清楚

• Pinyin: qīng chu
• Hanzi breakdown: 清 (qīng) = 氵(water) + 青 (green/pure); 楚 (chǔ) = 林 (forest) + 疋 (foot)

Meaning

Clear; clearly; to understand clearly. Describes something that is easy to see, hear, or understand.

Used for visual clarity (I can see clearly), auditory clarity (I can hear clearly), and mental understanding (I understand clearly). Very common in everyday speech. Can be used as an adjective (说得很清楚 — explained very clearly) or as a verb complement (看清楚 — see clearly, 听清楚 — hear clearly).

Examples

1. 你说得很清楚，我听懂了。 You explained it very clearly — I understood.
2. 我没看清楚那个字。 I didn't see that character clearly.
3. 你清楚这件事吗？ Are you clear about this matter?

Usage Guide

Context: communication, understanding, vision

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 请说清楚一点。(Please speak more clearly.)
• 我不太清楚他住在哪里。(I'm not quite clear about where he lives.)

Don't Say

• 清楚不能形容天气 (Don't use 清楚 to describe clear weather — use 晴 or 晴朗 for sunny skies; 清楚 is about visibility, sound, or understanding)

Origin & History

清 (qīng, clear/pure, as in water) + 楚 (chǔ, clear/neat). Both characters independently carry meanings of clarity, and together they reinforce the sense of being clear and distinct.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal