明确 meaning in English
clear-cut; definite; explicit; to clarify; to specify; to make definite
Meaning of 明确
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- clear-cut; definite; explicit
- to clarify; to specify; to make definite
How to use 明确
As an adjective, 明确 describes goals, answers, attitudes, or instructions that are explicit and definite. As a verb, it means to make something clear or to specify it, often in work or school contexts. Example: 老师明确了考试的范围。(Lǎoshī míngquè le kǎoshì de fànwéi.) The teacher made the scope of the exam clear.
明 (míng) puts the sun 日 next to the moon 月, so things are bright and easy to see. Add 确 (què), meaning certain, as in 正确 (zhèngquè), and 明确 means clear and certain, with nothing left vague.
Common mistake: Learners often use 明确 where 明白 (míngbai) fits better. 明白 means to understand, as in 我明白了 (I get it), while 明确 means explicit or definite and is not used to say you understand something. Also keep 确 in the fourth tone, què, not quē.
明确 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
明 míng · bright · 8 strokes
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确 què · certain · 12 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 明确.
| 明白 | míngbai | clear; obvious; unequivocal; sensible; reasonable |
| 明天 | míngtiān | tomorrow |
| 明年 | míngnián | next year |
| 正确 | zhèngquè | correct; sound; right; proper |
| 说明 | shuōmíng | to explain; to illustrate |
| 明星 | míngxīng | star; celebrity |
| 准确 | zhǔnquè | accurate; exact; precise |
| 确定 | quèdìng | definite; certain |
| 确实 | quèshí | indeed; really |
| 证明 | zhèngmíng | proof; certificate |
| 明显 | míngxiǎn | clear; distinct |
| 确保 | quèbǎo | to ensure; to guarantee |
Questions about 明确
What does 明确 mean?
明确 (míngquè) means "clear-cut; definite; explicit; to clarify; to specify; to make definite" and is used as a adjective and verb.
How do you write 明确?
明确 is made of 2 characters: 明 (8 strokes), 确 (12 strokes). That is 20 strokes in total.
Is 明确 an HSK word?
Yes. 明确 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 明确 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 明确 is written 明確.
What is the difference between 明确 and 清楚 (qīngchu)?
清楚 is more general and everyday. It can describe a clear voice, clear handwriting, or knowing something well. 明确 focuses on being definite and explicit, such as a clear goal, a clear position, or a clear rule.
What are common collocations with 明确?
Common pairs include 明确的目标 (a clear goal), 明确的态度 (a clear attitude), 明确表示 (to state explicitly), and 明确责任 (to clarify responsibilities). 明确表示 is especially common in news and formal speech.