表面上

biǎomiànshang
outwardly; superficially; on the face of it

CEDICT

Entry Composition

1 表面 biǎomiàn
  1. surface
  2. face
  3. outside
  4. appearance
=2 上 shǎng used in 上聲 shǎngshēng
=2 上 shàng
  1. (bound form) up; upper; above; previous
  2. first (of multiple parts)
  3. to climb; to get onto; to go up
  4. to attend (class or university)
  5. (directional complement) up
  6. (noun suffix) on; above