Translation guide
The English word 'clearly' is used to indicate that something is easy to see, understand, or perceive, or to emphasize the obviousness of a statement. In Japanese, the translation depends on the specific nuance: visual clarity, clarity of expression, obviousness, or the discourse marker 'clearly' used for emphasis.
Describing something that can be seen or heard without difficulty.
An adverb meaning 'clearly', 'distinctly'. Used for both visual and auditory clarity. Very common and versatile.
遠くの山がはっきり見える。
I can see the distant mountains clearly.
彼の声がはっきり聞こえた。
I could hear his voice clearly.
Emphasizes a sharp, well-defined outline or contrast, often used for visual clarity like a silhouette or printed text.
Formal or technical term for 'clearly', often used in written language or formal speech.
音声が明瞭に録音されている。
The audio is recorded clearly.
Indicating that something is said or written in a way that is easy to understand.
Also used for clarity of expression. 'はっきり言う' means 'to say clearly'.
はっきり言ってください。
Please say it clearly.
彼の説明ははっきりしていた。
His explanation was clear.
Means 'clearly' in the sense of 'explicitly' or 'unequivocally'. Often used in formal contexts.
ルールを明確に説明する。
Explain the rules clearly.
Literally 'in an easy-to-understand way'. A natural way to say 'clearly' when focusing on the listener's comprehension.
分かりやすく話してください。
Please speak clearly (in an easy-to-understand way).
Used to emphasize that something is obviously true or evident.
Means 'clearly' in the sense of 'obviously'. Used when stating something that is evident from facts or situation.
彼は明らかに間違っている。
He is clearly wrong.
明らかに、それは彼の責任だ。
Clearly, that is his responsibility.
Literally 'no matter how you look at it', used to express that something is clearly the case. Colloquial.
どう見ても彼が悪い。
Clearly, he is at fault.
Means 'undoubtedly' or 'without a doubt'. More emphatic and formal.
これは疑いなく最高の作品だ。
This is clearly the best work.
Using 'clearly' at the beginning of a sentence to emphasize a point or express that something is obvious, often with a tone of impatience or sarcasm.
Direct translation, works in many contexts. Can sound formal or emphatic.
明らかに、彼はやる気がない。
Clearly, he has no motivation.
Literally 'no matter how you think about it', used to stress that something is obvious. More conversational.
どう考えてもそれは無理だ。
Clearly, that's impossible.
In casual conversation, 'clearly' can be conveyed through tone and particles rather than a direct adverb. For example, 〜じゃん (from 〜じゃない) implies 'isn't it obvious?'.
それ、無理に決まってるじゃん。
That's clearly impossible, isn't it?
はっきり is used for sensory clarity (seeing, hearing) and for expressing things clearly. 明らかに is used for logical obviousness or when stating a fact that is evident. Using 明らかに for visual clarity would be unnatural.
声がはっきり聞こえる。
I can hear the voice clearly.
明らかに彼が正しい。
Clearly, he is right.
明確に is formal and often used in business or academic contexts. In everyday conversation, はっきり or 分かりやすく are more natural.
月がくっきり見える。
The moon is clearly visible.