明めい確かく

め

い

か

く

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

Meanings

Used when something is clearly defined, unambiguous, or explicitly stated. Common in formal, business, and academic contexts.

目もく標ひょうを明めい確かくに設せっ定ていすることが大たい切せつです。
It is important to set clear goals.
彼かれの説せつ明めいはとても明めい確かくで分わかりやすかった。
His explanation was very clear and easy to understand.

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Usage patterns

明めい確かくな〈事こと〉a clear/definite (answer, plan, etc.)
彼かれは明めい確かくな答こたえを避さけた。
He avoided giving a clear answer.
〈事こと〉を明めい確かくにするto make something clear; to clarify something
会かい議ぎの目もく的てきを明めい確かくにする必ひつ要ようがある。
We need to clarify the purpose of the meeting.
明めい確かくに〈動どう詞し〉to (state, explain, etc.) clearly
自じ分ぶんの意い見けんを明めい確かくに説せつ明めいした。
I explained my opinion clearly.

Kanji

明bright, light
確assurance, firm, tight

Related words· 10

明あきらかN3
明らか highlights that something is obvious or self-evident, while 明確 stresses precision and the absence of ambiguity.
はっきりN4
はっきり is a casual, everyday adverb meaning 'clearly', whereas 明確 is a more formal な-adjective used in writing and official contexts.
明めい白はくN1
明白 stresses that a fact is plainly obvious to anyone, while 明確 stresses that a statement or definition is precise and unambiguous.
明めい瞭りょうN1
明確 stresses precision and definiteness of a fact or statement, while 明瞭 stresses that something is clearly perceivable or understandable.

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明めい快かいN1
明確 stresses precision and well-defined boundaries (e.g. definitions, criteria), while 明快 stresses that an explanation or line of reasoning is easy to follow.
具ぐ体たい的てきN3
具体的 stresses that something is concrete and detailed (as opposed to abstract), while 明確 stresses that something is clear and unambiguous (as opposed to vague).
確かく実じつN3
明確 emphasizes clarity and lack of ambiguity, while 確実 emphasizes reliability and the absence of doubt about an outcome.
鮮せん明めいN1
明確 means clear and definite in the sense of facts, statements, or decisions, whereas 鮮明 focuses on visual or perceptual vividness.
確たしかN4
明確 stresses that something is clearly and unambiguously stated, whereas 確か simply conveys that the speaker feels sure of it.
歴れき然ぜんN1
明確 describes something clearly defined or precise, while 歴然 describes something so evident that it strikes the observer at a glance.

Opposites· 12

曖あい昧まいN3
曖昧 means vague or ambiguous, the direct opposite of 明確's clear and precise sense.
微び妙みょうN3
明確 means clear and definite, the opposite of 微妙's sense of being subtle, ambiguous, or hard to pin down.
ファジー
明確 means clear and precise, the opposite of ファジー's vague, imprecise nuance.

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意い味み不ふ明めい
明確 means clear and well-defined, the opposite of 意味不明's sense of being unclear or nonsensical.
紛まぎらわしいN2
明確 describes something clear and unambiguous, the opposite of 紛らわしい, which describes something confusing or easily mistaken.
あやふやN1
明確 means clear and definite, the opposite of あやふや's vagueness and lack of firmness.
玉たま虫むし色いろ
明確 means clear and definite, the opposite of the deliberately unclear, multi-interpretable sense of 玉虫色.
漠ばく然ぜんN1
明確 means clear and well-defined, the opposite of 漠然, which describes something vague and shapeless.
不ふ明めいN2
明確 means clear and definite, the direct opposite of 不明's sense of being unclear or unknown.
うやむやN1
明確 means clear and definite, the direct opposite of 有耶無耶's vague and unsettled state.
不ふ透とう明めいN1
明確 describes something clear-cut and definite, the opposite of 不透明 when used for uncertain situations or prospects.
雲くもをつかむようN1
明確 means 'clear' or 'definite', contrasting with 雲をつかむよう, which describes something hazy and elusive.

Word family

不ふ明めい確かく
unclear; vague; imprecise; indistinct
明めい確かく化か
clarification; making clear; definition

Etymology

Sino-Japanese compound of 明 (bright, clear) and 確 (certain, firm). The combination conveys the idea of something being clearly established or defined.