はっきり

• Reading: はっきり
• Romaji: hakkiri
• Pronunciation: /hak.ki.ɾi/

Meaning

Clearly; plainly; distinctly. Describes something being unambiguous or easy to perceive.

An adverb used for both visual and verbal clarity. はっきり見える (clearly visible), はっきり言う (speak plainly/bluntly). Can also describe decisiveness: はっきりしない (indecisive/vague). Functions as an adverb or adverb-to. Very common in daily conversation and often appears in requests for clarity.

Examples

1. もっとはっきり言ってください。 Please say it more clearly.
2. 遠くの山がはっきり見える。 I can see the distant mountains clearly.
3. 理由をはっきり説明してほしい。 I want you to explain the reason clearly.

Usage Guide

Context: communication, vision, decisiveness

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

An onomatopoeic (gitaigo) word expressing sharpness and clarity. The っ gemination adds crisp emphasis, mirroring the clarity the word describes. No standard kanji form exists.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal