人は見かけによらない

hito wa mikake ni yoranai
idiomatic phrase★Intermediate💡 don't judge by appearances◆idiom
◆ What It Really Means
The real qualities or nature of a person/thing cannot be determined by superficial characteristics alone. Inner worth or true nature is more important than outward appearance.
Literal Meaning
A person does not depend on appearance.
Literal Breakdown
人person+はtopic marker+見かけappearance+にon+よらないdoes not depend
◇ Mental Image
Imagine looking at a beautifully wrapped gift box that turns out to contain something ordinary or unexpected. The outer appearance (the box) doesn't reflect the true contents.
◈ When to Use
At a job interview, a candidate wears casual clothes but demonstrates exceptional knowledge and skills during the interview. The interviewer might say this idiom to remind themselves not to judge the candidate's potential solely by their clothing.
◉ Cultural Note
This idiom aligns with Japanese cultural values emphasizing humility and the belief that true nature ('jittai') is more important than superficial presentation. It's often cited in contexts like workplace evaluations or personal relationships where initial impressions might be misleading.
informal

You should not judge someone or something based solely on their outward appearance, as it may be misleading.

このレストラン、外見は古いけど、料理は最高だよ。人は見かけによらないね。

This restaurant looks old, but the food is amazing. You can't judge by appearances.

あの人は服装が派手だけど、実は真面目な人なんだよ。人は見かけによらないよ。

That person dresses flashily, but they're actually serious. You can't judge by appearances.

💡

Commonly used to caution against superficial judgments. Often shortened to 「見かけによらない」 in casual speech.

Related Phrases

人は見かけによらぬものproverb
things are not always as they seem
外見より中身proverb
what's inside matters more than appearance

💡Pro Tip

Cultural Context

This idiom reflects Japan's cultural value of 'honne' (true self) over 'tatemae' (public facade). It's often used in contexts where someone's behavior or skills contradict their appearance.

⚡Gold Rule

Usage Rule

This idiom is typically used to correct someone's initial impression or to explain why someone/something is better/worse than it seems. Never use it when the appearance genuinely matches reality.

📖Word Origin

The phrase combines 「人」 (hito, person) with 「見かけ」 (mikake, appearance) and the negative form of 「よる」 (yoru, to depend on). It reflects a cultural emphasis on inner qualities over superficial traits, similar to English proverbs like 'Beauty is only skin deep.'

📝Usage Notes

Used in both positive and negative contexts. Can be applied to people, objects, or situations. Often used when someone surprises others by defying expectations.

Word Breakdown

人
person
noun
+
は
topic marker
particle
+
見かけ
appearance
noun
+
に
depends on
particle
+
よらない
not depend on
verb (negative)
和英辞典