pakitang-tao

Tagalog

Etymology

From pakita +‎ tao, literally “a person for show”.

Pronunciation

• (Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /paˌkitaŋ ˈtaʔo/ [pɐˌxiː.t̪ɐn̪ ˈt̪aː.ʔo]
• Rhymes: -aʔo
• Syllabification: pa‧ki‧tang-ta‧o

Noun

pakitang-tao (Baybayin spelling ᜉᜃᜒᜆᜅ᜔ᜆᜂ)

1. (idiomatic) pretense; superficiality; insincere show of good character or concern toward others, usually to distract people from scrutinizing one's bad behavior

   Synonym: plastik

   • 2003, Pilipinas, Bayang Minamahal 5' 2003 Ed., Rex Bookstore, Inc., →ISBN, page 269:

     ... ang Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), Folk Arts Theater, Philippine Trade Center, Philcite at Film Center. Ito ang ginawang sentrong pangkultura ng bansa. Ngunit naging magastos ang ganitong gawain. Ang iba ay pagkukunwari at pakitang tao lamang.

     ... the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), Folk Arts Theater, Philippine Trade Center, Philcite and Film Center. This is made the national cultural center. But constructing them is costly. Others are just pretense and show-offs.

Related terms

• pakitang-gara
• pakitang-gilas
• pakitang-loob

 

Further reading

• “pakitang-tao”, in Pambansang Diksiyonaryo | Diksiyonaryo.ph, Manila, 2018