解明（かいめい、kaimeい）
- clarification

The Japanese word 解明 (かいめい) means to clarify, elucidate, or to shed light on something, often by investigation or research. It implies a process of uncovering the truth or the underlying reasons behind a phenomenon, problem, or mystery. The word suggests a thorough examination and a resulting understanding or explanation. It's about bringing something from a state of being unclear or unknown to a state of being understood. The 解明 process frequently involves analyzing data, conducting experiments, or gathering information. It often suggests a discovery or unveiling of something significant.

⚫︎事件の真相を解明する Translation: To clarify the truth of the incident. ⚫︎科学者はその現象のメカニズムを解明しようと研究している。 Translation: Scientists are researching to elucidate the mechanism of that phenomenon. ⚫︎歴史家は古い文書を分析して、その時代の出来事を解明した。 Translation: Historians analyzed old documents to clarify the events of that era.

You can use 解明 in various contexts, such as scientific research, criminal investigations, historical analysis, or even in everyday situations where you are trying to understand something complex. It is often used in formal writing, news reports, and academic discussions. It's suitable when you're referring to an investigation or a process of finding the underlying cause, reason, or explanation of something.

解明 is written in kanji, with the reading in hiragana: 解明 (かいめい). There are no other common ways to write this word. The okurigana is fixed; it always uses 解 (kai) and 明 (mei).

⚫︎ 究明 (きゅうめい) - Investigation, thorough inquiry ⚫︎ 究明する (きゅうめいする) - To investigate thoroughly ⚫︎ 解釈 (かいしゃく) - Interpretation ⚫︎ 説明 (せつめい) - Explanation ⚫︎ 明らかにする (あきらかにする) - To clarify, to make clear ⚫︎ 探求 (たんきゅう) - Inquiry, pursuit ⚫︎ 追究 (ついきゅう) - Investigation, pursuit (of a deeper meaning)

⚫︎ 不明 (ふめい) - Unclear, unknown ⚫︎ 曖昧にする (あいまいにする) - To obscure, to make vague ⚫︎ 隠蔽する (いんぺいする) - To conceal

警察は、その事件の犯行の手口を解明するために、証拠を分析した。 ・Translation: The police analyzed the evidence to elucidate the modus operandi of the crime. ・Explanation: This sentence shows the use of 解明 in a criminal investigation context, where the goal is to understand how the crime was committed.

研究者たちは、その病気の原因を解明するために、長年研究を続けている。 ・Translation: Researchers have been conducting studies for many years to elucidate the cause of the disease. ・Explanation: This demonstrates the application of 解明 in a scientific context, emphasizing the ongoing effort to understand the origins of a health issue.

The word 解明 is a compound word formed from two kanji: 解 (かい), meaning "to unravel," "to solve," or "to understand," and 明 (めい), meaning "bright," "clear," or "to clarify." Together, they combine to express the idea of clarifying something, bringing it into the light, or making it understandable through investigation and explanation. The word 解明, in this sense, is about breaking down complexity and gaining a clearer view.