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显而易见 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
显而易见xiǎn’éryìjiànclearly and easy to see (idiom); obviouslyHSK 7, unknown, 27 strokes, rank #6685, Very Hard
显而易见xiǎn’éryìjiànclearlyHSK 7, unknown, 27 strokes, rank #6685, Very Hard
显而易见xiǎn’éryìjiànit goes without sayingHSK 7, unknown, 27 strokes, rank #6685, Very Hard
xiǎn’éryìjiàn(xian3er2yi4jian4) T3
  1. 1clearly and easy to see (idiom); obviously
  2. 2clearly
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March 24, 2026

显而易见(顯而易見)xiǎn’éryìjiàn(xian3er2yi4jian4)

显而易见 is an idiom that means 'clearly and easy to see.' It is used to express that something is obvious or self-evident, often in discussions or arguments to highlight a point that should be apparent to all. This phrase emphasizes clarity and simplicity in understanding an idea or fact.

Strokes27Frequency#6685DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

This phrase reflects the value placed on clarity and directness in Chinese communication, where being straightforward is often appreciated in discussions, especially in educational and professional settings.

Memory Tip

Imagine a bright light (显) illuminating a simple path (而), making it easy (易) to see (见) where to go. Picture walking down this path and realizing how obvious it is—this visual can help you remember both the meaning and the pronunciation of 显而易见.

Meanings of 显而易见

xiǎn’éryìjiàn(xian3er2yi4jian4)
1clearly and easy to see (idiom); obviously
2clearly
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About 显而易见

显而易见Simplified
顯而易見Traditional
27Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 显而易见

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Podcast: 显而易见

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AI Study Notes for 显而易见

Quick Contrast

明显 (míngxiǎn) vs 显而易见 (xiǎn’éryìjiàn): use 明显 for something that is clear but may require some thought, while 显而易见 emphasizes that something is obvious without needing further explanation.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the context in which you use 显而易见; it is more suitable for formal discussions or written contexts rather than casual conversation. A common mistake is to use it in a sarcastic tone, which can change its meaning. Collocations include '显而易见的事实' (obvious fact) or '显而易见的理由' (obvious reason).

HSK Study Tips

Although 显而易见 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it exemplifies the type of idiomatic expressions that learners may encounter in higher-level reading materials. Focus on understanding its components and practicing its usage in sentences to gain fluency with idioms.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 显而易见 with '显然' (xiǎn rán), which also means 'obviously' but is used differently in sentences. For example, saying '这显然是好' (This is obviously good) instead of the more precise '这显而易见是好' can lead to nuances in meaning.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 显而易见

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Idiom Spotlight: 显而易见

Chengyu Origin Story
Literal meaning:obvious and easy to see

Component Characters

显xiǎnprominent
HSK 69 strokes日
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而érand
HSK 46 strokes而
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易yìeasy
HSK 48 strokes日
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见jiànto appear
HSK 14 strokes见
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How to say clearly and easy to see (idiom); obviously in Chinese

“clearly and easy to see (idiom); obviously” in Chinese is显而易见xiǎn’éryìjiàn

显而易见 is an idiom that means 'clearly and easy to see.' It is used to express that something is obvious or self-evident, often in discussions or arguments to highlight a point that should be apparent to all. This phrase emphasizes clarity and simplicity in understanding an idea or fact.

When to use 显而易见

Be cautious with the context in which you use 显而易见; it is more suitable for formal discussions or written contexts rather than casual conversation. A common mistake is to use it in a sarcastic tone, which can change its meaning. Collocations include '显而易见的事实' (obvious fact) or '显而易见的理由' (obvious reason).

显而易见 or something close to it

明显 (míngxiǎn) vs 显而易见 (xiǎn’éryìjiàn): use 明显 for something that is clear but may require some thought, while 显而易见 emphasizes that something is obvious without needing further explanation.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 显而易见 with '显然' (xiǎn rán), which also means 'obviously' but is used differently in sentences. For example, saying '这显然是好' (This is obviously good) instead of the more precise '这显而易见是好' can lead to nuances in meaning.

Write 显而易见

显
而
易
见

Practice writing 显而易见 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 显而易见

While it's more formal, you can still use it in everyday conversation to emphasize something obvious, just be mindful of the context.

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