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显而易见 (xiǎn ér yì jiàn) — obviously; clearly; it goes without saying

Definition

A written idiom meaning 'obviously / clearly' — stronger and more formal than 显然, and more emphatic than 不言而喻. Typically used in writing or argument to state what the reader can see for themselves.

phrase
obviouslyclearlyit goes without saying

Examples

  • 显而易见，。
    xiǎn ér yì jiàn, Zhè ge wèn tí gēn běn bù xū yào tǎo lùn.
    It goes without saying that this problem doesn't need any discussion.
  • 显而易见。
    Tā de chéng jì xiǎn ér yì jiàn bǐ qù nián hǎo hěn duō.
    His grades are obviously much better than last year.
  • 显而易见，。
    Zhè shì xiǎn ér yì jiàn de shì shí, nǐ bù chéng rèn yě méi yòng.
    This is a self-evident fact; it's useless even if you don't admit it.

Origin

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 顯; 显 is its simplified writing.

  • 日日rìsun
  • 絲絲sīsilk
  • 頁頁yèperson's head

For 显, the traditional form 顯 is made of 日 (sun), 絲 (silk), and 頁 (person's head).

Open 显 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 而 is a picture of a beard.

Open 而 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The early form of 易 was a drawing of a filled container, not a chameleon. It showed something full that could be given out.

Open 易 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 見; 见 is its simplified writing.

  • 目目mùeye
  • 卩卩jiékneeling person

The traditional form 見 pairs 目 (eye) with 卩 (kneeling person), showing a kneeling figure with a large eye for a head. The simplified 见 is a later shorthand.

Open 见 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Idioms & Set Phrases

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