明瞭

• Reading: めいりょう
• Romaji: meiryou
• Kanji breakdown: 明 (mei) — bright, clear; 瞭 (ryou) — clear, obvious, evident
• Pronunciation: /meː.ɾʲoː/

Meaning

Clear; distinct; plain. Describes something that can be perceived or understood without difficulty.

A na-adjective emphasising perceptual or intellectual clarity. Used for both sensory clarity (明瞭な発音, clear pronunciation; 明瞭な画像, sharp image) and logical clarity (明瞭な説明, lucid explanation). Slightly more formal than 明快 and often used in technical or analytical contexts.

Examples

1. アナウンサーの明瞭な発音はとても聞き取りやすい。 The announcer's clear pronunciation is very easy to understand.
2. 写真が明瞭でなく、人物を特定できなかった。 The photo wasn't clear enough to identify the person.
3. 彼女は考えを明瞭に伝える力がある。 She has the ability to communicate her thoughts with clarity.

Usage Guide

Context: technical, academic, broadcasting

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese 明 (mei, bright/clear) + 瞭 (ryou, clear/obvious). 瞭 contains the eye radical (目), emphasising visual clarity — something seen or understood without obstruction.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Educated