本音と建前

ほんねとたてまえ

Also written ホンネとタテマエ, 本音と建て前

Meanings

1. Expression, Noun one's true feelings and one's official stance (which may be at odds); one's real motive and one's stated reason

Kanji

• 本 origin. Read as ホン.
• 音 sound
• 建 build. Read as たてる.
• 前 front. Read as まえ.

Example sentences

• アメリカも本音と建前を使い分ける国だ。
  America is also a country that separates its public motives from its private ones.

Jinuma: Japanese Dictionary · Word lists