====== míngquè: 明确 - Clear, Definite, Explicit ======
===== Quick Summary =====
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  * **Summary:** Learn the essential Chinese word **明确 (míngquè)**, meaning "clear," "definite," or "explicit." This guide breaks down how to use `明确` as both an adjective (a clear goal) and a verb (to clarify your position). Discover its importance in business, formal settings, and everyday conversations where precision is key, and understand its crucial difference from the similar word `清楚 (qīngchu)`. This is a must-know term for moving beyond basic and into more precise and formal communication.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** míngquè
  * **Part of Speech:** Adjective, Verb
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 4
  * **Concise Definition:** To be clear-cut and definite, leaving no room for doubt; to make something clear and explicit.
  * **In a Nutshell:** Think of `明确` as "unambiguously clear" or "crystal clear." It’s not just about something being easy to see or understand (that's `清楚`); it's about something being precisely defined, stated, and free from ambiguity. It carries a sense of formality and authority, used for things like rules, goals, instructions, and official statements.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **明 (míng):** This character is a combination of the sun (日) and the moon (月). Together, these two brightest celestial objects create the meaning of "bright," "light," or "clear." It can also mean "to understand."
  * **确 (què):** This character is composed of the "stone" radical (石) on the left and a phonetic component on the right. The stone radical lends the meaning of "solid," "firm," and "real."
  * When combined, **明确 (míngquè)** literally means "bright and solid" or "clear and firm." This perfectly captures the idea of something that is not only easy to understand (bright) but also solid, well-defined, and not open to interpretation.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
While Chinese communication can sometimes be famously indirect to preserve harmony and [[面子 (miànzi)|face]], `明确` represents the opposite impulse: the need for absolute clarity. In modern China, especially in business, law, and administration, ambiguity can be a major liability. Therefore, being `明确` is highly valued in these contexts.
A good comparison is the Western business phrase "Let's spell it out." In both cultures, this signifies a moment where all nuance is set aside for the sake of precision. However, a key difference can be in the //timing//. In the West, being direct and `明确` from the start is often the default. In some traditional Chinese contexts, one might build [[关系 (guānxi)|relationships]] first with more ambiguous language, only demanding or providing `明确` terms once a foundation of trust is built. Using or requesting `明确` information can signal a shift from a relational to a transactional mindset, which is perfectly normal and necessary in contracts, project management, and official settings.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
`明确` is versatile and used in both spoken and written Chinese, though it carries a more formal tone than its near-synonym, `清楚`.
  * **As an Adjective:** It describes a noun as being "clear," "definite," or "explicit." It is almost always followed by 的 (de).
    * //e.g., 一个明确的目标 (yí ge míngquè de mùbiāo) - a clear goal//
    * //e.g., 明确的回答 (míngquè de huídá) - a definite answer//
  * **As a Verb:** It means "to clarify" or "to make explicit." It's an action you take to remove ambiguity.
    * //e.g., 你必须明确你的态度。(Nǐ bìxū míngquè nǐ de tàidù.) - You must clarify your attitude.//
    * //e.g., 公司明确了新的规定。(Gōngsī míngquè le xīn de guīdìng.) - The company clarified the new regulations.//
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 我们的团队需要一个**明确**的目标。
    * Pinyin: Wǒmen de tuánduì xūyào yí ge **míngquè** de mùbiāo.
    * English: Our team needs a clear goal.
    * Analysis: Here, `明确` is an adjective. It means the goal isn't vague; it's well-defined, measurable, and everyone understands exactly what it is.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 请你**明确**一下，你到底同不同意？
    * Pinyin: Qǐng nǐ **míngquè** yíxià, nǐ dàodǐ tóng bù tóngyì?
    * English: Please clarify, do you agree or not?
    * Analysis: Here, `明确` is a verb. The speaker is demanding an end to ambiguity and wants a direct, unambiguous "yes" or "no" answer.
  * **Example 3:**
    * 老师给了我们非常**明确**的指示。
    * Pinyin: Lǎoshī gěi le wǒmen fēicháng **míngquè** de zhǐshì.
    * English: The teacher gave us very explicit instructions.
    * Analysis: This implies the instructions were detailed and left no room for confusion about what to do. It's stronger than just saying the instructions were easy to understand.
  * **Example 4:**
    * 政府尚未**明确**其在这一问题上的立场。
    * Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ shàngwèi **míngquè** qí zài zhè yī wèntí shàng de lìchǎng.
    * English: The government has not yet clarified its position on this issue.
