虚飾

• Reading: きょしょく
• Romaji: kyoshoku
• Kanji breakdown: 虚 (kyo) — empty, hollow, false; 飾 (shoku/kaza) — decoration, adornment, pretence
• Pronunciation: /kʲo.ɕo.kɯ/

Meaning

Ostentation; empty pretension; hollow display or affectation without genuine substance. Describes presenting oneself or something falsely to impress.

A literary noun criticising the gap between outward display and inner reality — the hollow decoration maintained purely for show. Often used in essays, literary criticism, and philosophical commentary to condemn individuals or societies that prioritise surface image over authentic substance. Carries a moralistic, somewhat classical tone.

Examples

1. 彼は虚飾を嫌い、常に本質だけを追い求めた人物だった。 He was a man who despised ostentation and always pursued only what was essential.
2. 豪華な装飾に溢れた会場は、彼女の目には虚飾の極みに見えた。 The venue overflowing with lavish decorations looked to her like the height of pretension.
3. 虚飾を剥ぎ取ったとき、そこには何も残らなかった。 When the ostentation was stripped away, nothing remained.

Usage Guide

Context: literature, social criticism, ethics

Tone: critical

Origin & History

Compound of 虚 (empty, hollow, false) and 飾 (decoration, adornment). Together they describe ornament that conceals rather than reveals — display without substance beneath.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical–Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Intellectual