简明 (jiǎn míng) — simple and clear; concise | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

adjective

simple and clearconcise

Examples

简明。
Tā de huí dá hěn jiǎn míng.
His answer was concise and clear.
简明，。
Zhè běn shū xiě dé jiǎn míng yì dǒng, shì hé chū xué zhě.
This book is written concisely and clearly, suitable for beginners.
简明。
Qǐng yòng jiǎn míng de yǔ yán shuō míng nǐ de guān diǎn.
Please explain your viewpoint in simple and clear language.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéSide by side

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

“简” and “明” give simple and clear, together meaning concise.

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 簡; 简 is its simplified writing.

竹間簡

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

間

閒xián簡jiǎn

Same sound today

In the traditional form 簡, 竹 (bamboo) is paired with 間 (also written 閒) as a sound part; the simplified 简 is a later shorthand.

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

日月明

日日rìsun
月月yuèmoon

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.

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