    * Analysis: A common usage in formal news and political contexts. `明确` is a verb meaning "to make one's position officially known."
  * **Example 5:**
    * 合同里对双方的责任有**明确**的规定。
    * Pinyin: Hétong lǐ duì shuāngfāng de zérèn yǒu **míngquè** de guīdìng.
    * English: The contract has clear regulations regarding the responsibilities of both parties.
    * Analysis: This is a perfect example of `明确` in a legal or business context. It means the terms are explicitly written down and legally binding.
  * **Example 6:**
    * 他已经**明确**表示不会参加会议。
    * Pinyin: Tā yǐjīng **míngquè** biǎoshì bù huì cānjiā huìyì.
    * English: He has already stated explicitly that he will not attend the meeting.
    * Analysis: The verb `明确` here modifies another verb `表示 (biǎoshì)`, acting like an adverb. It emphasizes that his statement was direct and without hesitation.
  * **Example 7:**
    * 没有**明确**的计划，我们很容易失败。
    * Pinyin: Méiyǒu **míngquè** de jìhuà, wǒmen hěn róngyì shībài.
    * English: Without a clear plan, we will easily fail.
    * Analysis: This shows the negative form. A lack of a `明确` plan is a lack of a well-defined, actionable strategy.
  * **Example 8:**
    * 这是一个非常**明确**的信号，说明他们想合作。
    * Pinyin: Zhè shì yí ge fēicháng **míngquè** de xìnhào, shuōmíng tāmen xiǎng hézuò.
    * English: This is a very clear signal that they want to cooperate.
    * Analysis: The signal isn't just "visible," it's "unmistakable" in its meaning.
  * **Example 9:**
    * 科学家们试图**明确**“生命”的定义。
    * Pinyin: Kēxuéjiāmen shìtú **míngquè** “shēngmìng” de dìngyì.
    * English: Scientists are trying to define "life" clearly.
    * Analysis: As a verb, `明确` is used here to mean "to define precisely" or "to pin down the definition of" an abstract concept.
  * **Example 10:**
    * 他的态度很**明确**，就是支持我们。
    * Pinyin: Tā de tàidù hěn **míngquè**, jiùshì zhīchí wǒmen.
    * English: His attitude is very clear: he supports us.
    * Analysis: `明确` describes his stance. There is no doubt or hesitation in his support; it has been made obvious.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
The most common point of confusion for learners is the difference between `明确 (míngquè)` and `清楚 (qīngchu)`.
  *   **`清楚 (qīngchu)`:** Relates to //perceptual or mental clarity//. It's about whether **you** can see, hear, or understand something well.
    * *Correct:* 我听得很**清楚**。 (Wǒ tīng de hěn qīngchu.) - I can hear very clearly.
    * *Correct:* 你懂**清楚**了吗？ (Nǐ dǒng qīngchu le ma?) - Do you understand clearly?
  *   **`明确 (míngquè)`:** Relates to the //objective, inherent clarity// of the information itself. It's about whether a rule, statement, or goal is defined without ambiguity.
    * *Correct:* 这个规定很**明确**。 (Zhège guīdìng hěn míngquè.) - This rule is very clear/explicit.
**Common Mistake:** Using `明确` for senses.
  * `*Incorrect:*` 这个字我看不**明确**。
  * `*Why it's wrong:*` Seeing is a personal, sensory action. The issue is with your perception, not the objective definition of the character.
  * `*Correct:*` 这个字我看不**清楚**。 (Zhège zì wǒ kàn bù qīngchu.) - I can't see this character clearly.
**Rule of Thumb:** If you can replace "clear" with "explicit," "unambiguous," or "well-defined," use `明确`. If you can replace it with "easy to see/hear/understand," use `清楚`.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[清楚]] (qīngchu) - The most common related term. It means "clear" in the sense of being easy to perceive or understand. Less formal than `明确`.
  * [[具体]] (jùtǐ) - Means "specific" or "concrete." A goal can be both `明确` (unambiguous) and `具体` (detailed).
  * [[确定]] (quèdìng) - Means "to confirm," "to determine," or "certain." It focuses on the finality of a decision, while `明确` focuses on the clarity of its content.
  * [[模糊]] (móhu) - The direct antonym of `明确`. It means "vague," "ambiguous," or "blurry."
  * [[定义]] (dìngyì) - "Definition" or "to define." The act of defining something is an attempt to make it `明确`.
  * [[清晰]] (qīngxī) - "Clear" or "distinct," often used for high-quality images, sounds, or handwriting. It's a synonym for `清楚` but can sound slightly more formal or technical.