Japanese word

明白

Pronunciation

Romajimeihaku

Meaning

  • na-adjectiveclear

Example

その違いは明白です。so no chiga i wa mei haku de su

The difference is clear.

Illustration for 明白 (clear)

More examples

彼の説明から、問題点は明白です。kare no setsu mei ka ra mon dai ten wa mei haku de su

The explanation makes the problem clear.

Core concept

Presents a fact or distinction as so plain that its meaning requires little or no interpretation.

Common phrases

  • 明白な事実mei haku na ji jitsu

    obvious fact

  • 明白な誤りmei haku na ayama ri

    obvious error

  • 明白な証拠mei haku na shō ko

    clear evidence

Similar words

はっきりhakkiri: A fact, difference, or feature is easy to see or understand.
明らかakiraka: A fact or conclusion is clear from the available information.

Definition in Japanese

事実や違いなどが、疑う余地なくはっきりしているさま。ji jitsu ya chiga i na do ga utaga u yo chi na ku ha kki ri shi te i ru sa ma

Word origin

As a Sino-Japanese compound, 明白 (meihaku) combines 明 (mei, "bright") and 白 (haku, "white"), giving the sense of something plainly visible or understood.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, 明白 (meihaku) sounds more formal and emphatic than はっきり (hakkiri), which is more common for ordinary remarks.

Other meanings

  • obviousna-adjective
  • explicitna-adjective

Opposites

  • 曖昧aimaiambiguousna-adjective
  • 不明確fumeikakuunclearna-adjective

Related words

  • 明白さmeihakusaclaritynoun

Word lists with this word