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Word 3712 of 4449

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建前

たてまえ

official stance; public position (as opposed to one's real intentions); principle

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Examples

  1. それは建前にすぎない。

    それはたてまえにすぎない。

    That's nothing but the official line.

  2. 日本では建前と本音を使い分ける。

    にほんではたてまえとほんねをつかいわける。

    In Japan people distinguish between their public stance and their real feelings.

  3. 少数派の雇用を進めるというのは建前で、現状はほとんど変わっていない。

    しょうすうはのこようをすすめるというのはたてまえで、げんじょうはほとんどかわっていない。

    Promoting the employment of minorities is the official line, but in reality little has changed.

  4. 会議では建前ばかりが並び、誰も本当のことを言わなかった。

    かいぎではたてまえばかりがならび、だれもほんとうのことをいわなかった。

    The meeting was all official positions; nobody said what they really thought.

Common patterns

建前と本音
public stance and true feelings
建前にすぎない
to be nothing but a formality
建前を言う
to give the official line

Memory tip

Learn it only as half of the pair 建前／本音. 建前 is what it is socially proper to say; 本音 is what you actually think. Saying someone is speaking 建前 implies polite insincerity, so it is not a compliment.

Kanji in this word

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What does 建前 mean?