Japanese word

内面

Pronunciation

Romajinaimen

Meaning

  • nouninner self

Example

人の内面は、見た目だけでは分かりません。hito no nai men wa mi ta me da ke de wa wa ka ri ma se n

You cannot tell a person's inner self from looks alone.

Illustration for 内面 (inner self)

More examples

小説では、登場人物の内面が丁寧に描かれています。shō setsu de wa tō jō jin butsu no nai men ga tei nei ni ega ka re te i ma su

In the novel, the characters' inner selves are portrayed with care.

Core concept

It describes the inward aspects of a person that cannot be directly seen from outward appearance.

Common phrases

  • 内面を描くnai men o ega ku

    portray someone's inner self

  • 内面に踏み込むnai men ni fu mi ko mu

    delve into someone's inner self

  • 内面の葛藤nai men no kat tō

    inner conflict

Similar words

内心naishin: A person's private thoughts or feelings, especially those not openly expressed.
心情shinjō: A person's feelings and thoughts in a particular situation.
胸中kyōchū: A person's thoughts and feelings held in the mind, often in a serious context.
心の中kokorononaka: A person's inner thoughts and feelings as experienced privately.

Definition in Japanese

外からは見えにくい、人の心の中にある性質や考え方。soto ka ra wa mi e ni ku i hito no kokoro no naka ni a ru sei shitsu ya kanga e kata

Word origin

内面 (naimen) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 内 (nai, "inside") and 面 (men, "surface" or "aspect"), meaning the inward aspect of a person.

Usage tips

  • In discussions of personality, 内面 (naimen) often sounds more formal and analytical than everyday 心の中 (kokoro no naka).

Other meanings

  • interiornoun

Opposites

  • 外面gaimenouter appearancenoun

Related words

  • 内面性naimenseiinner naturenoun
  • 内面的naimentekiinnerna-adjective

Word lists with this word