About
明 originally depicted moonlight (月) shining through a window (囧), a direct image that meant 'bright.' Over centuries, the window-shaped 囧 was simplified and reanalyzed as 日 (sun), so the modern character appears to combine the sun and moon, the two most brilliant celestial bodies. This accidental pairing perfectly preserves and intensifies the core meaning of brilliant light. Physical radiance naturally gave rise to metaphorical meanings of clarity, intellectual insight, and understanding. Today, 明 is used in a wide range of words, including those for intelligence (e.g., 聰明 'intelligent'), clear explanation (e.g., 明白 'clear'), the future (明天 'tomorrow'), and the absence of darkness or ambiguity.
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Example Sentences Hide
明天是周一。
我明白你的意思。
这个房间很明亮。
请明确你的目标。
他发明了新机器。
我们需要更明确的计划。
明天如果天气晴朗，我们就去公园。
科学家们正在研究如何利用太阳能来发明更环保的能源。
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