Translation guide
How to express that something is clearly true or easily seen in Japanese, depending on the degree of certainty, formality, and whether you are stating a fact or showing annoyance.
Stating that something is clearly true based on evidence or common sense.
The most direct and neutral way to say 'obviously'. Used in both spoken and written Japanese.
He is obviously lying.
This answer is obviously wrong.
Literally 'no matter how you look at it', used for emphasis when something is obvious from any perspective. More colloquial.
He's obviously better, no matter how you look at it.
Means 'naturally' or 'as a matter of course'. Used when the result is expected or logical.
It's obvious that he would get angry.
Formal/literary expression meaning 'needless to say' or 'obviously'. Used in writing or formal speech.
Obviously, health is important.
Expressing that something should have been obvious to the listener, often with irritation or sarcasm.
Casual and common way to say 'Obviously!' or 'Of course!'. Can sound a bit blunt or annoyed depending on tone.
A: Did you do your homework? B: Obviously.
Literally 'It's decided, right?', used to mean 'That's obvious' or 'Of course'. Slightly more emphatic than 当たり前.
Literally 'If you look, you'll understand, right?'. Used when the answer is visually obvious. Can sound impatient.
Using 'obviously' to introduce a statement that the speaker assumes the listener already knows or agrees with.
Directly translating 'obviously' as 明らかに in a sarcastic reply (e.g., 'Obviously!') sounds unnatural. Use phrases like 当たり前でしょ or 決まってるでしょ instead.
明らかに emphasizes that something is evident from observation or facts. 当然 emphasizes that something is logically expected or deserved. Use 明らかに for visual or factual obviousness, and 当然 for moral or logical obviousness.
A: Are you going? B: Obviously.
A: Is this broken? B: Obviously, just look at it.
もちろん、彼も来るよ。
Obviously, he's coming too.