one states publicly, whereas 名目 is the specific nominal reason or title given for a particular act.
建前 refers to an official stance or principle stated for form's sake that may not match real intentions, while 見せ掛け is a broader term for any false outward show.
Opposites 建前 is the official stance one shows in public, while 本音 is the true feeling kept hidden beneath it.
建前 is the official or public stance one presents, in contrast to 本心, one's actual, unspoken feelings.
内心 is what one really feels inside, while 建前 is the official stance or facade shown to others.
Written forms 建たて 前まえ Usage 65%
Standard kanji spelling for both the social and architectural senses.
たてまえ Usage 16%
建た て 前まえ Usage 10%
Alternate spelling with okurigana; less common but still seen.
タテマエ Usage 9%
立たて 前まえ
Etymology Originally 建前 referred to the raising of a building’s structural frame, especially the ridgepole-raising ceremony. Its later social sense denotes an outwardly maintained principle or public position.
Officially he isn't opposed, but in reality he doesn't agree either.
実じつ 情じょう
N1
建前 is the official stance or surface principle presented to the public, while 実情 is the true situation that may differ from it.
Usage 1%
Rare variant using 立; may be encountered in older texts.
立た て 前まえ
Rare variant with okurigana; may be encountered in older texts.