显而易见

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: xiǎn ér yì jiàn
• English Translation: Obvious, evident, clear
• Idiom Composition: 「显」（Obvious, clear）＋「而」（And, moreover）＋「易」（Easy）＋「见」（To see, to understand）
• Meaning: Extremely clear and easy to understand. It describes something so obvious that there is no room for debate or explanation.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「显而易见」 contains the following nuances:

• Clarity: Emphasizes that something is clear enough for anyone to see or understand.
• Ease: Indicates that something can be understood immediately without much thought.
• Self-evidence: Implies that something is so obvious it requires no further explanation or proof.
• Objectivity: Indicates that something is clearly evident from an objective perspective, independent of personal opinions or interpretations.

3. Usage

「显而易见」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Pointing out facts: Used when pointing out clear facts or situations.
  • Example:「这个实验的结果显而易见，证明了我们的假设。」
    （The results of this experiment are obvious, proving our hypothesis.）
• Emphasizing conclusions: Used to emphasize that a conclusion is clear at the end of a discussion or explanation.
  • Example:「综上所述，采取这个方案的优势显而易见。」
    （In summary, the advantages of adopting this plan are obvious.）
• Refutation or criticism: Sometimes used to point out that the opponent's argument is clearly wrong.
  • Example:「你的说法存在显而易见的逻辑错误。」
    （Your statement contains obvious logical errors.）

Additional Examples:

1. 他脸上的表情显而易见地说明了他内心的喜悦。
   （The expression on his face clearly showed the joy in his heart.）
2. 这是一个显而易见的事实，不需要我再多做解释。
   （This is an obvious fact that requires no further explanation from me.）
3. 长期吸烟对健康的危害是显而易见的。
   （The health risks of long-term smoking are clear.）
4. 双方的差距显而易见，这场比赛的结果毫无悬念。
   （The gap between the two sides is obvious, and the outcome of this match is beyond doubt.）
5. 他的才能在同龄人中是显而易见的，将来一定会有所作为。
   （His talent is clearly outstanding among his peers, and he is sure to achieve great things in the future.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Concise and clear expression: In Chinese, concise and easy-to-understand expressions are preferred. The idiom '显而易见' reflects this linguistic and cultural tendency.
• Emphasis on objectivity: Chinese culture values arguments based on objective facts and evidence. '显而易见' is an effective expression to emphasize that something is clearly evident from an objective standpoint.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 一目了然 (yí mù liǎo rán): Clearly understood at a glance.
  • 昭然若揭 (zhāo rán ruò jiē): To be exposed to the light of day; to become clear and evident.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 扑朔迷离 (pū shuò mí lí): Complicated and confusing, making the truth hard to grasp.
  • 隐晦曲折 (yǐn huì qū zhé): Indirect and difficult to understand.

6. Summary

'显而易见' is a very useful idiom that expresses facts or situations so clear that there is no room for debate. Using this phrase can strengthen your argument or point out errors in others' opinions. It is an effective expression in Chinese culture, where arguments based on objective facts and evidence are highly valued.