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明摆着 (míng bǎi zhe) — (verb phrase) it's obvious; clearly; as plain as day

Definition

A colloquial verb phrase meaning 'it's plain as day / obviously' — used to point out something the listener should already see. Stricter than 明显 (adjective 'obvious'); here the whole phrase functions as the predicate, as in 这道理明摆着。

verb
(verb phrase) it's obviousclearlyas plain as day

Examples

  • 明摆着，？
    míng bǎi zhe Shì tā bú duì, nǐ hái tì tā shuō huà?
    It's obvious that he's wrong — why are you still speaking for him?
  • 明摆着，。
    Zhè jiàn shì míng bǎi zhe shì gè piàn jú, qiān wàn bié xìn.
    This matter is clearly a scam; don't believe it at all.
  • 明摆着，？
    Tā de yì si míng bǎi zhe, nǐ hái bù míng bái ma?
    His meaning is as plain as day — don't you get it yet?

Origin

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

明 combines 日 (sun) and 月 (moon), showing the sun just rising while the moon has not yet set, or two bright objects in the sky, to express brightness.

Open 明 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 擺; 摆 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
罷
罷bà擺bǎi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 擺 has 手 (hand) with 罷 giving the sound bà; the simplified 摆 is a later shorthand, not the original shape.

Open 摆 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 著; 着 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
艸艸cǎograss; plant
Sound part声符shēngfú
者
者zhě著zháo
Same sound today

The traditional form 著 puts 艸 (grass; plant) above 者, which gives the sound; the simplified 着 is a later shorthand.

Open 着 →
Appears in
Attitudes & Opinions

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