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说明 (shuō míng) — (verb) to explain, to show, to prove; (noun) explanation, instructions, caption

Definition

说明 is the everyday 'to explain / explanation' — words or text that make something clear, such as instructions or a caption. Compare 证明 (to prove, evidence) and 显示 (to display, show data).

verb
to explainto showto prove
noun
explanationinstructionscaption
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 说明。
    Qǐng nǐ shuō míng yí xià zhè ge wèn tí.
    Please explain this question.
  • 说明。
    Shí yàn jié guǒ shuō míng tā shì duì de.
    The experimental results show that he is correct.
  • 说明。
    Qǐng dú yí xià chǎn pǐn shuō míng.
    Please read the product instructions.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

说shuōsay
明míngclear

The part 说 means say, and 明 means clear, so together they express making something clear by saying it.

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 說; 说 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
兌
兌duì說shuō
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 說 pairs 言 (meaning) with 兌 (sound); the simplified 说 is not the form described here.

Open 说 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 4HSK 2.0 Level 4Communication & Speech2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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