1To represent or stand for something; to signify or symbolize (usually written 表す in this sense).
このロゴは会社の信頼性を表している。
This logo represents the company's reliability.
赤は情熱や危険を表す色だとよく言われる。
Red is often said to be a color that signifies passion or danger.
グラフの棒の長さが各月の売上を表している。
The length of the bars in the graph represents each month's sales.
2To reveal or show something that was previously hidden; to make it apparent (usually written 現す in this sense).
会議に遅れていた彼が、ようやく姿を現した。
He, who had been late to the meeting, finally showed up.
雲が晴れて、山頂がその姿を現した。
The clouds cleared and the summit came into view.
ログを調べると、エラーの原因が現された。
Checking the log revealed the cause of the error.
3To express thoughts, feelings, or opinions through words or actions (also usually written 表す).
彼女は詩の中でやさしさを表すのが上手だ。
She is skilled at expressing gentleness in her poems.
作文で自分の考えを正直に表した。
I honestly expressed my own thoughts in the essay.
言葉にしなくても、態度で感謝の気持ちを表すことはできる。
Even without saying it out loud, you can express gratitude through your attitude.
4To make an achievement or presence widely known to the public; written 顕す, a somewhat formal or literary usage.
彼の功績はこの論文をもって世に顕された。
His achievements were made known to the world through this paper.