B1 adjective 중립 3분 분량

明白な

meihaku na /meː.ha.ku.na/
Practice it

Overview

The Japanese word '明白な' (meihaku na) is an adjective that translates to 'obvious,' 'clear,' 'evident,' or 'plain.' It's used to describe something that is easily perceived, understood, or recognized without much effort or doubt. The 'な' at the end indicates that it's a 'na-adjective' (also known as a nominal adjective or adjectival noun), which means it typically modifies nouns by attaching directly to them (e.g., 明白な事実 - meihaku na jijitsu - obvious fact) or can be used predicatively with the copula 'だ' (da) or 'です' (desu) (e.g., それは明白だ - sore wa meihaku da - That is obvious).

Breaking down the kanji:

  • 明 (mei/aka): This kanji means 'bright,' 'light,' 'clear,' or 'dawn.' It conveys the idea of something being illuminated and therefore easy to see.
  • 白 (haku/shiro): This kanji means 'white' or 'clear.' When combined with '明,' it further emphasizes the clarity and lack of ambiguity.

Together, '明白' strongly suggests a state of being undeniably clear, like something illuminated and free from obstruction. It implies that there's no room for misinterpretation or doubt.

Usage and Nuances:

  1. 1Objective Clarity: '明白な' is often used for objective truths, facts, or situations where the clarity is indisputable. For example:
  • 明白な証拠 (meihaku na shouko): Obvious evidence
  • 明白な事実 (meihaku na jijitsu): Clear fact
  • その違いは明白だ (sono chigai wa meihaku da): The difference is clear.
  1. 1Perceptual Clarity: It can also refer to something that is visually or sensorily clear.
  • 明白な文字 (meihaku na moji): Clear writing (easy to read)

**Contrast with Similar Words:**

  • はっきり (hakkiri): This is an adverb meaning 'clearly,' 'distinctly,' or 'plainly.' While similar, 'はっきり' often focuses more on the manner of perception or expression, whereas '明白な' describes the state of being clear. You might say 'はっきり言う' (hakkiri iu - to say clearly) but '明白な理由' (meihaku na riyuu - clear reason).
  • 明確な (meikaku na): Also meaning 'clear' or 'definite,' '明確な' often implies a more precise, well-defined, or unambiguous clarity, especially in terms of rules, objectives, or statements. '明白な' can be slightly broader, encompassing general obviousness.
  • 明らか (akiraka): This is another common word for 'clear,' 'obvious,' or 'evident.' It's very similar to '明白な' and often interchangeable. '明らか' might sometimes have a slightly more natural or common feel in everyday conversation for general obviousness, while '明白な' can sound a bit more formal or emphatic, particularly when discussing undeniable truths or evidence.

Example Sentences:

  • 彼の嘘は誰の目にも明白だった。 (Kare no uso wa dare no me ni mo meihaku datta.)
  • His lie was obvious to everyone.
  • その問題の解決策は明白だ。 (Sono mondai no kaiketsusaku wa meihaku da.)
  • The solution to that problem is clear.
  • これは明白な違反行為です。 (Kore wa meihaku na ihan koui desu.)
  • This is a clear violation.
  • 彼の意図は明白だった。 (Kare no ito wa meihaku datta.)
  • His intention was obvious.

In summary, '明白な' is a strong adjective used to convey an unequivocal sense of clarity, obviousness, and evident truth, leaving little to no room for doubt or misinterpretation.

예시

1

それは明白な事実だ。

日常会話

That is an obvious fact.

2

彼の意図は明白だった。

ビジネス、会議

His intentions were clear.

3

明白な証拠がある。

法廷、議論

There is clear evidence.

4

その違いは明白だ。

比較、説明

The difference is obvious.

5

明白な誤りがある。

校正、指摘

There is an obvious error.

자주 쓰는 조합

明白な事実
明白な証拠
明白な違い
明白な誤り

자주 혼동되는 단어

明白な vs 明らかな

Both 明白な (meihaku na) and 明らかな (akiraka na) mean 'obvious' or 'clear.' However, 明白な often carries a stronger nuance of being undeniably clear, leaving no room for doubt or misinterpretation. It's frequently used in formal contexts or when emphasizing the undeniable nature of something. 明らかな is more generally used for things that are simply clear or apparent, without necessarily the strong emphasis on being undeniable. For example, you might say 「明白な証拠」 (meihaku na shouko - undeniable evidence) but 「明らかな間違い」 (akiraka na machigai - a clear mistake).

