本音と建前

ほんねとたてまえ · also ホンネとタテマエ

one's true feelings and one's official stance (which may be at odds); one's real motive and one's stated reason

Also written 本音と建て前

Meaning

expn
one's true feelings and one's official stance (which may be at odds); one's real motive and one's stated reason

Example sentences

アメリカも本音と建前を使い分ける国だ。

America is also a country that separates its public motives from its private ones.