Japanese word

顕著

Pronunciation

Romajikencho

Meaning

  • na-adjectivestriking

Example

この二つの違いは顕著です。ko no futa tsu no chiga i wa ken cho de su

The difference between these two is striking.

Illustration for 顕著 (striking)

More examples

その効果は実験の後半で顕著に現れました。so no kō ka wa jik ken no kō han de ken cho ni arawa re ma shi ta

The effect became clearly apparent in the latter half of the experiment.

Core concept

Marks a quality or difference that stands out clearly enough to attract notice.

Common phrases

  • 顕著な違いken cho na chiga i

    a marked difference

  • 顕著な傾向ken cho na kei kō

    a marked trend

  • 顕著に現れるken cho ni arawa re ru

    become clearly apparent

Similar words

明らかakiraka: Describes something whose truth or meaning can be understood without doubt.
明白meihaku: Describes something that is clearly true or recognizable without doubt.
明瞭meiryō: Describes a quality or difference that is clear and easy to recognize.
著明chomei: Describes something that is notably clear or strongly marked.

Definition in Japanese

物事の状態や違いなどが、他と比べてはっきり目立つさま。mono goto no jō tai ya chiga i na do ga ta to kura be te ha kki ri me da tsu sa ma

Word origin

It is a Sino-Japanese compound of 顕 (ken, "clear" or "manifest") and 著 (cho, "prominent" or "marked"), whose combined sense is something that stands out clearly.

Usage tips

  • In conversational Japanese, 顕著 (kencho) is a formal choice, while 目立つ (medatsu) is more natural in many everyday situations.

Other meanings

  • obviousna-adjective

Related words

  • 顕著さkenchosaprominencenoun
  • 顕著性kenchoseisaliencenoun

Word lists with this word