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表面 (biǎo miàn) — surface (the outer or top layer of something); outward appearance, facade (as opposed to the real situation)

Definition

表面 means 'surface' or 'outward appearance' — often used to contrast what looks true with what really is (e.g. 表面上). Unlike 外面 (literal outside) or 外部 (exterior), it emphasizes how something appears rather than a physical location.

noun
surface (the outer or top layer of something)outward appearancefacade (as opposed to the real situation)

Examples

  • 表面。
    Zhè kuài shí tou biǎo miàn fēi cháng cū cāo.
    This rock's surface is very rough.
  • 表面，。
    Cóng biǎo miàn shàng kàn, zhè ge jì huà hěn jiǎn dān.
    On the surface, this plan looks very simple.
  • 表面，。
    Tā biǎo miàn shàng hěn píng jìng, qí shí hěn jǐn zhāng.
    She appears calm on the surface, but she's actually very nervous.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

表biǎoouter
面miànsurface

“表” (outer) narrows “面” (surface) to the outside layer.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The shape 表 pairs 衣 (garment) with 毛 (hair or feather), originally an outer garment.

Open 表 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

面 originally drew a man’s face, with one eye exaggerated; the horizontal stroke was added later.

Open 面 →
Appears in
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