表|おもてomote[3]odaka (tail-high)

1. nounsurface
2. nounface (i.e. the visible side of an object)
   この紙かみはどちらが表おもてだか見分みわけがつかない。↗

   I cannot tell which is the right side of this paper.
3. nounfront (of a building, etc.); obverse side (i.e. "head") of a coin
   私はその問題もんだいがわかっていない。裏うらと表おもての区別くべつもついていない。↗

   I don't understand the problem; I could make neither head nor tail of it.
4. nounoutside; exterior
   一体いったい何なんが今晩こんばん表おもてであんなひどい音おとをたてているのか見当けんとうもつきません。↗

   I don't know what kind of creature is making such a terrible noise outside tonight.
5. nounappearance
6. nounpublic
   内面ないめんの欠点けってんは必かならず表おもてに現あらわれる。↗

   An inner defect never fails to express itself outwardly.
7. noun, baseballfirst half (of an inning); top (of an inning)
8. nouncover (for tatami mats, etc.)
9. noun, computingforeground
10. nounOmotesenke school of tea ceremony

• Synonym表面ひょうめんNeutralThe outermost layer of an object, as in 「月の表面」; more objective than 「表」, and also used of outward appearances.
• SynonymうわべWrittenOutward show or facade, as in 「上辺だけの親切」; a written/formal word with a negative shade of mere appearance.
• Synonym外面がいめんWrittenThe outside of a thing, or a person's outward manner, as in 「外面を飾る」; a written/formal word stressing what is shown to outsiders.
• Synonym正面しょうめんNeutralThe front of an object or the direction facing it head-on, as in 「正面玄関」; stresses facing forward, not the outer layer.
• SynonymつらCasualCoarse colloquial word for the face, as in 「面を貸せ」; contemptuous when said of a person's face; also means a surface.
• Synonym前面ぜんめんNeutralThe front face of a three-dimensional object, as in 「前面に出す」; stresses being at the front, and unlike 「表」 it does not cover public settings.
• Synonym外側そとがわNeutralThe outside or outer side, as in 「箱の外側」; pairs with 「内側」 and stresses position rather than the visible face.
• Synonymオモテ面おもてめんNeutralThe front of paper, coins or medals, or the main levels in a game; more explicit than 「表」 about which side is meant.
• Synonym表側おもてがわNeutralThe side facing outward or the side of a building with the entrance, as in 「家の表側」; more concrete than 「表」.
• Synonym上面うわつらNeutralRead 「うわつら」; surface or looks, also in everyday speech, as in 「上面だけ見る」 — implies judging by looks alone, while 「表」 can neutrally mean the front or a public setting.
• Synonym上っ面うわっつらCasualColloquial word for the surface or outward looks, as in 「上っ面だけの議論」; carries a nuance of superficiality.
• Related表層ひょうそうWrittenA written/formal term for a shallow surface layer, as in 「表層の土」; common in geology and psychology.
• Related前部ぜんぶWrittenA written/formal term for the front part of something, as in 「車両の前部」; divides by front-back position, while 「表」 is the outward-facing or public side.
• Related上側うわかわNeutralThe upper side or top surface of an object, as in 「布の上側」; stresses the side facing upward.
• AntonymうちNeutralAntonym for the outside sense of 「表」: the inside of an enclosed space such as a building, as in 「家の内」.
• Antonym裏うらNeutralSame word 「内（うち）」 as the previous entry; here written 「裏」 and read 「うち」, not 「裏（うら）」. Also one's own side, as in 「うちの会社」 — the opposite of the public sense of 「表」.

For the outside or front of something, 「表」 is the default. Use 「表面」 for an object's outermost layer, 「表側」 or 「正面」 for the front, 「上辺」 or 「上っ面」 for mere outward show, 「外側」 for the outer side, and 「内」 for the inside. 「上辺」, 「上っ面」 and 「上面」 often suggest superficiality; 「面（つら）」 is coarse speech for the face.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. （おもて）外そとから見みえる位置いち。
2. （おもて）公然こうぜんの場ば。
3. （おもて）家いえの前まえ。