subtext; implication; connotation; implicit meaning; between the lines
Refers to the meaning that is not stated directly but is understood from context, tone, or implication. Often used when discussing what someone really means beyond their literal words.
It was difficult to read the subtext of his words.
その発言には言外の意味が含まれているように感じた。
I felt that the remark carried an implicit meaning.
含み is a more general term for implication or nuance, while 言外の意味 specifically refers to meaning that is not expressed in words.
裏の意味 can imply a hidden or secret meaning, sometimes with a negative connotation, whereas 言外の意味 is more neutral and focuses on what is left unsaid.
Compound of 言外 (げんがい, 'unspoken, beyond words') and 意味 (いみ, 'meaning'). The phrase is a straightforward combination of these elements.