How to say "obvious" in Japanese

• 明らかあきらかJLPT N3approx.Common
  na-adjectiveThe broadest choice: something plainly evident from observation or evidence. Use it for obvious differences, errors, or facts, as in saying it was obvious that he was lying.
  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.
• 当たり前あたりまえJLPT N2approx.Common
  no-adjective, na-adjectiveCovers 'obvious' as 'it goes without saying': something so natural or expected that stating it seems unnecessary. Fits remarks like 'It's obvious that parents love their children.'
  我々われわれは彼かれが成功せいこうしたのは当たり前あたりまえだと思おもった。↗

  We took his success for granted.
• 明白めいはくCommon
  na-adjectiveFor 'obvious' in the sense of unmistakable, leaving no room for doubt. Suits plain statements of fact, as in 'The responsibility is obvious' or 'The difference is plain.'
  何なんをしなければならないかは明白めいはくです。↗

  It is clear what must be done.
• 顕著けんちょCommon
  na-adjective, nounOnly 'obvious' in the sense of 'marked' or 'conspicuous': it really means remarkable or striking, describing differences or changes that stand out. Seldom the word for 'it is obvious that...'
  高熱こうねつがこの病気びょうきの顕著けんちょな症状しょうじょうだ。↗

  High fever is a prominent symptom of this disease.
• 自明じめいCommon
  na-adjective, no-adjectiveFor 'obvious' meaning self-evident: true on its face, needing no proof or explanation. Fits argument and discussion, as in 'It is self-evident that people want happiness.'
  ジョーダンがこの実験じっけんでメイン・エンジンを交換こうかんしたことは自明じめいである。↗

  That Jordan replaced the main engine in this experiment is self-evident.

Use 「明らか」 for the general 'clear/evident' sense, 「当たり前」 for what goes without saying, 明白 for what is unmistakable and beyond doubt, 自明 for what needs no proof, and 顕著 only for striking, marked differences.

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

• 明らかあきらかclear
• 当たり前あたりまえnatural
• 明白めいはくobvious
• 顕著けんちょremarkable
• 自明じめいself-evident
• 言うまでもないいうまでもないgoes without saying
• 紛れもないまぎれもないunmistakable
• 明瞭めいりょうclear
• 瞭然りょうぜんobvious
• ばればれobvious (e.g. of a lie)
• 見え見えみえみえobvious
• 一目瞭然いちもくりょうぜんobvious
• 分かりきったわかりきったobvious
• 知れたしれたobvious
• 白々はくはくclear
• 白々しいしらじらしいbarefaced (e.g. lie)
• 決まりきったきまりきったfixed
• 亮然りょうぜんclear
• 言わずと知れたいわずとしれたas everyone knows
• あたぼうnatural
• あったりまえnatural
• しらこいbarefaced (e.g. lie)
• 昭然しょうぜんmanifest
• さらobvious
• ちょろいsimple (way of thinking, etc.)
• 歴々れきれきclear
• 赤あかcomplete