The modal adverbs 明明 and 分明
The modal adverb (语气副词) expresses subjective judgment or assurance toward an action.
HSK 4new HSK 5Adverbs
The adverb 明明
The modal adverb is used to emphasize an obvious fact. It is placed before a predicate.
Pay attention
明明 usually has a negative connotation.
Examples
他明明什么都自己知道, 但是说不知道
He obviously knows it himself, but he denies it
tā míngmíng shénme dōu zìjǐ zhīdao, dànshì shuō bù zhīdao
明明是你干的，怎么不说呢？
Obviously, you did it. Why don't you admit it?
míngmíng shì nǐ gàn de, zěnme bù shuō ne
你心里明明很开心，还假装生气
You’re pretending to be angry when you're obviously happy
nǐ xīnli míngmíng hěn kāixīn, hái jiǎzhuāng shēngqì
The adverb 分明
The modal adverb is also used to emphasize an obvious fact. It is placed before a predicate.
Pay attention
分明 is often used to express an accusation or condemnation.
Examples
这分明不对
This is clearly wrong
zhè fēnmíng bú duì
分明是你的错，为什么说是我的呢
It's clearly your fault. Why are you saying it's my fault?
fēnmíng shì nǐ de cuò, wèishénme shuō shì wǒ de ne
你分明不明白我说的话
You clearly don't understand what I'm saying
nǐ fēnmíng bù míngbái wǒ shuō de huà
分明 can also be used as an adjective "distinct, clear". In this case, it is placed before a noun.
Pay attention
The particle must be placed between 分明 and a noun.
Examples
眉目分明的面孔
sharp features
méimù fēnmíng de miànkǒng
段落分明的话
articulate speech
duànluò fēnmíng de huà
In the following phrases, 分明 is used as a verb and has the meaning "to distinguish clearly":
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