The public face you present. Wearing it is a slightly strange thing to announce.

What a Japanese person actually thinks
Reads as either cynical or confessional: 'everything you see is a front'. Interesting, but it says something a bit bleak about you, permanently.

Meaning

Literally: building + front
Actually: The stance you show the world, as distinct from your 本音. Not a lie exactly — a social necessity everyone participates in and everyone knows about.

Scores

Naturalness●●●●●

Everyday word.

Coolness●●●●●

Fine characters. The self-description is the question — most people would rather claim the honne half.

Watch out

mediumAnnouncing that you operate on tatemae is close to announcing that you're not being straight with people.

Get this instead

本音 honne
one's true feelings

The other half of the pair, and the far better one to claim.

On skin

建前

Orientation: either

Mincho.