Meaning
明了 means to understand something clearly or for something to be clear and obvious. It combines 明 (bright, clear) with 了 (to understand, to complete), creating a word that emphasizes thorough comprehension or clarity. It's more formal than simple 明白 and often appears in written or formal spoken contexts.
Usage
This word is commonly used in formal speech, writing, and official contexts. It can function as both a verb (to understand clearly) and an adjective (clear, obvious). Native speakers often use it when discussing concepts, situations, or facts that require or demonstrate clear understanding. It's less casual than 明白 or 懂.
Examples
- 01经过详细解释，我终于明了了这个问题的复杂性。, .After a detailed explanation, I finally understood clearly the complexity of this problem.
- 02这份报告写得简洁明了，易于理解。, .This report is written concisely and clearly, easy to understand.
Characters
Common collocations
- 一目明了clear at a glance
- 明了事实to understand the facts clearly
- 表达明了to express clearly
Antonyms
Origin
The combination draws from classical Chinese where 明 (brightness, clarity) and 了 (completion, clarity) together emphasize complete understanding or perfect clarity. This usage has been standard since classical times.