表现
biǎoxiàn · HSK 3
expression
🎭 表 = outer/surface + 现 = appear → what shows on the outside
表 means outer surface or to express; 现 means to appear or manifest. Together: what appears on the surface — performance, behavior, or outward expression of an inner state.
表 — fur 毛 on top + garment 衣 below
Originally depicted an outer fur garment, with 毛 (fur) above 衣 (clothing), showing the hairy outside of a coat. From 'outer garment' it extended to mean 'outside, surface,' then 'to show, express, display,' and later 'table, chart' as something laid out on the surface.