Meanings of 明明
By ear
Play it, then pick what 明明 means.
About 明明
Podcast: 明明
Podcast: 明明
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 明明
明显 (míngxiǎn) vs 显然 (xiǎnrán) — use 明明 for emphasis on certainty, while 明显 indicates clarity without the same level of emphasis.
Be cautious not to confuse 明明 with other similar words like 明白 (míngbái), which means 'to understand'. 明明 is more about clarity of a situation rather than comprehension. It is informal and can be used in everyday conversation, but may sound less suitable in very formal writing.
As an HSK Level 6 word, 明明 connects with words that express certainty or clarity, such as 清楚 (qīngchǔ) and 明白 (míngbái). Students should focus on using it in contexts that require strong emphasis on obviousness, practicing its usage in sentences.
Learners often use 明明 when they mean to express understanding, which is incorrect. For example, saying '我明明了这个' (I obviously understand this) should be corrected to '我明白这个' (I understand this).
Pronunciation of 明明
Drill the tone of 明明 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason Explains 明明 to You
Let me explain 明明 for you
Make it yours
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 明明 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.
How Well Do You Know 明明?
Learning Lab
Knowing 明明 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
- MeaningFree
- CharacterFree
- PinyinFree
- TonePro
- ListeningPro
- SpeakingPro
- WritingPro
Component Characters
How to say obviously in Chinese
“obviously” in Chinese is明明
明明 (míngmíng) means 'obviously' or 'plainly,' used to indicate something that is clear or undeniable. It often emphasizes a strong certainty about a situation or fact, and is commonly used in both spoken and written contexts to express that something is evident.
When to use 明明
Be cautious not to confuse 明明 with other similar words like 明白 (míngbái), which means 'to understand'. 明明 is more about clarity of a situation rather than comprehension. It is informal and can be used in everyday conversation, but may sound less suitable in very formal writing.
明明 or something close to it
明显 (míngxiǎn) vs 显然 (xiǎnrán) — use 明明 for emphasis on certainty, while 明显 indicates clarity without the same level of emphasis.
What learners get wrong
Learners often use 明明 when they mean to express understanding, which is incorrect. For example, saying '我明明了这个' (I obviously understand this) should be corrected to '我明白这个' (I understand this).
Write 明明
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 明明 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 明明
明明 carries 4 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
____是你的错，怎么反倒怪我了？
It is clearly your fault — how come you are blaming me instead?
Example Sentences for 明明 (2)
Rebuild it
Rebuild it: “This is obviously her doing.”
Ask Jason
Have a question about 明明?
Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.
Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.
Frequently Asked Questions about 明明
It's better to avoid using 明明 in formal contexts; opt for more formal expressions of clarity.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 明明?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.