明白な vs はっきりした

Both 明白な (meihaku na) and はっきりした (hakkiri shita) can mean 'clear' or 'distinct.' However, 明白な (meihaku na) emphasizes something being objectively clear and undeniable, often relating to facts, evidence, or logical understanding. はっきりした (hakkiri shita) often refers to something being clearly distinguishable or understood, sometimes with a more subjective feeling of clarity or distinctness. For example, you might say 「明白な事実」 (meihaku na jijitsu - a clear fact) but 「はっきりした声」 (hakkiri shita koe - a clear voice).

문법 패턴

明白な + noun (e.g., 明白な事実 - meihaku na jijitsu - obvious fact) verb + ことが明白である (e.g., 彼が嘘をついたことが明白である - kare ga uso o tsuita koto ga meihaku de aru - It is obvious that he lied) ～は明白だ (e.g., 彼の意図は明白だ - kare no ito wa meihaku da - His intention is obvious)

How to Use It

사용 참고사항

明白な (meihaku na) is a な-adjective, meaning it modifies nouns directly (e.g., 明白な事実 - meihaku na jijitsu - obvious fact) or can be followed by に (ni) to modify verbs (e.g., 明白に述べる - meihaku ni noberu - to state clearly). It is commonly used to describe things that are undeniably clear, evident, or self-explanatory. For example, 彼の意図は明白だ (Kare no ito wa meihaku da - His intention is obvious) or 明白な証拠がある (Meihaku na shouko ga aru - There is clear evidence). While 明白な focuses on the clarity and perceptibility of something, other words like 明らかな (akiraka na) also mean 'clear' or 'obvious' but can sometimes carry a slightly stronger nuance of something becoming clear after some thought or investigation. 明白な tends to imply an inherent, immediate clarity. Avoid using it in situations where a more delicate or less assertive tone is desired, as its directness can sometimes be impactful.

자주 하는 실수

A common mistake when using 明白な (meihaku na) is to confuse it with similar-sounding or related adjectives, especially those indicating clarity or certainty. For example, 明らかな (akiraka na) also means clear or obvious, and the nuance can be subtle. While both convey clarity, 明白な often implies a stronger, undeniable clarity that leaves no room for doubt, often used in more formal or emphatic contexts. 明らかな can be used more broadly. Another mistake might be using 明白な when a simpler adjective like 簡単な (kantan na - easy/simple) or 分かりやすい (wakariyasui - easy to understand) would be more appropriate if the focus is on ease of comprehension rather than undeniable obviousness. It's also important to remember that 明白な is a な-adjective, so it needs な when directly modifying a noun (e.g., 明白な事実 - meihaku na jijitsu - an obvious fact) and に when modifying a verb (e.g., 明白に言う - meihaku ni iu - to state clearly).

Tips

💡

Usage Contexts of 明白な (Meihaku na)

`明白な (meihaku na)` is an adjective that translates to 'obvious,' 'clear,' 'explicit,' or 'evident.' It's used to describe something that is easily understood or perceived without any ambiguity. For instance, `明白な事実 (meihaku na jijitsu)` means 'obvious fact,' and `明白な証拠 (meihaku na shouko)` means 'clear evidence.' You might also hear it in phrases like `明白な間違い (meihaku na machigai)`, meaning 'an obvious mistake,' or `明白な違い (meihaku na chigai)`, meaning 'a clear difference.' It implies a lack of doubt or a straightforwardness in understanding.

💡

Common Pitfalls and Nuances

While `明白な (meihaku na)` generally means 'obvious,' it can sometimes carry a slightly stronger nuance than just 'clear.' It often implies that something is so clear that it's almost undeniable or undeniable. Be careful not to overuse it in contexts where a simpler 'clear' (like `はっきりとした - hakkiri to shita`) might suffice. Also, while `明白な` is usually used for objective facts or observations, you might occasionally see it in more subjective contexts to emphasize the speaker's strong belief that something is obvious to everyone. It's generally a formal term, so in very casual conversations, you might opt for more colloquial expressions like `当たり前 (atarimae)` for 'obvious' or `もちろん (mochiron)` for 'of course.'

