見栄(みば)え

Common expressions

• 見栄(みば)えがする: to look good, to be eye-catching
• 見栄(みば)えがいい / 悪(わる)い: looks good / looks poor
• 見栄(みば)えを良(よ)くする: to make something look better

Similar words

• 見(み)た目(め): looks, appearance; the everyday word.
• 体裁(ていさい): appearances as others judge them, decorum.

見栄(みば)え is how attractive something looks when presented: food, displays, photos, slides.

Watch out

• The same kanji 見栄(みえ) without え, read みえ, means vanity or show: 見栄(みえ)を張(は)る (to show off). Also written 見映(みば)え.