明白な（めいはくな、meihakuna）
- clear/obvious

The Japanese word 明白な, read as めいはくな (meihakuna), means "clear," "obvious," "evident," or "plain." It describes something that is easy to understand, without ambiguity, and readily apparent. It suggests a situation, fact, or concept that is free from confusion or doubt. It can apply to a variety of contexts, from describing a clear explanation to stating an undeniable truth. This adjective implies a high degree of certainty. ⚫︎ It signifies a lack of obscurity or hidden meaning. ⚫︎ It emphasizes the clarity of information or the straightforwardness of a situation. ⚫︎ It is often used to highlight something that is easily perceived or understood.

⚫︎ 彼の説明はとても[明白な] (kare no setsumei wa totemo meihakuna) Translation: His explanation is very clear. ⚫︎ [明白な]証拠があります (meihakuna shōko ga arimasu) Translation: There is clear evidence. ⚫︎ それは[明白な]間違いです (sore wa meihakuna machigai desu) Translation: That is a clear mistake.

明白な is used to describe something that is easily understood or apparent. It's often used when presenting facts, providing explanations, or emphasizing a point. You can use it in formal and informal contexts, depending on the situation and the degree of formality required. ⚫︎ It is frequently used in formal writing and speech. ⚫︎ It is appropriate for situations where precision and clarity are important. ⚫︎ You can use it to reinforce an assertion or to highlight the absence of doubt.

明白な is written with the kanji 明白 (meihaku) followed by the adjectival suffix な (na). ⚫︎ Kanji: 明白 (meihaku) ⚫︎ Hiragana: めい (mei), はく (haku), な (na) ⚫︎ The okurigana is standard, with the "na" always present when used as an adjective. ⚫︎ While the kanji 明白 can be used alone, it is usually followed by な when modifying a noun.

⚫︎ 明確な (meikakuna): Clear, distinct, specific ⚫︎ 明らか (akiraka): Obvious, clear, evident ⚫︎ はっきりした (hakkiri shita): Clear, distinct, definite ⚫︎ 容易な (yōina): Easy, simple, clear ⚫︎ 鮮明な (senmeina): Vivid, clear, distinct (usually for visuals)

⚫︎ 曖昧な (aimaina): Vague, ambiguous, unclear ⚫︎ 不明瞭な (fummeiryōna): Unclear, indistinct, vague ⚫︎ 不鮮明な (fusenmeina): Unclear, indistinct (usually for visuals) ⚫︎ わかりにくい (wakarinikui): Difficult to understand

[明白な]理由で、彼は会議に出席できませんでした。 (meihakuna riyū de, kare wa kaigi ni shusseki dekimasen deshita.) ・Translation: For a clear reason, he couldn't attend the meeting. ・Explanation: This sentence uses [明白な] to emphasize that the reason for the absence was clear and easily understandable.

[明白な]真実を隠すことはできません。 (meihakuna shinjitsu wo kakusu koto wa dekimasen.) ・Translation: You cannot hide the obvious truth. ・Explanation: This sentence uses [明白な] to express that the truth is so clear that it cannot be concealed.

The word 明白 is derived from the combination of two kanji: 明 (mei), meaning "bright," "clear," or "evident," and 白 (haku), meaning "white," or "pure." Together, 明白 suggests a concept of clarity, brightness, and purity, something that is easily seen and understood. The addition of the adjectival suffix な (na) allows 明白 to function as an adjective.