How to say "plainly" in Japanese

• はっきりJLPT N4approx.Common
  adverb (with と)Covers 'plainly' meaning clearly and distinctly: saying what you mean so that no one can mistake it. For most 'plainly = clearly' uses, this is the word to reach for.
  そして書かかれていることはすべて完全かんぜんにはっきりと書かかれている。↗

  And then everything that was written was completely clear.
• きっぱりJLPT N1approx.Common
  adverb (with と), suru verbHere 'plainly' means flatly and decisively: refusing, denying, or turning something down with no room for argument. Not for the 'clearly' sense; think 'plainly refused', not 'plainly visible'.
  彼かれは私を中なかに入いれるのをきっぱりと断ことわった。↗

  He flatly refused to let me in.
• あっさりJLPT N1approx.Common
  adverb (with と), suru verbCovers 'plainly' meaning simply, without heaviness or embellishment: plainly seasoned food, light make-up. It never means 'clearly', so it is not the word for stating something plainly.

Choose 「はっきり」 when 'plainly' means clearly and unmistakably, 「きっぱり」 when it means flatly and decisively, as in refusals, and 「あっさり」 when it means simply, without strong flavor or ornament.

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

• はっきりclearly
• きっぱりclearly
• あっさりlightly (seasoned food, applied make-up, etc.)
• すっきりclearly