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Is there a (Japanese) cultural term for reverse-tsundere-type or two-faced characters who are sweet on the outside, but mean people on the inside. Like Kanako from Oreimo and Akira from Lucky Star?

Two-faced!

...and Another one!

coleopterist
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кяαzєя
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2 Answers2

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Actually, the term is still tsundere.

The word is derived from the terms tsun tsun (ツンツン), meaning to turn away in disgust, and dere dere (デレデレ) meaning to become 'lovey dovey'.

  — Tsundere, Wikipedia

There are, then, two types of tsundere: Tsun (Type A), and Dere (Type B).

Type A, also known as harsh, is what we typically consider tsundere; they are typically angry, mean, or pessimistic on the outside, but have a sweet side that they reveal to characters they like (or in other similar situations).

Type B, also known as sweet, is the reverse of Type A. These characters are typically sweet and kind on the outside, but have a hidden meanness inside of themselves that they sometimes unleash, usually in a response similar to that of Type A.

Originally, the term seemed to refer to Type A only, but has expanded over the years:

The term was originally used to describe characters who began with a harsh outgoing personality, but slowly revealed a soft and vulnerable interior over time. Over the years the character archetype has become flanderized, and is now generically associated with a character who flips between the two emotional states at the slightest provocation.

  — Tsundere, TVTropes

So, it seems the way the word tsundere is structured, it can have either tsun as the default mood, or dere, meaning it can be used to describe either variation of a character. In your case, though, you're looking for a "Type B Tsundere".

Cattua
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    I agree. Though the term tsundere mostly refer to those characters with love interests. Note that `dere` means `lovestruck` or `lovey dovey`. – xjshiya May 30 '13 at 05:07
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Instead of tsundere, it's haraguro (腹黒).

It means a character who is "two-faced", acts nice but vicious with certain people or in secret.

Example of haraguro character: Maki from Seto no Hanayome.

Aki Tanaka
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  • The definition of [*haraguro*](http://jisho.org/word/%E8%85%B9%E9%BB%92%E3%81%84) is "wicked". Is there any reference to "acts nice"? – Aki Tanaka Nov 13 '17 at 13:34
  • @AkiTanaka hara is the abdomen, the inside or interior, so haraguro is wicked on the inside: https://vndb.org/i1251. – Gao Nov 13 '17 at 21:13