明白|めいはくmeihaku[0]heiban (flat)

1. na-adjectiveobvious; clear; plain; evident; apparent; explicit; overt
   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.

• Synonym明瞭めいりょうWrittenWritten/formal prose. Describes something clear and easy to grasp, often voices or expression; 明白 stresses evidence so solid there is no room for doubt.
• Synonym明らかあきらかNeutralNeutral and by far the most common word for something obvious or evident; 明白 is more written in flavour and centres on conclusive evidence.
• Synonym明確めいかくNeutralNeutral. Means clear-cut and precise, as in 「明確な基準」; 明白 leans toward facts that are plainly evident.
• Synonym自明じめいWrittenWritten/formal prose. Means self-evident, needing no proof; 明白 centres on evidence being clear.
• Synonym歴然れきぜんWrittenWritten/formal prose. Says a difference or fact is glaringly obvious, as in 「差は歴然」; 明白 is the more common word.
• Synonym明快めいかいNeutralNeutral. Describes crisp, well-reasoned clarity, as in 「明快な答え」; 明白 stays with the facts.
• Synonym明晰めいせきWrittenWritten/formal prose. Describes a clear mind or lucid argument; 明白 leans toward the facts.
• Synonym一目瞭然いちもくりょうぜんWrittenWritten/formal four-character idiom for something you understand at a glance; 明白 stresses that the facts themselves are clear.
• Related定かさだかWrittenWritten/formal prose. Means certain or definite and is mostly used in the negative 「定かでない」; 明白 stresses that something is plainly evident.
• Related鮮明せんめいNeutralNeutral. Describes vivid colours or sharp, distinct impressions; 明白 is about facts being beyond doubt.
• Related明解めいかいWrittenWritten/formal prose. Praises an explanation as clear and easy to follow; 明白 is about the facts themselves.
• Related平明へいめいWrittenWritten/formal prose. Describes plain, lucid style or wording; 明白 leans toward facts beyond doubt.
• RelatedクリアCasualColloquial loanword covering clarity, transparency, or clearing and passing something; 明白 leans toward facts being definite.
• Related一義的いちぎてきWrittenWritten/formal prose. Means having one single, unambiguous meaning; 明白 leans toward facts being plainly evident.
• Related見え見えみえみえCasualColloquial. Says someone's intent is seen through at a glance; 明白 is about facts being objectively obvious.
• Related言わずもがないわずもがなWrittenWritten/formal phrase meaning it goes without saying, or that something is better left unsaid; 明白 is an ordinary na-adjective.
• RelatedわかりやすいNeutralNeutral. Simply means easy to understand; 明白 stresses facts that are definite and beyond doubt.
• Antonym不明ふめいNeutralNeutral antonym: unclear, unknown or unidentified — the direct opposite of 明白.
• Antonym曖昧あいまいNeutralNeutral antonym: vague and ambiguous, leaving things unsettled — the direct opposite of 明白.

Use 「明白」 for facts or evidence so clear there is no doubt, as in 「明白な事実」. For everyday 'obvious', 「明らか」 is the default; 「明確」 for clear-cut standards, 「明瞭」 for clear voices or expression. The written items (「自明」, 「一目瞭然」, 「歴然」, 「明晰」 etc.) suit formal prose, 「クリア」 and 「見え見え」 casual speech. Opposites: 「不明」, 「曖昧」.

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

1. 証拠しょうこ等とうがはっきりとし、疑うたがいのないこと。また、そのさま。