明
bright · light
Details
Stroke Order
Component Breakdown
left-right: sun + moon
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of sun and moon. Brightness of sun and moon.
Symbolism
Bright, explanation, civilization. Represents light and understanding.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Bright future
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
公明正大
こうめいせいだい
fair; just and upright; open and honest; fair
山紫水明
さんしすいめい
scenic beauty; scenic beauty
天地神明
てんちしんめい
the gods of heaven and earth; the gods of heaven and earth
不在証明
ふざいしょうめい
alibi; alibi
直截簡明
ちょくせつかんめい
plain and simple; straightforward; plain and simple
明々白々
めいめいはくはく
clearly evident; quite obvious; as clear as day; clearly evident
明鏡止水
めいきょうしすい
clear and serene (as a polished mirror and still water); clear and serene (as a polished mirror and still water)
文明開化
ぶんめいかいか
civilization and enlightenment; Japan's Westernization movement during the Meiji era (Westernisation); civilization and enlightenment
風光明媚
ふうこうめいび
scenic; beautiful; picturesque; scenic
明眸皓歯
めいぼうこうし
starry eyes and beautiful white teeth (said of beautiful women); starry eyes and beautiful white teeth (said of beautiful women)
簡単明瞭
かんたんめいりょう
simple and clear; simple and clear
旗幟鮮明
きしせんめい
making one's attitude (position, stand) clear; unfurling and clearly showing one's banner; making one's attitude (position, stand) clear
事理明白
じりめいはく
facts being beyond dispute; logic being indisputable; facts being beyond dispute
単純明快
たんじゅんめいかい
simple and clear; plain and simple; simple and clear
明窓浄机
めいそうじょうき
dustless desk by a well-lit window; well-lit and clean study conducive to learning; dustless desk by a well-lit window
明朗闊達
めいろうかったつ
upbeat and freehearted; cheerful and magnanimous; upbeat and freehearted
論旨明快
ろんしめいかい
the point of an argument being clearly stated; the tenor of an argument being well-reasoned; the point of an argument being clearly stated
簡潔明瞭
かんけつめいりょう
clear and concise; clear and concise
簡明直截
かんめいちょくせつ
simple and plain; frank, direct and unambivalent; straightforward; simple and plain
真相究明
しんそうきゅうめい
probe into the truth (of the matter); dig into the real facts of the case; get at the root of a matter; probe into the truth (of the matter)
頭脳明晰
ずのうめいせき
being clearheaded; having a keen (sharp, brilliant) mind; being clearheaded
清風明月
せいふうめいげつ
refreshing breeze and the bright moon; a beautiful nocturnal scene with a full moon; refreshing breeze and the bright moon
無色透明
むしょくとうめい
colorless and transparent; colorless and transparent
明哲保身
めいてつほしん
wisdom and self-protection; wise and skilled in the art of self-protection; wisdom and self-protection
明朗快活
めいろうかいかつ
cheerful and openhearted; cheerful and openhearted
柳暗花明
りゅうあんかめい
beautiful scenery of spring; red-light district; beautiful scenery of spring
無明長夜
むみょうじょうや
the long night of spiritual darkness; the long night of spiritual darkness
燃犀之明
ねんさいのめい
extraordinary perceptiveness; sharp insight; extraordinary perceptiveness
Proverbs & Idioms
明日は明日の風が吹く
あしたはあしたのかぜがふく
Tomorrow's wind will blow tomorrow
Tomorrow will take care of itself
明日ありと思う心の仇桜
あすありとおもうこころのあだざくら
Tomorrow's cherry blossoms may fall
Don't take tomorrow for granted
Poetry
今こむと 言ひしばかりに 長月の 有明の月を 待ちいでつるかな
Poem #21 from Hyakunin Isshu
夏の夜は まだ宵ながら 明けぬるを 雲のいづこに 月やどるらむ
Poem #36 from Hyakunin Isshu
明けぬれば 暮るるものとは 知りながら なほうらめしき 朝ぼらけかな
Poem #52 from Hyakunin Isshu
嘆きつつ ひとり寝る夜の 明くるまは いかに久しき ものとかは知る
Poem #53 from Hyakunin Isshu
夜もすがら 物思ふころは 明けやらで 閨のひまさへ つれなかりけり
Poem #85 from Hyakunin Isshu