biǎomíng: 表明 - To Indicate, Make Clear, State Clearly

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• Summary: Learn how to use the essential Chinese verb 表明 (biǎomíng), which means “to indicate,” “to make clear,” or “to state clearly.” This page breaks down its meaning, provides rich cultural context, and offers over 10 practical example sentences. Discover the crucial difference between 表明 (biǎomíng), 说明 (shuōmíng), and 表示 (biǎoshì) to elevate your formal and written Chinese. This is your complete guide to mastering how to show, prove, and indicate with precision.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): biǎo míng
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To make something clear or evident, often through facts, actions, or formal statements.
• In a Nutshell: Think of 表明 (biǎomíng) as the verb for “the evidence shows…” or “actions speak louder than words.” It's used when a fact, a piece of data, or a deliberate action points to a specific conclusion or reveals an underlying truth. It's more formal and objective than simply “saying” or “showing” something casually. It implies that something that was previously internal or unclear is now being made externally and clearly visible.

• 表 (biǎo): This character means “surface,” “exterior,” or “to express.” Its original form depicted fur clothing, representing the outside of a person. This evolved to mean expressing what's on the inside, on the surface for all to see.
• 明 (míng): This character means “bright” or “clear.” It's a beautiful combination of the sun (日) and the moon (月), the two brightest objects in the sky. Together, they symbolize ultimate clarity.
• The combination 表明 (biǎomíng) literally means “to make the surface bright” or “to show clearly.” It perfectly captures the essence of bringing a fact, intention, or truth out into the open, making it unmistakably clear for everyone to understand.

While not as deeply philosophical as concepts like 关系 (guānxi), 表明 (biǎomíng) reveals a lot about Chinese communication norms. Traditionally, Chinese culture can value indirectness and subtlety (含蓄 - hánxù) to maintain social harmony. People often avoid direct confrontation or overly blunt statements. 表明 (biǎomíng) is the tool you use when that subtlety needs to be set aside for clarity, especially in formal settings. It's a “clarifying” word. In the West, one might “speak their mind” to be direct. In China, one might 表明立场 (biǎomíng lìchǎng)—“make one's position clear”—in a more structured, evidence-based way. It's less about emotional, spontaneous opinion and more about a considered, deliberate presentation of fact or intention. Using 表明 signals a shift to a more serious, objective, and unambiguous mode of communication.

表明 (biǎomíng) is frequently used in both written and spoken Chinese, but it carries a formal and objective tone.

• In News, Reports, and Academia: This is the most common context. You'll see it constantly in news articles, scientific papers, and business reports.
  • e.g., “调查结果表明…” (Diàochá jiéguǒ biǎomíng…) - “The survey results indicate…”
  • e.g., “研究表明…” (Yánjiū biǎomíng…) - “Research shows…”
• Formal Statements and Diplomacy: When a government spokesperson or a company representative makes an official statement, they use 表明 to declare their position or intention without ambiguity.
  • e.g., “我在此表明公司的官方立场。” (Wǒ zài cǐ biǎomíng gōngsī de guānfāng lìchǎng.) - “I am hereby stating the company's official position.”
• Expressing Serious Personal Intent: While less common in casual chat, you might use it in a serious conversation to make your feelings or decision absolutely clear, leaving no room for misunderstanding.
  • e.g., “我这么做是为了表明我的决心。” (Wǒ zhème zuò shì wèile biǎomíng wǒ de juéxīn.) - “I'm doing this to make my determination clear.”

