Japanese word

建前

Pronunciation

Romajitatemae

Meaning

  • nounofficial stance

Example

会社の建前では、残業はないことになっています。kai sha no tate mae de wa zan gyō wa na i ko to ni na tte i ma su

Officially, the company says there is no overtime.

Illustration for 建前 (official stance)

More examples

取引先には、会社の建前を丁寧に伝えます。torihiki saki ni wa gai sha no tate mae o tei nei ni tsuta e ma su

We carefully explain the company's official stance to our business partner.

Core concept

Describes the position or attitude presented openly to others, whether or not it matches a person's private feelings.

Common phrases

  • 建前を言うtate mae o yū

    state an official stance

  • 建前を通すtate mae o tō su

    stick to an official stance

  • 建前と本音tate mae to hon ne

    official stance and true feelings

Similar words

表向きomotemuki: The appearance or position presented openly to others, which may not reflect private feelings.
公式見解kōshikikenkai: A formal position stated by an organization or authority on a particular matter.
立場tachiba: A position or viewpoint held in relation to a situation or issue.

Definition in Japanese

他人や社会に向けて表す公式の立場や態度。ta nin ya sha kai ni mu ke te arawa su kō shiki no tachi ba ya tai do

Word origin

建前 (tatemae) comes from a construction term for the frame raised before a building is completed, and this outward structure later came to suggest a public position.

Usage tips

  • 建前 (tatemae) may refer to a position maintained for social harmony, so its use does not always carry a strongly negative meaning.

Other meanings

  • public facenoun
  • pretensenoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word