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分明 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
分明fēnmíngclearHSK 7, v, rank #11889, Hard
分明fēnmíngdistinctHSK 7, v, rank #11889, Hard
分明fēnmíngevidentlyHSK 7, v, rank #11889, Hard
分明fēnmíngclearlyHSK 7, v, rank #11889, Hard
fēnmíng(fen1ming2) T1
  1. 1clear
  2. 2distinct
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
分明fēnmíng(fen1ming2)

分明 (fēn míng) means clear or distinct, often used to describe situations, ideas, or feelings that are easily understood and unambiguous. It can also imply a sense of clarity in a person's expression or in visual perception, conveying that something is evident or apparent.

Frequency#11889DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of clarity is highly valued in communication, especially in business and interpersonal relationships, where being 分明 can prevent misunderstandings and foster trust.

Memory Tip

Think of 分 (fēn) as dividing something into clear parts and 明 (míng) as brightness or clarity. Imagine a bright light (明) shining on a divided piece of paper (分), making everything clear and distinct.

Meanings of 分明

fēnmíng(fen1ming2)
1clear
2distinct
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 分明

分明Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#11889Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

Podcast: 分明

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Podcast: 分明

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AI Study Notes for 分明

Quick Contrast

清楚 (qīngchǔ) vs 分明 (fēnmíng): use 分明 when emphasizing distinctness or clarity in contrast to other elements; 清楚 is broader, often used for overall clarity without the same emphasis on distinction.

Memory Mnemonic

Think of 分 (fēn) as dividing something into clear parts and 明 (míng) as brightness or clarity. Imagine a bright light (明) shining on a divided piece of paper (分), making everything clear and distinct.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 分明 with similar phrases like 明显 (míngxiǎn) which means obvious. 分明 is more about clarity in understanding rather than just visibility. It's generally used in both formal and informal contexts, but be cautious about its tone; it can sound overly assertive if used inappropriately.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 分明 connects well with other advanced vocabulary related to clarity and perception. Students should focus on practicing its use in complex sentences, particularly in descriptive contexts.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of clarity is highly valued in communication, especially in business and interpersonal relationships, where being 分明 can prevent misunderstandings and foster trust.

Common Mistakes

Learners often misuse 分明 in contexts where they should use 明显 (míngxiǎn). For example, saying '这道题分明' (This question is distinct) instead of '这道题明显' (This question is obvious) can lead to confusion.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 分明

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Component Characters

分fēnto divide
HSK 14 strokes刀
View full entry
明míngMing Dynasty (1368-1644)
HSK 18 strokes日
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Write 分明

分
明

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

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Grammar Patterns of 分明

分明 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Related grammar lessons2
Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

我____看他走过来了，怎么一下子就不见了呢？

I clearly saw him walking over — how did he suddenly disappear?

Example Sentences for 分明 (9)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他是个脸部轮廓分明、皱纹明显的矮个子男人。

tā shì gè liǎn bù lún kuò fēn míng、 、 zhòu wén míng xiǎn de ǎi gè zǐ nán。

He's a very small man with a lined, craggy face.
2
他摸着自己轮廓分明的下巴想了一会儿。

tā mō zháo zì jǐ lún kuò fēn míng de xià bā xiǎng le yī huì ér。

He thought for a moment, stroking his well-defined jaw.
3
他看起来很年轻，肤色黝黑，五官分明，双颊凹陷。

tā kàn qǐ lái hěn nián qīng， ， fū sè yǒu， hēi ， wǔ guān， fēn míng ， shuāng。

He looked young, dark and sharp-featured, with hollow cheeks.
4
这幅画作在条理分明和出人意表之间取得了平衡。

zhè fú huà zuò zài tiáo lǐ fēn míng hé chū rén yì biǎo zhī jiān qǔ dé le píng héng。

A balance is achieved in the painting between orderliness and unpredictability.
5
阳光明亮刺眼，在地上投下轮廓分明的影子。

yáng guāng míng liàng cì yǎn， ， zài dì shàng tóu xià lún kuò fēn míng de yǐng。

The sunlight is white and blinding, throwing hard-edged shadows on the ground.
6
一家名为纽彻奇的咨询公司对57家医院所作的调查显示改善十分明显。

yī jiā míng wéi niǔ chè qí de zī xún gōng sī duì57 57 jiā yī yuàn suǒ zuò de tiáo chá xiǎn shì gǎi shàn shí fēn míng。

A survey of 57 hospitals by Newchurch, a consultancy, reveals striking improvements.
7
以前男模是很帅的——都有着棱角分明的下巴、完美的胸肌和金棕色的皮肤。

yǐ qián nán mó shì hěn shuài de—— —— dū yǒu zháo léng jiǎo fēn míng de xià、 bā 、 wán měi de xiōng jī hé jīn zōng sè de。

Male models used to be gorgeous — all chiselled jaw, perfect pecs and golden tan.
8
夏无酷暑,冬无严寒, 四季分明,气候宜人.

xià wú kù shǔ, , dōng wú yán, hán , sì jì, fēn míng , qì.

No summer heat and winter cold - free, four seasons climate.
9
她有着轮廓分明的下巴、高高的额头和一双浅灰色的眼睛。

tā yǒu zháo lún kuò fēn míng de xià bā、 、 gāo gāo de é tóu hé yī shuāng qiǎn huī sè de yǎn。

She had a strongly defined chin, a high forehead, and light grey eyes.

Cultural Notes for 分明

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of clarity is highly valued in communication, especially in business and interpersonal relationships, where being 分明 can prevent misunderstandings and foster trust.

Frequently Asked Questions about 分明

Yes, you can use 分明 to describe emotions that are clearly expressed or easily understood.