メッキ

め

っ

き

Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', transitive verb

usually written using kana alone

Refers to a thin layer of metal applied to a surface, or the process of applying it. Can be used literally for metal plating, or figuratively for a superficial covering.

この指ゆび輪わは金きんメッキだ。
This ring is gold-plated.
部ぶ品ひんにクロムメッキを施ほどこす。
Apply chrome plating to the part.

noun

pretense; façade; sham

usually written using kana alone

Figurative use: a superficial appearance or false front, like a thin layer hiding the true nature. Often used in expressions like メッキが剥げる (the pretense comes off).

彼かれの親しん切せつはメッキに過すぎない。
His kindness is nothing but a façade.
失しっ敗ぱいしてメッキが剥はげた。
After the failure, his true colors showed.

Written forms

メッキUsage81%
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling is standard; the word is usually written in kana.
めっきUsage19%
Hiragana spelling, also common.
鍍金めっき
Kanji form for the literal plating sense; rarely used.
滅めっ金き
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form for the literal plating sense.

Kanji

鍍plating, gilding
金gold
滅destroy, ruin, overthrow

Similar words

コーティング
コーティング is a broader term for any coating (paint, resin, etc.), while メッキ specifically refers to metal plating or a thin metallic layer.
金きん箔ぱく
金箔 is gold leaf, a thin sheet of gold applied to surfaces, whereas メッキ is a process of depositing metal onto a surface, often electrochemically.

Etymology

The reading めっき is a sound shift from めっきん (滅金), literally 'extinguish metal', referring to the process of coating metal. The kanji 鍍金 is a later assignment. The figurative sense developed from the idea of a thin, deceptive covering.

メッキ

め

っ

き

Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', transitive verb

plating; coating; gilding

usually written using kana alone

Refers to a thin layer of metal applied to a surface, or the process of applying it. Can be used literally for metal plating, or figuratively for a superficial covering.

この指ゆび輪わは金きんメッキだ。
This ring is gold-plated.
部ぶ品ひんにクロムメッキを施ほどこす。
Apply chrome plating to the part.

noun

pretense; façade; sham

usually written using kana alone

Figurative use: a superficial appearance or false front, like a thin layer hiding the true nature. Often used in expressions like メッキが剥げる (the pretense comes off).

彼かれの親しん切せつはメッキに過すぎない。
His kindness is nothing but a façade.
失しっ敗ぱいしてメッキが剥はげた。
After the failure, his true colors showed.

Written forms

メッキUsage81%
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling is standard; the word is usually written in kana.
めっきUsage19%
Hiragana spelling, also common.
鍍金めっき
Kanji form for the literal plating sense; rarely used.
滅めっ金き
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form for the literal plating sense.

Kanji

鍍plating, gilding
金gold
滅destroy, ruin, overthrow

Similar words

コーティング
コーティング is a broader term for any coating (paint, resin, etc.), while メッキ specifically refers to metal plating or a thin metallic layer.
金きん箔ぱく
金箔 is gold leaf, a thin sheet of gold applied to surfaces, whereas メッキ is a process of depositing metal onto a surface, often electrochemically.