明文 (míng wén) — explicit text (in laws, regulations, or formal documents); explicit terms (in writing)

Definition

A formal/literary term for rules, obligations, or terms that are clearly written out — in laws, regulations, or contracts — rather than implied. Most often seen in the pattern 明文规定 ('explicitly stipulate').

noun
explicit text (in laws, regulations, or formal documents)explicit terms (in writing)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 。
    Zhè xiàng fǎ lǜ míng wén guī dìng le gōng mín de yì wù.
    This law explicitly stipulates the obligations of citizens.
  • 明文。
    Gōng sī míng wén jìn zhǐ yuán gōng shōu shòu huì lù.
    The company explicitly prohibits employees from accepting bribes.
  • 明文。
    Xié yì zhōng míng wén zhǐ chū le shuāng fāng yìng zūn shǒu de tiáo kuǎn.
    The agreement explicitly states the terms that both parties should abide by.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

明míngclear
文wéntext

A 明 clear 文 is explicit written terms.

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 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

The current form 文 shows a man with head, arms, legs, and chest; the tattoo marks on the chest are no longer drawn.

Open 文 →

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