外表 wàibiǎo external
external; outside; outward appearance
How to remember 外表: 外 outside + 表 indicator = external.
Characters
How it is used
- Outward appearance - how a person or thing looks on the surface: 外表朴素 (wàibiǎo pǔsù) plain-looking, 不能只看外表 (bùnéng zhǐ kàn wàibiǎo) don't judge by appearances.
- Compare 外貌 (wàimào), specifically a person's physical looks/features; 外表 can apply to objects too and often sets up an inside-vs-outside contrast.
- Frequently pitted against 内心/本质 (the inner truth).
Example sentences
- 从他的外表来看，他应该是个有钱人。 Cóng tā de wàibiǎo láikàn, tā yīnggāi shì gè yǒuqiánrén.Judging from his appearance, he must be a rich man.
- 外表并不是全部。 Wàibiǎo bìng búshì quánbù.Looks aren't everything.