This is the 9789th most frequent Japanese word.
表向き
"表向き" means "outwardly" or "on the surface," referring to something that appears or is presented publicly.
The word "表向き" is used here to indicate an outward appearance or official stance, contrasting with the true situation.
表向きは問題ないようですが、実際には多くの課題があります。
Officially, everything seems fine, but in reality, there are many issues.
"表向き" expresses the idea of outward or public acceptance, while implying hidden aspects differing from the overt stance.
その提案は表向きは歓迎されているが、裏では反対意見が多いです。
The proposal is officially welcomed, but there is significant opposition behind the scenes.
Here, "表向き" refers to an external or stated reason, suggesting a discrepancy between public justification and internal motive.