Japanese symbol for “surface”
表
おもて
Romaji: omote
surface
In Japanese, surface is 表, read おもて (omote).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- n surface
- n face (i.e. the visible side of an object)
- n front (of a building, etc.); obverse side (i.e. "head") of a coin
- n outside; exterior
- n appearance
- n public
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “surface”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 表面 | ひょうめん hyoumen | surface; face |
| 面 | つら tsura | surface |
| 肌 | はだ hada | surface; grain (e.g. of wood); texture |
| 上部 | じょうぶ joubu | top part; surface |
| 表層 | ひょうそう hyousou | surface; outer layer |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 発表 | はっぴょう happyou | announcement; publication; presenting |
| 代表 | だいひょう daihyou | representation; representative; delegate |
| 表現 | ひょうげん hyougen | expression; representation; description |
| 表情 | ひょうじょう hyoujou | facial expression; countenance |
| 公表 | こうひょう kouhyou | official announcement; proclamation |
| 表面 | ひょうめん hyoumen | surface; face |
See also: Chinese symbol for “surface”.
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.