The word 明显 is formed by combining two characters, each contributing a core idea that merges to create a new, unified concept. The first character, 明 (míng), originally depicts the sun and moon together, conveying "bright" or "clear". The second, 显 (xiǎn), derives from symbols representing silk and sunlight, meaning "to appear" or "manifest". When paired, their individual notions of "clarity" and "visibility" synergize, producing the compound meaning of "obvious" or "conspicuous", something so clear it becomes visibly apparent.