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阐明 (chǎn míng) — to clarify, to expound

Definition

A formal, written verb meaning 'to clarify, expound' — used in academic, legal, or official contexts to explain a point, theory, or policy. Stronger and more formal than 解释.

verb
to clarifyto expound

Examples

  • 阐明。
    Qǐng nǐ chǎn míng yí xià zhè ge jì huà de jù tǐ nèi róng.
    Please clarify the specific content of this plan.
  • 阐明。
    Tā zài wén zhāng zhōng chǎn míng le zhè zhǒng xīn lǐ lùn de yōu shì.
    He expounded the advantages of this new theory in his article.
  • 阐明。
    Wǒ men xū yào chǎn míng gōng sī wèi lái de fā zhǎn fāng xiàng.
    We need to clarify the company's future development direction.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

阐chǎnexpound
明míngclear

阐明 combines 阐 (to explain) with 明 (clear), so it means to explain something until it is clear.

Characters in this word

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 闡; 阐 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
門門méndouble door
Sound part声符shēngfú
單
單dān闡chǎn
Same sound today

The traditional form 闡 combines 門, a double door, with 單, which supplies its sound.

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 →
Appears in
Communication & Speech

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