Japanese word

表

Pronunciation

Romajiomote

Meaning

  • nounfront

Example

封筒の表に住所を書きます。fū tō no omote ni jū sho o ka ki ma su

I write the address on the front of the envelope.

Illustration for 表 (front)

More examples

紙の表に名前を書きます。kami no omote ni na mae o ka ki ma su

I write my name on the front of the paper.

箱の表に大きな絵が描いてあります。bako no omote ni ō ki na e ga ega i te a ri ma su

A large picture is drawn on the front of the box.

Core concept

Describes the outward-facing side of an object, especially the side treated as its front.

Common phrases

  • 表に返すomote ni kae su

    turn right side up

  • 表を下にするomote o shita ni su ru

    place face down

  • 表と裏を確認するomote to ura o kaku nin su ru

    check both sides

Similar words

正面shōmen: The side of an object that directly faces the viewer or the main direction.
前面zenmen: The part of an object located at or facing the front.
表面hyōmen: The visible outer side of an object rather than its inside.

Definition in Japanese

物の二つの面のうち、外側または正面に当たる側。mono no futa tsu no men no u chi soto gawa ma ta wa shō men ni a ta ru gawa

Word origin

表 (omote) is a native Japanese word rather than a compound, and it is written with 表 (hyō, "surface"), whose character meaning supports the sense of an outer side.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, 表に出る (omote ni deru) means that information or a problem becomes public, extending the physical idea of an outward-facing side to public view.

Other meanings

  • surfacenoun
  • outsidenoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word