明明
HSK 5- Emphasis
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
明明 emphasizes an obvious fact, contrasting with an unexpected or unreasonable outcome.
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
The adverb 明明 is used to open a clause, stating a fact that the speaker considers obvious. The following clause typically presents a contrasting result or action, expressing surprise, complaint, or reproach.
明明 often appears together with 却, 但是, or interrogative words such as 怎么 to emphasize this contradiction. In English, it is equivalent to "clearly…yet…", "obviously…but…".
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 我明明把钥匙放在桌子上了。繁: 我明明把鑰匙放在桌子上了。Wǒ míngmíng bǎ yàoshi fàng zài zhuōzi shàng le.
I clearly put the key on the table.
- 他明明知道，却不告诉我。繁: 他明明知道，卻不告訴我。Tā míngmíng zhīdào, què bù gàosù wǒ.
He clearly knows, yet he won't tell me.
- 这件衣服明明很贵，你为什么买？繁: 這件衣服明明很貴，你為什麼買？Zhè jiàn yīfu míngmíng hěn guì, nǐ wèishénme mǎi?
This outfit is clearly very expensive, so why did you buy it?
- 你明明会说中文，为什么不说？繁: 你明明會說中文，為什麼不說？Nǐ míngmíng huì shuō Zhōngwén, wèishénme bù shuō?
You clearly know how to speak Chinese, so why don't you speak it?
- 明明是他的错，他却不承认。繁: 明明是他的錯，他卻不承認。Míngmíng shì tā de cuò, tā què bù chéngrèn.
It is clearly his mistake, yet he refuses to admit it.
Common mistakes
- Wrong:他很高兴明明。Correct:他明明很高兴，却不说话。
明明 is an adverb that must precede a verb or adjective, and it also requires a contrasting clause that follows to show opposition.
- Wrong:明明他错了。Correct:明明是他错了。
When emphasizing the entire matter, 明明 typically comes before 是. This phrasing is more natural.