見せ掛け・見せかけ|みせかけmisekake[0]heiban (flat)

1. no-adjectiveseeming; pose; show; pretense; sham; mock
   彼女かのじょの涙なみだはほんの見みせかけであった。↗

   Her tears were just for effect.

• Synonym見かけみかけNeutralHow something looks at a glance, as in 「見かけによらず力持ち」; neutral, not necessarily faked, where 見せかけ is a deliberate pose.
• SynonymうわべNeutralThe surface or outward shell, as in 「上辺だけの付き合い」; like 見せかけ it is critical, stressing that only the surface is attended to.
• Synonym表面ひょうめんNeutralThe surface of a thing, physical or figurative, as in 「表面上は平静」; neutral, covering surface phenomena rather than a staged pose.
• Related外見がいけんWrittenNeutral, objective word for how a person or thing looks from outside, as in 「外見で判断する」; unlike 見せかけ it implies no deliberate faking.
• Related見た目みためCasualColloquial everyday word for looks, as in 「見た目がいい」; neutral, with no hint of faking, unlike the deliberate pretense of 見せかけ.
• Related見栄みえCasualColloquial word for putting on a show to save face, as in 「見栄を張る」; centres on vanity, while 見せかけ is any deliberately faked appearance.
• Related体裁ていさいWrittenWritten word for decency or face before others, as in 「体裁を気にする」; centres on worrying how one appears to the world, not on faking itself.
• Related外面がいめんWrittenWritten word: read 「がいめん」 for the outer surface of an object; as 「そとづら」 it covers one's outward manner, as in 「外面がいい」.
• Related格好かっこうCasualColloquial word for how someone looks or is dressed, as in 「変な格好」; 「格好をつける」 means putting on airs or posing to look cool.
• Related装いよそおいWrittenWritten, elegant word for dress or styling, as in 「新しい装い」; it can also suggest disguise, but centres on attire rather than pretense.
• Related仮面かめんWrittenA mask, used figuratively for hiding one's true self, as in 「仮面をかぶる」; a stronger, more concrete image than the hollow show of 見せかけ.
• Related形かたちNeutralShape, and by extension mere form as opposed to substance, as in 「形だけの謝罪」; neutral, while 見せかけ stresses deliberate display.
• Related様相ようそうWrittenWritten word for the aspect or look a situation takes on, as in 「混乱の様相」; describes how things stand, not a staged appearance.
• Related風体ふうていWrittenWritten word for someone's dress and overall look, neutral in itself though often met in 「怪しい風体」; it describes appearance, not pretense.
• Related風采ふうさいWrittenWritten word for a person's bearing and appearance, as in 「風采が上がらない」; centres on overall presence rather than faked show.
• Antonym本物ほんものNeutralThe genuine article, the real thing; the direct opposite of 見せかけ, which is all hollow show with nothing real behind it.
• Antonym実質じっしつWrittenWritten word for substance or essence, the counterpart of surface show; what 見せかけ lacks behind its facade.

「見せかけ」 is a deliberately faked, hollow appearance, as in 「見せかけの優しさ」. For neutral looks use 「外見」 or colloquial 「見た目」; 「見かけ」 is mere appearance, not necessarily fake. 「表面」 is the surface of things; 「上辺」 is surface show, critical of going through the motions. 「見栄」 is posing from vanity, written 「体裁」 concern for face; 「仮面」 a figurative mask, 「装い」 elegant attire, 「風体」 dress and general look, 「風采」 bearing, 「格好」 dress or shape, 「形」 mere form, 「様相」 a situation's aspect. Opposites: 「本物」 the real thing, 「実質」 substance.

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

1. それらしく見せ掛みせかけること。外見がいけん。うわべ。