外 見(がいけん)

がいけん

noun

outward appearance, exterior, looks

1. outward appearance, exterior, looks

How something or someone looks from the outside. Often used in contrast with inner qualities, true nature, or substance.

外見(がいけん)だけで判断(はんだん)してはいけない。

You shouldn't judge by appearance alone.

外見(がいけん)は怖(こわ)そうだが、実(じつ)はとても優(やさ)しい人(ひと)だ。

He looks intimidating, but he's actually a very kind person.

外見(がいけん)を気(き)にしすぎると、中身(なかみ)を磨(みが)くことを忘(わす)れてしまう。

If you worry too much about your appearance, you'll forget to develop what's inside.

Usage

Often appears in contexts contrasting outward appearance with inner reality: 外見(がいけん) vs 中身(なかみ) (contents, inner quality). Frequently used with 判断(はんだん)する (to judge) in moral advice about not judging by looks.

Common collocations

外見(がいけん)で判断(はんだん)する: judge by appearance
外見(がいけん)を気(き)にする: care about one's appearance
外見(がいけん)と中身(なかみ): appearance and substance
外見(がいけん)に騙(だま)される: be deceived by appearances
外見上(がいけんじょう): outwardly, on the surface

Similar words

外見(がいけん) is relatively neutral and formal. 見(み)た目(め) (looks, appearance) is the everyday equivalent. 容姿(ようし) (physical appearance) specifically refers to a person's face and figure. 外観(がいかん) (exterior) is used more for buildings and objects.

Related Words

Synonym: 見(み)た目(め) (looks (everyday))

Synonym: 容姿(ようし) (physical appearance (person))

Synonym: 外観(がいかん) (exterior (buildings))

Compare: 表面(ひょうめん) (surface, outside)

Related: 見掛(みか)け (appearance)

Related: 見栄(みば)え (appearance)

Compare: 容貌(ようぼう) (facial features)

Compare: 姿形(すがたかたち) (figure)

Compare: うわべ (surface)

general

Added 2026.2.20 14:30 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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