• Example 1:
  • 调查结果表明，大多数人都支持这个新政策。
  • Pinyin: Diàochá jiéguǒ biǎomíng, dàduōshù rén dōu zhīchí zhège xīn zhèngcè.
  • English: The survey results indicate that the majority of people support this new policy.
  • Analysis: A classic, formal use. The “survey results” are the evidence that “indicates” a conclusion.
• Example 2:
  • 他的沉默表明了他的不满。
  • Pinyin: Tā de chénmò biǎomíng le tā de bùmǎn.
  • English: His silence showed his dissatisfaction.
  • Analysis: Here, an action (or lack thereof) serves as the evidence. The silence itself “makes clear” his feelings.
• Example 3:
  • 研究表明，经常锻炼对健康有益。
  • Pinyin: Yánjiū biǎomíng, jīngcháng duànliàn duì jiànkāng yǒuyì.
  • English: Research indicates that regular exercise is beneficial for health.
  • Analysis: Very common in scientific and academic contexts. The research data is the subject doing the “indicating”.
• Example 4:
  • 中国政府已多次表明其在台湾问题上的立场。
  • Pinyin: Zhōngguó zhèngfǔ yǐ duōcì biǎomíng qí zài Táiwān wèntí shàng de lìchǎng.
  • English: The Chinese government has repeatedly made clear its position on the Taiwan issue.
  • Analysis: This is a prime example of formal, diplomatic language. It means “to state a position clearly and officially.”
• Example 5:
  • 他送她昂贵的礼物，以此表明他的诚意。
  • Pinyin: Tā sòng tā ángguì de lǐwù, yǐ cǐ biǎomíng tā de chéngyì.
  • English: He gave her an expensive gift to show his sincerity.
  • Analysis: In a personal context, 表明 is used for a deliberate, meaningful gesture. The gift is a tangible manifestation of his sincere feelings.
• Example 6:
  • 天上的乌云表明暴风雨即将来临。
  • Pinyin: Tiānshàng de wūyún biǎomíng bàofēngyǔ jíjiāng láilín.
  • English: The dark clouds in the sky indicate that a storm is coming soon.
  • Analysis: This shows how natural phenomena can act as evidence. The clouds are a clear sign pointing to a future event.
• Example 7:
  • 她的眼泪表明她内心非常难过。
  • Pinyin: Tā de yǎnlèi biǎomíng tā nèixīn fēicháng nánguò.
  • English: Her tears showed that she was very sad inside.
  • Analysis: A physical reaction (tears) serves as the evidence that makes her internal state (sadness) clear.
• Example 8:
  • 所有的证据都表明他是无辜的。
  • Pinyin: Suǒyǒu de zhèngjù dōu biǎomíng tā shì wúgū de.
  • English: All the evidence indicates that he is innocent.
  • Analysis: Perfect for legal or logical contexts. “Evidence” (证据) is the subject that “indicates” the truth.
• Example 9:
  • 我写这封信是为了向你表明我的决心。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xiě zhè fēng xìn shì wèile xiàng nǐ biǎomíng wǒ de juéxīn.
  • English: I am writing this letter in order to make my determination clear to you.
  • Analysis: A very deliberate and serious use. The letter is the formal medium used “to make clear” a strong personal resolve.
• Example 10:
  • 销售额的下降表明公司的策略需要调整。
  • Pinyin: Xiāoshòu'é de xiàjiàng biǎomíng gōngsī de cèlüè xūyào tiáozhěng.
  • English: The decline in sales figures indicates that the company's strategy needs adjustment.
  • Analysis: A typical business context. The data (sales figures) points to a necessary conclusion.

The biggest challenge for learners is distinguishing 表明 (biǎomíng) from similar words like 说明 (shuōmíng) and 表示 (biǎoshì).

• 表明 (biǎomíng) vs. 说明 (shuōmíng) - “To Indicate” vs. “To Explain”
  • 表明 (biǎomíng): Used when evidence, facts, or actions imply or point to a conclusion. The evidence speaks for itself.
  • 说明 (shuōmíng): Used when a person or text actively explains why or how. It involves providing details, reasons, or instructions.
  • Correct: 他的眼泪表明他很难过。 (Tā de yǎnlèi biǎomíng tā hěn nánguò.) - His tears indicate he is sad. (The tears are the evidence).
  • Correct: 他向我说明了事情的经过。 (Tā xiàng wǒ shuōmíng le shìqing de jīngguò.) - He explained the course of events to me. (He used words to give an explanation).
  • Incorrect: 他向我表明了事情的经过。 (This sounds odd, as if his existence proved the course of events. You explain a process, you don't “indicate” it).
• 表明 (biǎomíng) vs. 表示 (biǎoshì) - “To Indicate” vs. “To Express”
  • 表示 (biǎoshì) is a much broader and more common word. It means “to express” or “to show” and can be used for general feelings, opinions, and ideas. It's less formal.
  • 表明 (biǎomíng) is more formal, objective, and tied to evidence.
  • Use 表示 (biǎoshì) for general expressions: 他表示感谢。(Tā biǎoshì gǎnxiè.) - He expressed his thanks.
  • Use 表明 (biǎomíng) when that expression is proven by a concrete fact: 他的礼物表明了他的感谢。(Tā de lǐwù biǎomíng le tā de gǎnxiè.) - His gift indicated his thanks. (The gift is the proof).

• 说明 (shuōmíng) - To explain; to illustrate. Focuses on providing a verbal or written explanation.
• 表示 (biǎoshì) - To express; to show; to say. A very common and general-purpose verb for showing feelings or opinions.
• 显示 (xiǎnshì) - To show; to display. Often used for things that are visually displayed, like on a screen or a monitor.
• 证明 (zhèngmíng) - To prove. This is stronger than 表明. 表明 indicates, but 证明 provides conclusive proof beyond doubt.
• 指出 (zhǐchū) - To point out. Used when someone specifically calls attention to a particular fact or detail.
• 暗示 (ànshì) - To hint; to imply. This is the opposite of 表明. It's about being indirect and subtle.
• 立场 (lìchǎng) - Stance; position. This is the “what” that is often being made clear, e.g., “表明立场” (to make one's position clear).
• 证据 (zhèngjù) - Evidence; proof. This is the “how” of 表明; the evidence is what does the indicating.