adjective HSK 5
clear · distinct · evident
Meaning
晰 means clear or distinct, typically referring to visual clarity or the distinctness of understanding. It is rarely used alone in modern Chinese and almost always appears in compound words, most notably 清晰 (qīngxī, clear/distinct).
Usage
In contemporary Mandarin, 晰 is almost never used as a standalone character. Native speakers use it primarily in the compound 清晰, which describes something that is clear to see or understand. Using 晰 alone would sound literary or archaic.
Examples
- 01这张照片很清晰，能看到每个细节。, .This photo is very clear; you can see every detail.
- 02他的思路非常明晰，逻辑性很强。, .His thinking is very clear and highly logical.
Common collocations
- 清晰可见clearly visible
- 清晰度clarity, resolution
Antonyms
Origin
The character combines 日 (sun, brightness) with 析 (to split, to separate), suggesting the idea of brightness that allows things to be clearly distinguished from one another.