英明|えいめいeimei[0]heiban (flat)

1. na-adjective, nounintelligent; wise; bright; brilliant; clear-sighted

• Synonym聡明そうめいWrittenWritten/formal. Describes quick understanding and sharp intelligence, often a person's natural gifts; 「英明」 stresses sound judgment and mostly praises leaders.
• Synonym賢明けんめいNeutralNeutral. Means wise and sensible in judgment, as in 「賢明な判断」; it usually describes decisions or actions, while 「英明」 mostly describes people.
• SynonymインテリジェントNeutralNeutral loanword. Mostly in technical contexts, as in 「インテリジェントビル」; it lacks the honorific praise 「英明」 gives a leader.
• Synonym利口りこうNeutralNeutral, common in speech. Covers cleverness and good behavior, as in 「お利口さん」 or 「利口なやり方」; everyday, not formal praise.
• Synonym利根りこんWrittenArchaic and rare today. Refers to innate cleverness one is born with, and can also mean being a smooth talker.
• Synonym明敏めいびんWrittenWritten/formal and rather rare. Highlights a sharp mind and keen insight into the essence of things, not the leadership praise of 「英明」.
• Synonym穎悟えいごWrittenVery literary and rare in modern use. Means exceptionally bright or precocious — far more bookish than 「英明」.
• Synonym怜悧れいりWrittenWritten/formal. Emphasizes a quick, sharp mind — clever and sharp-witted — rather than the sound judgment 「英明」 praises in leaders.
• Synonym慧敏けいびんWrittenExtremely literary; not used in daily life. Suggests a fast mind that judges quickly and accurately, without 「英明」's leader-praising tone.
• Synonym明哲めいてつWrittenWritten/formal. Points to a sage versed in affairs and reason, or such a person; often seen in 「明哲保身」.
• Related賢いかしこいNeutralThe everyday word for smart, also for well-behaved children and pets; casual and very common, where 「英明」 is formal praise.
• Related英知えいちWrittenWritten/formal noun for profound wisdom, as in 「人類の英知」; unlike the adjectival 「英明」, it names the wisdom itself.
• RelatedさといNeutralNeutral adjective. Covers keen senses and quick wits, as in 「耳聡い」 or 「利に聡い」; stresses sharpness, not praise of a ruler's judgment.
• Related利発りはつNeutralNeutral. Describes bright, quick-witted children, as in 「利発な子」; it praises a child's cleverness, not a leader's judgment.
• Related明達めいたつWrittenExtremely literary. Means understanding matters well and judging them wisely; far more bookish than 「英明」.
• Antonym愚鈍ぐどんWrittenWritten/formal antonym. Means dull-witted and slow, the direct opposite of the sharp judgment 「英明」 praises.
• Antonym暗愚あんぐWrittenWritten/formal antonym. Means benighted and foolish, typically said of rulers — the exact opposite of a 「英明」 sovereign.

Use 「英明」 to praise a leader's or ruler's wise judgment, as in 「英明な君主」. For general intelligence say 「聡明」, for a sensible decision 「賢明」, and in everyday speech 「賢い」. The other written terms (明敏, 穎悟, 怜悧, 慧敏, 明哲, 明達, 利根) are literary and rare; 「聡い」, 「利発」, 「利口」 and 「インテリジェント」 cover everyday cleverness or technical uses; 「英知」 is the noun for profound wisdom. Antonyms: 「愚鈍」, 「暗愚」.

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

1. 判断力はんだんりょくが優すぐれていること。
2. 日本人にほんじんの男性名だんせいめいのひとつ。