Kiokun Logo
明
🇹🇼🇭🇰🇨🇳🇯🇵🇰🇷

bright

HSK 1 N3
Abstract →Time
míng
メイ、ミョウ、ミン
あ.かり、あか.るい、あか.るむ、あか.らむ、あき.らか、あ.ける、-あ.け、あ.く、あ.くる、あ.かす
명
The character was originally depicted moonlight (月) shining through a window (囧). The 囧 component was later reanalyzed as 日 (sun).
Components
囧 bright window+ 月 month =
明 bright
囧 Phonetic component
bright window
The modern form looks similar to 日 (sun).
View phonetic series →
月 Iconic component
yuè month
moon
Notes
Similar Characters
刖 cutting off feet塍 Path A Raised Path外 outside炙 broil钥 lock (simp)亙 extend across (trad)望 expect朝 dynasty朐 warm (6710)朔 first day of lunar month朗 lucent朞 full year期 period of time朦 dim朧 moon (trad)潸 tears甩 fling肖 resemble胧 condition or appearance (simp)臍 abdominal area of crab (trad)
Historical Evolution
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle
(~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle
(~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle
(~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle
(~1250-1000 BC)
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Bronze
Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Bronze
Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)
Bronze
Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze
Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Bronze
Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Bronze Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Bronze
Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Bronze Early Warring States (~400 BC)
Bronze
Early Warring States (~400 BC)
Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)
Bronze
Late Warring States (~250 BC)
Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)
Bronze
Late Warring States (~250 BC)
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal
Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal
Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal
Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Seal
Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical
Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical
Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical
Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical
Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
明
Regular
Modern
Chinese
明 [Míng]
Ming Dynasty (1368-1644); surname Ming; Ming (c. 2000 BC), fourth of the legendary Flame Emperors, 炎帝[Yán​dì] descended from Shennong 神農|神农[Shén​nóng] Farmer God
明 [míng]
bright; opposite: dark 暗[àn]; (of meaning) clear; to understand; next; public or open; wise; generic term for a sacrifice to the gods
Japanese
明 めい 同音

noun

  1. brightness
  2. discernment; insight; an eye (for)
  3. eyesight; vision

prefix

  1. abbrev. nth year in the Meiji era (1868.9.8-1912.7.30)
明 みん 同音
noun historical Ming dynasty (of China; 1368-1644)
明 、 清 さや 同音

adverb

  1. archaic clearly; brightly
  2. archaic cleanly; purely
明 みょう 同音
  1. noun Buddhism vidya (wisdom)
  2. noun mantra
  3. prefix the coming (July 4, etc.)
Example Sentences
Japanese Names
明 あかし
Akashi female given namesurname
明 あかしお
Akashio unclassified name
明 あかじお
Akajio unclassified name
明 あかみね
Akamine unclassified name
明 あかり
Akari female given namesurname
明 あかる
Akaru female given name
明 あき
Aki female given namesurname
明 あきつぐ
Akitsugu unclassified name
明 あきのり
Akinori unclassified name
明 あきら
Akira female given namesurname
明 あきらか
Akiraka surname
明 あくる
Akuru female given name
明 あけ
Ake place namesurname
明 あけさき
Akesaki surname
明 あけみね
Akemine unclassified name
明 あけら
Akera surname
明 あすみ
Asumi unclassified name
明 さとし
Satoshi male given name
明 さや
Saya female given name
明 さやか
Sayaka female given name
明 とおる
Tooru given name
明 とし
Toshi female given name
明 はる
Haru female given name
明 ひなた
Hinata female given name
明 みょう
Myō surname
明 みょうじん
Myōjin surname
明 みん
Min given name
明 めい
Mei female given name
明 めいしゅう
Meishuu surname
CHINESE WORDS (200)
明白 [míng​bai] #175
clear
明天 [míng​tiān] #352
tomorrow
明显 [míng​xiǎn] #940
clear
明显 [míng​xiǎn] #940
clear
证明 [zhèng​míng] #561
proof
证明 [zhèng​míng] #561
proof
说明 [shuō​míng] #1,014
to explain
说明 [shuō​míng] #1,014
to explain
聪明 [cōng​ming] #715
intelligent
聪明 [cōng​ming] #715
intelligent
190 more items
JAPANESE WORDS (200)
⭐ 開く [ひらく] #255
to open
⭐ 説明 [せつめい] #311
explanation
⭐ 明日 [あした] #547
tomorrow
⭐ 開ける [あける] #583
to open (a door, etc.)
⭐ 明るい [あかるい] #935
light
⭐ 明らか [あきらか] #1,031
clear
⭐ 空間 [くうかん] #1,521
space
⭐ 証明 [しょうめい] #1,942
proof
⭐ 不明 [ふめい] #2,747
unclear
⭐ 明確 [めいかく] #2,778
clear
190 more items
KOREAN WORDS (52)
분명 #924
clearly; surely
설명 #4,214
explanation; account
조명 #7,363
lighting
명도 #10,579
brightness
해명 #10,613
explanation; clarification; elucidation
증명 #21,609
verification; testification
변명 #28,597
excuse; justification
증명서 #31,782
certificate
투명 #32,604
clarity
행방불명 #35,659
being missing; being lost
42 more items