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表舞台 (omotebutai) Japanese meaning: front stage | Kotomora

表おもて舞ぶ台たい

お

も

て

ぶ

た

い

Meanings

1

front stage; center stage; public eye

Literally the front part of a stage, but often used figuratively for the public spotlight or prominent position in politics, business, or society.

彼かれは長なが年ねん、政せい界かいの表おもて舞ぶ台たいで活かつ躍

やく

し

て

き

た

。

He has been active on the center stage of politics for many years.

その事じ件けんで彼かの女じょは一いっ気きに表おもて舞ぶ台たいに立たつことになった。

That incident suddenly put her in the public eye.

Kanji

表surface, table, chart
舞dance, flit, circle
台pedestal, a stand, counter for machines and vehicles

Related words

舞ぶ台たい
舞台 is a general stage or setting, while 表舞台 specifically emphasizes the front, visible part or the public spotlight.
裏うら舞ぶ台たい
裏舞台 is the backstage or behind-the-scenes, often used figuratively for hidden dealings, in contrast to 表舞台.

Opposites

舞ぶ台たい裏うら
表舞台 means the public spotlight or front stage, the opposite of 舞台裏's hidden, behind-the-scenes area.

Built from

表おもて+舞ぶ台たい

Etymology

Compound of 表 (front, surface) and 舞台 (stage). The figurative sense developed naturally from the literal meaning of the front part of a stage.