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明显 (míng xiǎn) — clear; obvious; distinct

Definition

明显 describes a difference, change, or trait that is easy to see — stronger than 清楚 ('clear to perceive/understand') and more objective/neutral than 显然 ('evidently', often with a hint of contrast).

adjective
clearobviousdistinct

Examples

  • 明显。
    Zhè jiàn shì hěn míng xiǎn.
    This matter is very obvious.
  • 明显？
    Nǐ wèi shén me yào shuō zhè me míng xiǎn de huà?
    Why did you say such an obvious thing?
  • 明显。
    Tā de guān diǎn yuè lái yuè míng xiǎn le.
    His viewpoint is becoming increasingly obvious.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

明míngclear
显xiǎnevident

明 and 显 both show that something is easy to see, making it obvious.

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 →

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 →
Appears in
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