表ひょう面めん的てき

ひょ

う

め

ん

て

き

Meanings

na-adjective

superficial; surface-level; apparent

Describes something that is only on the surface, not deep or genuine. Often used to contrast outward appearance with inner reality.

彼かれの謝しゃ罪ざいは表ひょう面めん的てきなものに過すぎなかった。
His apology was merely superficial.
表ひょう面めん的てきな違ちがいにとらわれず、本ほん質しつを見み極きわめることが大たい切せつだ。
It's important to look beyond superficial differences and grasp the essence.

See all 16 example sentences ›

Kanji

表surface, table, chart
面mask, face, features
的bull's eye, mark, target

Related words

形けい式しき的てきN2
表面的 stresses that something is only on the surface or superficial, whereas 形式的 stresses that it follows a fixed procedure or format without sincerity.

Opposites

抜ばっ本ぽん的てきN1
表面的 describes a superficial, surface-level treatment of an issue, the direct opposite of 抜本的, which digs down to the root cause.
本ほん質しつ的てき
表面的 describes something superficial or on the surface, the opposite of 本質的, which describes something at the core or essence.
根こん本ぽん的てきN1
表面的 describes something superficial or only on the surface, the opposite of 根本的, which goes to the deep, essential root of a matter.

Built from

表ひょう面めん+的てき

Etymology

Derived from 表面 (surface) + the adjectival suffix 的 (-like, -ish). The suffix 的 turns the noun into a na-adjective meaning 'pertaining to the surface' or 'superficial'.