Japanese word

公然

Pronunciation

Romajikōzen

Meaning

  • adverbopenly

Example

彼は公然と反対します。kare wa kō zen to han tai shi ma su

He openly opposes it.

Illustration for 公然 (openly)

More examples

その事実を公然と認める人は少なくありません。so no ji jitsu o kō zen to mito me ru hito wa suku na ku a ri ma se n

There are quite a few people who openly acknowledge that fact.

Core concept

Describes doing or stating something in a public, undisguised way rather than keeping it hidden.

Common phrases

  • 公然と反対するkō zen to han tai su ru

    oppose openly

  • 公然と非難するkō zen to hi nan su ru

    condemn openly

  • 公然と認めるkō zen to mito me ru

    acknowledge openly

Similar words

表立ってomotedatte: In an openly visible manner, without keeping the action or position private.

Definition in Japanese

人前で、隠し立てをせずに物事を行うさま。hito mae de kaku shi da te o se zu ni mono goto o okona u sa ma

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese compound 公然 (kōzen, "openly; publicly") combines 公 (kō, "public") and 然 (zen, "so; in that manner"), giving the sense of acting in a public manner.

Usage tips

  • In formal Japanese, 公然と (kōzen to) commonly modifies actions such as opposing, criticizing, or declaring something, so it often corresponds to openly in English.

Opposites

  • 密かhisokasecretna-adjective
  • 内密naimitsuconfidentialna-adjective

Related words

  • 公然性kōzenseiopennessnoun
  • 公然化kōzenkamaking publicnoun

Word lists with this word