明 — Bright, Clear, Light

Meaning

The kanji 明 means bright, light, clear, and dawn. Its structure gives the meaning away: the left side is 日 (sun) and the right side is 月 (moon). Two natural light sources, placed side by side.

明 goes beyond physical brightness. 明らか (akiraka) describes something obvious or unmistakable — as plain as daylight. The kanji carries a sense of clarity that leaves no room for doubt or confusion.

Japanese children learn this kanji in Grade 2 (around age 7–8). It has 8 strokes and appears across a wide range of vocabulary — from the everyday 明日 (tomorrow) to 文明 (civilization). The radical is 日 (sun). Vietnamese learners will know this as MINH, the same character in văn minh and minh bạch.

Readings

On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings

メイ (mei) is the more common on'yomi, used in formal and written compounds about clarity, fame, and illumination.

説明せつめい (setsumei) — explanation
文明ぶんめい (bunmei) — civilization
発明はつめい (hatsumei) — invention
証明しょうめい (shōmei) — proof, certification

ミョウ (myō) appears in a smaller set of vocabulary — mostly expressions for the next day and certain classical or Buddhist contexts. It reflects an older Chinese pronunciation borrowed into Japanese at a different period.

明日みょうにち (myōnichi) — tomorrow (formal/written)
明朝みょうちょう (myōchō) — tomorrow morning (formal)

Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings

あかるい (akarui) — bright, cheerful, well-lit. Works as an adjective for places, moods, and even someone's depth of knowledge in a subject.

明あかるい部屋へや (akarui heya) — a bright room
明あかるい性格せいかく (akarui seikaku) — a cheerful personality

あける (akeru) — to dawn, to begin. It captures the shift from dark to light — night turning to morning, or one year rolling into the next.

夜よが明あける (yo ga akeru) — the night gives way to dawn
年としが明あける (toshi ga akeru) — the new year begins

あきらか (akiraka) — clear, obvious, evident. A な-adjective for things that are unmistakably apparent.

明あきらかな間違まちがい (akiraka na machigai) — an obvious mistake

Common Words & Compounds

Time & Days:

明日あした／あす (ashita / asu) — tomorrow
明後日あさって (asatte) — the day after tomorrow
明朝みょうちょう (myōchō) — tomorrow morning (formal)
夜明よあけ (yoake) — dawn, daybreak

Clarity & Knowledge:

説明せつめい (setsumei) — explanation
証明しょうめい (shōmei) — proof, evidence
明白めいはく (meihaku) — obvious, plain
明確めいかく (meikaku) — definite, precise, unambiguous
透明とうめい (tōmei) — transparent, clear

Culture & Achievement:

文明ぶんめい (bunmei) — civilization
発明はつめい (hatsumei) — invention
聡明そうめい (sōmei) — wise, sagacious

Light & Brightness:

照明しょうめい (shōmei) — lighting, illumination
明暗めいあん (meian) — light and darkness, contrast
光明こうみょう (kōmyō) — ray of hope, bright light (literary)

Example Sentences

明日あしたは早はやく起おきなければなりません。

Ashita wa hayaku okinakereba narimasen.

I have to wake up early tomorrow.

この部屋へやはとても明あかるいですね。

Kono heya wa totemo akarui desu ne.

This room is very bright, isn't it?

夜よが明あけると、鳥とりたちが鳴なき始はじめた。

Yo ga akeru to, tori-tachi ga naki hajimeta.

When dawn broke, the birds began to sing.

もう少し明確めいかくに説明せつめいしてください。

Mō sukoshi meikaku ni setsumei shite kudasai.

Please explain it a little more clearly.

それは明あきらかな嘘うそです。

Sore wa akiraka na uso desu.

That is an obvious lie.

彼女かのじょは明あかるくて元気げんきな人ひとです。

Kanojo wa akarukute genki na hito desu.

She is a cheerful and energetic person.

彼かれの発明はつめいは世界せかいを変かえた。

Kare no hatsumei wa sekai wo kaeta.

His invention changed the world.

この証明書しょうめいしょが必要ひつようです。

Kono shōmeisho ga hitsuyō desu.

This certificate is required.

人類じんるいの文明ぶんめいは何千年なんぜんねんもかけて発展はってんしてきた。

Jinrui no bunmei wa nanzen-nen mo kakete hatten shite kita.

Human civilization has developed over thousands of years.

Related Kanji

Memory Tip

Look at the kanji: 日 (sun) on the left, 月 (moon) on the right. Sun and moon together — that is BRIGHT. Both light sources at once, nothing stays dark.

For Vietnamese learners, connect it to minh bạch (明白). MINH means clarity and transparency — light cutting through fog. Same character, same idea.

Try pairing 明 with its opposite: 暗 (dark, gloomy). Together they form 明暗 (meian) — light and shadow. Knowing both makes each one stick.