外見で判断する
がいけんで はんだんする (gaiken de handan suru)To form an opinion about someone or something based solely on its outward appearance rather than its actual qualities or content.
外見で判断してはいけません。
You shouldn't judge by appearances.
彼女は外見で判断する傾向があります。
She tends to judge people by their looks.
Often used in contexts discussing superficial judgments, stereotypes, or the importance of looking beyond surface-level impressions.
Related Phrases
💡Pro Tip
Common mistake: Using with 'by' in English
In English, we say 'judge by appearance' (not 'judge by the appearance'). The Japanese phrase doesn't use the particle 'の' before 外見, so the direct translation 'judge by appearance' is correct.
⚡Gold Rule
When to use this phrase
Use this phrase when discussing the tendency to form opinions based solely on outward appearance, rather than considering deeper qualities. It's particularly useful in contexts about prejudice, superficial judgments, or the importance of looking beyond first impressions.
📖Word Origin
Composed of 外見 (がいけん - appearance, outward aspect) and 判断する (はんだんする - to judge, to decide). 外見 comes from 外 (がい - outside) and 見 (けん - appearance), while 判断 is from 判 (はん - to judge) and 決 (だん - to decide). The phrase literally means 'to judge by appearance' and has been used in Japanese since at least the early 20th century.
📝Usage Notes
This phrase is commonly used in discussions about superficial judgments, prejudice, or the importance of looking beyond first impressions. It can be used both in neutral contexts (e.g., 'You shouldn't judge a book by its cover') and in critical contexts about societal biases. The phrase is often used in educational or self-improvement contexts to encourage deeper understanding.