The word 明智 is formed by combining two independent concepts that, when merged, create a new, elevated meaning. The first character, 明 (míng), carries the core idea of "brightness", "clarity", or "enlightenment", suggesting a lucid understanding of a situation. The second, 智 (zhì), represents "wisdom", "intelligence", or "astuteness" as an innate or acquired faculty. Their union is not merely additive but conceptual: 明智 embodies the specific quality of wisdom that arises from or results in clear-sighted perception, denoting the sagacity and sound judgment of someone who sees matters plainly and therefore chooses correctly. It is the wisdom of discernment, born from clarity.