表

• Reading: おもて
• Romaji: omote
• Kanji breakdown: 表 (omote/hyō) — surface, front, outside, table
• Pronunciation: /o.mo.te/

Meaning

Surface; front; outside. The visible or main side of something.

A noun with multiple related meanings centred on the idea of 'the visible side.' It can mean the front of a building, the face-up side of paper or a coin, or the outer surface of fabric. The opposite is 裏 (ura, back/reverse). Also read as ひょう when meaning a chart or table, but おもて specifically refers to surfaces and fronts.

Examples

1. この紙の表に名前を書いてください。 Please write your name on the front of this paper.
2. 建物の表から入ってください。 Please enter from the front of the building.
3. コインの表と裏をよく見てみましょう。 Let's take a close look at both the front and back of the coin.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, directions, description

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The kanji 表 depicts clothing (衣) with hair/fur (毛) on the outside — the visible outer surface. This core meaning of 'what is shown outward' extends to surfaces, fronts, and even charts that display information.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal