(xiǎn) — (adjective) prominent, conspicuous, obvious; (verb) to show, to display, to reveal

Definition

显 (xiǎn) means something is visibly obvious or to make something visible — stronger and more literary than 显眼, and as a verb pairs with 出 to mean 'reveal' (e.g. 显出).

adjective
prominentconspicuousobvious
verb
to showto displayto reveal

Examples

  • Zhè ge guǎng gào de xiào guǒ hěn míng xiǎn.
    The effect of this advertisement is very obvious.
  • Tā liǎn shàng xiǎn chū le xiào róng.
    A smile appeared on her face.
  • Zhè jiàn yī fu xiǎn chū le tā de yōu yǎ.
    This dress shows off her elegance.

Origin

Compound ideograph
六书liùshū
会意huìyì

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.

  • sun
  • silk
  • person's head

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

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