見みせ掛かけ

み

せ

か

け

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'

Refers to something that is made to look real or genuine but is not; often used in phrases like 見せ掛けだけ (just for show) or 見せ掛けの～ (a fake/pretend ~).

彼かれの親しん切せつは見みせ掛かけに過すぎない。
His kindness is nothing but a pretense.
それは見みせ掛かけだけの強つよさだ。
That strength is just for show.

See all 26 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

見みせ掛かけの〈事こと〉a sham/pretend ~
それは見みせ掛かけの平へい和わにすぎなかった。
That was nothing but a sham peace.
見みせ掛かけだけjust for show, only on the surface
彼かれの親しん切せつは見みせ掛かけだけだった。
His kindness was only for show.
見みせ掛かけにすぎないto be nothing more than a pretense
彼かの女じょの笑え顔がおは見みせ掛かけにすぎない。
Her smile is nothing more than a pretense.
見みせ掛かけを見み破やぶるto see through a pretense
彼かれの見みせ掛かけをすぐに見み破やぶった。
I quickly saw through his pretense.

Kanji

見see, hopes, chances
掛hang, suspend, depend

Related words· 11

偽にせ物ものN2
偽物 is a concrete fake or counterfeit object, while 見せ掛け refers to a deceptive outward appearance that can be abstract, like a fake attitude or emotion.
うわべ
上辺 emphasizes the mere surface of something as opposed to its true nature, while 見せ掛け stresses that the surface was deliberately made to deceive.
虚きょ飾しょく
虚飾 is a more literary word for false, showy ornamentation, while 見せ掛け is the everyday term for any kind of fake appearance or pretense.
建たて前まえN2
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.

Show 7 more

ポーズN1
見せかけ emphasizes outward façade or deception, whereas ポーズ can mean simple posturing to impress without necessarily implying deceit.
メッキ
見せかけ is a general word for a false or superficial appearance, while メッキ in this figurative sense specifically evokes a thin, easily-peeled facade hiding one's true nature.
偽ぎ装そうN1
見せかけ is the everyday word for a false outward appearance, while 偽装 is the more formal term for a deliberate act of pretense, often in official or criminal contexts.
振ふりN2
見せかけ emphasizes a deceptive outward show, while 振り (pretence sense) is the broader word for feigning any state or action.
パフォーマンス
見せかけ emphasizes the falseness or pretense of an appearance, while パフォーマンス (showy action) emphasizes the theatrical performance-like behavior itself.
飾かざり気け
見せかけ focuses on a false outward appearance meant to deceive, while 飾り気 is about surface embellishment or the lack of it in one's manner.
茶ちゃ番ばん
見せかけ points to a false outward appearance or facade, while 茶番 describes the whole absurd, staged event or pretense.

Opposites

本ほん物ものN4
本物 means the real, genuine thing, directly opposing 見せ掛け, which is a fake appearance meant to look real.

Don't confuse with

見みかけN2
見かけ is neutral for how something looks (e.g. 見かけによらず), while 見せ掛け specifically implies the appearance was deliberately faked to deceive.

Built from

見みせる+かける

Written forms

見みせ掛かけUsage6%
Standard kanji spelling; the 掛け part is often written in kana as かけ.
見みせかけUsage93%
Common variant with かけ in kana; slightly more casual or modern.
みせかけUsage1%

Etymology

Compound of 見せ (continuative form of 見せる 'to show') + 掛け (continuative form of 掛ける 'to put on, to hang'), literally 'putting on a show'. The meaning of outward pretense developed naturally from the idea of displaying something that is not genuine.