어원

From Middle Chinese 明白 (məŋ-bæk, “clear; obvious”), from 明白 (míngbái, “clear; obvious”). The word is a compound of 明 (mei, “bright”) + 白 (haku, “white”). The 明 element means 'light, bright' and the 白 element means 'white'. Thus the word literally means 'bright white'.

문화적 맥락

In Japanese culture, directness can sometimes be softened to maintain harmony and avoid confrontation. While 明白な (meihaku na) directly translates to 'obvious' or 'clear,' its usage might be nuanced. For instance, stating something as 明白な can sometimes imply that the listener should have already known or understood it, which could be perceived as slightly critical or condescending depending on the context and relationship between speakers. Therefore, even when something is genuinely obvious, people might use softer expressions or indirect phrasing to convey the same meaning, especially in formal settings or when speaking with superiors. However, in technical or academic contexts, or among close peers, 明白な is used straightforwardly to indicate clarity without any negative connotations. It's often used when presenting factual information or logical conclusions.

암기 팁

Visualize a bright, clear sky to remember 明白な (meihaku na) meaning obvious or clear. Imagine the sun shining brightly, making everything easily perceived and understood, just like a clear day. The two kanji mean 'bright' (明) and 'white' (白), so together they paint a picture of something brilliantly clear and unmistakable.

자주 묻는 질문

4 질문

'明白な' (meihaku na) is a Japanese adjective that translates to 'obvious,' 'clear,' 'evident,' or 'plain.' It is used to describe something that is easily perceived, understood, or recognized without doubt or difficulty. When something is '明白な,' its truth or existence is readily apparent, leaving little room for confusion or disagreement. It implies a sense of transparency and straightforwardness, often used in contexts where a fact, a situation, or an intention is unequivocally clear to anyone observing or experiencing it. The nuance of '明白な' suggests that the clarity is not just subjective but objectively discernible.

Certainly! Here are a few example sentences using '明白な': 1. 彼の嘘は誰の目にも明白だった。 (Kare no uso wa dare no me ni mo meihaku datta.) - His lie was obvious to everyone. 2. その証拠は彼女の無罪を明白に示した。 (Sono shōko wa kanojo no muzai o meihaku ni shimeshita.) - The evidence clearly showed her innocence. 3. 彼の成功の理由は明白だ。努力と才能だ。 (Kare no seikō no riyū wa meihaku da. Doryoku to sainō da.) - The reason for his success is clear. It's hard work and talent. 4. 会議での彼の発言は、彼の意図が明白であることを示していた。 (Kaigi de no kare no hatsugen wa, kare no ito ga meihaku de aru koto o shimeshite ita.) - His statements at the meeting indicated that his intentions were clear.

There are several synonyms for '明白な' that convey similar meanings, though with slight nuances. Some common ones include: * **明らかな (akiraka na):** Also means 'clear,' 'obvious,' 'evident.' This is perhaps the closest synonym and is very frequently used. It often implies something that is revealed or brought to light. * **はっきりした (hakkiri shita):** Means 'clear,' 'distinct,' 'definite.' It emphasizes clarity in perception or articulation. * **疑いのない (utagai no nai):** Means 'undoubted,' 'unquestionable,' 'certain.' This focuses on the lack of doubt surrounding something. * **一目瞭然の (ichimokuryōzen no):** Means 'obvious at a glance,' 'self-evident.' This emphasizes immediate and easy understanding upon first observation. Each of these synonyms can be used in contexts where something is easily understood or evident, but '明白な' often carries a slightly more formal or emphatic tone than '明らかな'.

'明白な' (meihaku na) and '明らかな' (akiraka na) are very similar in meaning, both translating to 'obvious' or 'clear,' and are often interchangeable. However, there are subtle differences in nuance and usage. '明らかな' tends to be more broadly used and can describe anything that is clear, such as a clear sky or a clear explanation. It often implies something that has become clear or evident through observation or explanation. '明白な,' on the other hand, often carries a stronger sense of unequivocalness and can imply a more definitive, indisputable clarity, especially in situations involving facts, truths, or intentions that are undeniably plain. While both convey clarity, '明白な' can sometimes suggest a more formal or emphatic statement of something being undeniably apparent.

셀프 테스트

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その証拠は___だ。

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
fill blank

彼の意図は___だった。

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
fill blank

この問題の解決策は___だ。

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:

점수: /3

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