biǎo miàn shàng
superficiel; ostensible; apparent; apparemment
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表面上看，他很健康。
Biǎomiàn shàng kàn, tā hěn jiànkāng.
On the surface, he looks very healthy.
虽然表面上看起来很平静，但实际上暗流涌动。
Suīrán biǎomiàn shàng kàn qǐlái hěn píngjìng, dàn shíjì shàng ànliú yǒngdòng.
Although it looks calm on the surface, there are actually undercurrents.
不要只看表面，要深入了解。
Bùyào zhǐ kàn biǎomiàn, yào shēnrù liǎojiě.
Don't just look at the surface, you have to understand deeply.
实际上 (shíjì shàng)
in fact
本质上 (běnxì shàng)
in essence
The Chinese word 表面上 (biǎomiànshang) is composed of three characters: 表面 (biǎomiàn) and 上 (shàng). 表面 (biǎomiàn) means "surface" or "appearance", while 上 (shàng) means "on" or "above". Together, 表面上 (biǎomiànshang) means "on the surface" or "superficially".The word 表面上 (biǎomiànshang) is often used to describe something that is not what it seems. For example, someone might say 表面上他很友好，但实际上他很自私 (biǎomiànshang tā hěn yǒuhǎo, dàn shíjishàng tā hěn zìsī), which means "On the surface he is very friendly, but in reality he is very selfish".The word 表面上 (biǎomiànshang) can also be used to describe something that is only temporary or superficial. For example, someone might say 表面上经济繁荣，但实际上存在很多问题 (biǎomiànshang jīngjì fánróng, dàn shíjishàng cúnzài hěnduō wèntí), which means "On the surface the economy is prosperous, but in reality there are many problems".The word 表面上 (biǎomiànshang) is a useful word to know for HSK learners, as it can be used to describe a variety of different situations.
