Chinese word

表面上

Pronunciation

Pinyinbiǎo miàn shàng

Meaning

  • adverbon the surface

Example

表面上这件事很简单，实际上很复杂。biǎo miàn shàng zhè jiàn shì hěn jiǎn dān shí jì shàng hěn fù zá

On the surface, this matter seems simple, but in reality it is complicated.

Illustration for 表面上 (on the surface)

More examples

表面上似乎一切正常，但细看会发现问题。biǎo miàn shàng sì hū yí qiè zhèng cháng dàn xì kàn huì fā xiàn wèn tí

On the surface, everything seems normal, but a closer look reveals problems.

Core concept

A view that stops at the visible outer layer without claiming what lies underneath.

Common phrases

  • 表面上似乎biǎo miàn shàng sì hū

    apparently on the surface

  • 表面上看起来biǎo miàn shàng kàn qǐ lái

    seem on the surface

Similar words

看起来kàn qǐ lái: Appearing so when judged by visible features or an initial impression.
好像hǎo xiàng: Apparently so, as suggested by an impression rather than clear knowledge.
似乎sì hū: Seeming so when the available evidence does not make it certain.
看上去kàn shàng qù: Appearing so from the way a person or thing looks or seems.

Definition in Chinese

在形式或外观上看来是那样，强调表层状态而不指示内部或真实情况。zài xíng shì huò wài guān shàng kàn lái shì nà yàng qiáng diào biǎo céng zhuàng tài ér bù zhǐ shì nèi bù huò zhēn shí qíng kuàng

Word origin

表 (biǎo, "outer") + 面 (miàn, "face") + 上 (shàng, "on") forms the literal idea of being on the outer face, which extends to judging only by appearance.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, it often introduces a contrast: the first impression comes first, while the sentence later shows why that impression is incomplete.

Other meanings

  • apparentlyadverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 表面biǎo miànsurfacenoun
  • 表面现象biǎo miàn xiàn xiàngsuperficial phenomenonnoun
  • 表面化biǎo miàn huàbecome apparentverb

Word lists with this word