明解|めいかいmeikai[0]heiban (flat)

Common
Definitions
  1. noun, na-adjectiveclear explanation
Conjugation
Plain form明解(めいかい)
Polite (desu)明解です(めいかいです)
Negative (dewa nai)明解ではない(めいかいではない)
polite (dewa arimasen)明解ではありません(めいかいではありません)
Past (datta)明解だった(めいかいだった)
Past negative (dewa nakatta)明解ではなかった(めいかいではなかった)
Te form (de)明解で(めいかいで)
Adverbial (ni)明解に(めいかいに)
Conditional (nara)明解なら(めいかいなら)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym明快めいかいNeutralHomophonous with 明解 (both めいかい) but a different word: it praises crisp, well-ordered logic, as in 「明快な答え」, rather than an easy-to-follow explanation.
  • Synonym平明へいめいWrittenWritten/formal prose. Plain and easy to grasp, mostly said of writing, though an explanation can be described this way too; it can also mean daybreak.
  • Related明確めいかくNeutralEveryday and very common. Stresses that something is definite and unambiguous, not that an explanation is easy to understand.
  • Related明瞭めいりょうNeutralAbout sounds, letters and the like being easy to make out, as in 「発音明瞭」, rather than explanations being clear.
  • Related明晰めいせきWrittenWritten/formal prose. Also praises a sharp, clear mind, as in 「頭脳明晰」, a use 「明解」 does not have.
  • Related端的たんてきNeutralAbout going straight to the point in a few words, as in 「端的に言えば」; it is about concision, not ease of understanding.
  • Related明らかあきらかNeutralEveryday word for something evident or obvious; it is about plain visibility in general, not specifically about explanations being easy to follow.
  • Related達意たついWrittenWritten and rare. Says a writer or speaker gets their meaning fully across; it does not single out explanations that are easy to follow.
  • RelatedクリアNeutralColloquial loanword. Covers clear and transparent, plus clearing a bar or finishing a stage, so its range is wider than 明解's.
  • Related読みやすいよみやすいNeutralPoints to the reading experience — legible text or content that is easy to take in — not to explanations as such.
  • Related分明ふんみょうWrittenWritten and rare. Emphasizes boundaries or distinctions being clear-cut; clearness in general, not specifically about explanations.
  • Related一義的いちぎてきWrittenWritten/formal prose. Means admitting only one interpretation, leaving no room for any other; narrower than 明解.
  • Antonym曖昧あいまいNeutralAntonym. Vague and ambiguous — the opposite of the clear, easy-to-follow quality 明解 describes.
  • Antonym難解なんかいNeutralAntonym. Difficult and obscure — the direct opposite of an explanation that is easy to understand.
  • Antonym不明瞭ふめいりょうNeutralAntonym. Unclear or indistinct, the opposite of 明解's crisp explanations.

Use 「明解」 for clear, easy-to-follow explanations, as in 「明解な解答」 or titles like 「明解国語辞典」. For crisp logic pick 「明快」, for the unambiguous 「明確」, for the obvious 「明らか」, for sounds or writing easy to make out 「明瞭」. 「クリア」 is the broader colloquial loanword; 「平明」 suits plain writing and 「明晰」 clear minds. Opposites: 「曖昧」「不明瞭」「難解」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. はっきりとして分わかりやすい解釈かいしゃく。
Kanji in this word
See also

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