分明
fēn míng HSK 6

English Meaning

📚 Example Sentences

是非分明是重要的道德标准。
Shìfēi fēnmíng shì zhòngyào de dàodé biāozhǔn.
Distinguishing right from wrong is an important moral standard.
他的态度分明表示不同意。
Tā de tàidù fēnmíng biǎoshì bù tóngyì.
His attitude clearly indicates disagreement.
黑白分明的对比让人印象深刻。
Hēibái fēnmíng de duìbǐ ràng rén yìnxiàng shēnkè.
The clear black-and-white contrast leaves a deep impression.
是非要分明。
Shìfēi yào fēnmíng.
Right and wrong must be clear.
事实很分明。
Shìshí hěn fēnmíng.
The facts are very obvious.

💡 Memory Tip

Think of 分 (fēn) as 'to divide' and 明 (míng) as 'bright' or 'clear'—together, they paint a picture of something so clearly divided or bright that it's obvious, like a bright line separating two things.

📝 Usage Notes

This word is used in both spoken and written Chinese, across formal and informal contexts. It commonly appears in arguments, explanations, or observations to stress clarity or obviousness, such as when pointing out a mistake or stating an evident truth.

📖 Grammar Points

分明 is typically placed before a verb or adjective in a sentence to modify it, e.g., '分明 + Verb/Adjective.' It can also be used in fixed phrases like '是非分明' (clear distinction between right and wrong). In the example, it precedes '是他的错' to emphasize the obviousness.

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese culture, 分明 is valued in contexts emphasizing moral clarity or principled stances, such as in idioms like '爱憎分明' (clear love and hate), reflecting a cultural appreciation for decisiveness and integrity.

🔄 Similar Words

Similar words include 明显 (míngxiǎn, 'obvious' - more general adjective) and 清楚 (qīngchu, 'clear' - broader usage). 分明 is more emphatic and often used adverbially to highlight that something is undeniably clear, whereas 明显 can function as an adjective or adverb with a slightly softer tone.

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