昭然若揭 (zhāo rán ruò jiē) — abundantly clear; plainly evident; (of truth, facts, or intentions) obvious to all

Definition

A formal written idiom meaning 'so clear as to be exposed' — used for truth, lies, or motives that are obvious to everyone. Stronger and more literary than plain 明显.

idiom
abundantly clearplainly evident(of truth, facts, or intentions) obvious to all

Examples

  • 昭然若揭，。
    Tā de huǎng yán zhāo rán ruò jiē, shuí dōu néng kàn chū lái.
    His lie is abundantly clear; anyone can see it.
  • 昭然若揭，。
    Zhēn xiàng zhāo rán ruò jiē, wú xū zài jiě shì.
    The truth is plainly evident; no further explanation is needed.
  • 昭然若揭，。
    Tā de yě xīn zhāo rán ruò jiē, dà jiā dōu xīn zhī dù míng.
    His ambition is obvious to all; everyone knows it well.

Origin

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
日日rìsun
Sound part声符shēngfú
召
召zhào昭zhāo
Same sound today

昭 combines 日, meaning sun, with 召, which provides the sound.

Open 昭 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
火火huǒfire
Sound part声符shēngfú
肰
肰rán然rán
Same sound today

然 is made from 肰, which gives the sound, and 火, which shows fire, matching the old sense 'to burn'.

Open 然 →

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

若 began as a picture of a person combing their hair, associated with obedience.

Open 若 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
曷
曷hé揭jiē
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

揭 pairs 扌, the hand radical (full form 手), with 曷, which supplies the sound; the hand part fits meanings like lifting or taking off.

Open 揭 →

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