The surface or outer face of an object.
名刺の表に名前と連絡先が書いてある。
The front of the business card has the name and contact details.
紙の表と裏を間違えないように注意してください。
Be careful not to mix up the front and back of the paper.
The visible side or 'face' of something (the side that is seen).
写真の表にサインしてください。
Please sign on the front of the photograph.
箱の表には注意書きが貼ってある。
A warning label is attached to the box's front.
The front of a building or the obverse ('head') side of a coin.
ホテルの表玄関から入ってください。
Please enter through the hotel's front entrance.
このコインの表には天皇の肖像がある。
This coin's obverse shows the emperor's portrait.
The outside or exterior side of something.
植木を表に出して日光に当てた。
I put the potted plants outside in the sunlight.
家の表の掃除を手伝った。
I helped clean the front/outside of the house.
Appearance or outward impression (how something appears externally).
表向きは平和だが、裏では問題が続いている。
On the surface it seems peaceful, but problems continue behind the scenes.
彼は表情をあまり変えない人だ。
He doesn't change his expression much.
The public or official side; being outward or public (as in 'to appear in public').
社長は表で謝罪の言葉を述べた。
The company president apologized publicly.
政治家は表で説明する義務がある。
Politicians have an obligation to explain matters publicly.
In baseball, the top half of an inning (the visiting team's turn at bat).
昨日は3回の表に逆転ホームランが出た。
Yesterday, there was a game-changing home run in the top of the 3rd inning.
表の攻撃で点を取られた。
They gave up runs during the top of the inning.
The covering or front-facing fabric/material used on tatami or similar items (e.g., tatami surface).
畳の表を張り替える必要がある。
We need to replace the tatami's covering.
古い座布団の表がほつれてきた。
The cover of the old zabuton has started to fray.
In computing, the foreground display or window (the one in front).
作業中のウィンドウを表にして操作する。
Bring the window you're working on to the front and operate it.
そのアプリを表に出しておいてください。
Please keep that app in the foreground.
As an abbreviation, it can refer to the Omotesenke school of tea ceremony.
茶道では『表』が表千家を意味することがある。
In tea ceremony contexts, 'Omote' may refer to the Omotesenke school.
彼は表で茶を学んでいる。
He studies tea ceremony under the Omotesenke school.