Translation guide
To make something clearer or easier to understand, or to remove confusion. In Japanese, the best expression depends on whether you are clarifying a point, a misunderstanding, a liquid, or a situation.
Could you clarify that?
Polite and natural in conversation.
Let me clarify.
Casual, friendly way to preface a clarification.
The speaker wants to explain something more clearly, often in conversation or writing.
The most direct and common way to say 'clarify' in the sense of making a statement, position, or meaning clear. Suitable for both spoken and written Japanese.
Please clarify that point a little more.
He clarified his position.
Very common in spoken Japanese. Implies making something vague or ambiguous clear. Often used when asking someone to clarify.
Please clarify the meaning.
Often used for revealing or making something known that was hidden or unclear. Slightly more formal than はっきりさせる.
Literally 'add an explanation'. Used when clarifying by providing additional details.
The speaker wants to correct a misunderstanding or clear up confusion.
Specifically means 'to clear up a misunderstanding'. Very natural when clarifying a mistaken impression.
I'll explain to clarify the misunderstanding.
His words clarified the misunderstanding.
Means 'to avoid causing confusion', often used when clarifying to prevent misunderstandings.
To make a liquid clear by removing impurities.
Both mean 'to clarify', but 明確にする is slightly more formal and often used for abstract concepts or official statements. はっきりさせる is more colloquial and implies making something perceptually clear or unambiguous. In daily conversation, はっきりさせる is very common.
Clarify the policy. (formal)
Clarify what you want to say. (casual)
The English loanword クリア (kuria) means 'clear' as in 'pass an obstacle' or 'transparent', but not 'clarify'. Saying クリアにする to mean 'clarify' would be unnatural.
Intended: Clarify the problem. (Unnatural)
I'd like to clarify my earlier statement.
The teacher clarified the difficult concept.
Here 'clarify' is naturally translated as 'explain in an easy-to-understand way'.
彼の説明ではっきりした。
His explanation clarified it.
We need to clarify the truth.
Could you clarify that point? (lit. add an explanation about that point)
Please explain clearly so as not to cause confusion.