How to say "clear" in Japanese

• 明らかあきらかJLPT N3approx.Common
  na-adjectiveFor 'clear' meaning evident or plain: a fact, reason, or situation that is obvious and leaves no doubt. Typical when something becomes clear or is clear to everyone.
  その船ふねが沈しずんだのは明あきらかだ。↗

  It is clear that the ship sank.
• 明確めいかくJLPT N3approx.Common
  na-adjectiveFor 'clear' meaning precise and definite: an answer, intention, boundary, or distinction stated or drawn so sharply that no ambiguity remains. It stresses unambiguous definition rather than obviousness.
  この語ごを明確めいかくに定義ていぎできますか。↗

  Can you clearly define this word?
• 透明とうめいJLPT N2approx.Common
  na-adjective, no-adjectiveThe literal, physical sense: 'clear' meaning transparent, like glass or water that you can see through. If you mean evident or well defined, this is not the word you want.
  この透明とうめいな液体えきたいには毒どくが含ふくまれている。↗

  This transparent liquid contains poison.
• 澄ますすますJLPT N1approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbA verb, not an adjective: it means to clear something or make it clear, rather than to describe something as clear. For the adjectival senses of 'clear', use one of the other words.
• 明瞭めいりょうJLPT N1approx.Common
  na-adjective, nounFor 'clear' meaning distinct and easy to make out: something perceived sharply, such as speech, sound, or an image. It is close to 明らか but stresses distinctness rather than obviousness.
  その２語ごの用法ようほうの区別くべつは明瞭めいりょうである。↗

  The distinction in usage between the two words is clear.

Use 「明らか」 for what is evident or plain, 明確 for what is precise and definite, 透明 for physically transparent things, 「澄ます」 as the verb 'to clear', and 明瞭 for what is distinct and easy to make out.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 明らかあきらかclear
• 明確めいかくclear
• 透明とうめいtransparent
• 澄ますすますto clear
• 明瞭めいりょうclear
• 明快めいかいclear
• 鮮明せんめいvivid
• 飛び越えるとびこえるto jump over
• 清いきよいclean
• 追い払うおいはらうto drive away
• 明白めいはくobvious
• 清らかきよらかclean
• 明晰めいせきclear
• 清澄せいちょうclear
• 平明へいめいclear
• 正味しょうみnet (amount)
• 鮮やかあざやかvivid
• 歴然れきぜんevident
• クリアclear
• 瞭然りょうぜんobvious
• うららbright (weather, mood, voice, etc.)
• 白々はくはくclear
• 晴れやかはれやかclear
• さやかclear
• 朗々ろうろうclear
• 画然かくぜんclear (distinction)
• 玲瓏れいろうclear
• 晴朗せいろうclear
• 截然せつぜんclear
• 顕然けんぜんclear
• 晴れ晴れしいはればれしいclear
• 透徹したとうてつしたclear
• 亮然りょうぜんclear
• つまびらかdetailed
• 確たるかくたるcertain
• うららかbright (weather, mood, voice, etc.)
• 涼やかすずやかrefreshing
• 明澄めいちょうlucid
• 読みやすいよみやすいeasy to read
• 鮮鋭せんえいsharp
• 昭然しょうぜんmanifest
• れっきとしたaccepted
• 拓くひらくto open (e.g. path)
• いよやかtall
• 歯切れの良いはぎれのよいcrisp
• 歯切れ良いはぎれよいcrisp
• 歯切れがいいはぎれがいいcrisp
• きれいclean
• 涼しいすずしいclear (e.g. eyes)
• 爽やかさわやかclear (voice)
• 晴れ晴れはればれclear (sky)
• 明朗めいろうclear
• 朗らかほがらかbright (sky, day, etc.)
• 切り開くきりひらくto clear (land)
• 歴々れきれきclear
• 涼しげすずしげclear (of sound, objects, etc.)
• 無にするむにするto empty
• ひらくto open up (new land, path, etc.)
• 下げるさげるto clear (plates)
• 下ろすおろすto clear (the table)
• 凛りん(of voice, sound, etc) clear