懂中文 Dong Chinese

明

míng

bright

The character was originally depicted moonlight (月) shining through a window (囧). The 囧 component was later reanalyzed as 日 (sun).

Components
囧 sound,iconic component

囧  Sound Iconic component

jiǒng

  

bright window

The modern form looks similar to 日 (sun).

月 iconic component

月  Iconic component

yuè

  

moon

Evolution

明 Oracle script (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle script

(~1250-1000 BC)
明 Bronze script Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze script

Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
明 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
明 Clerical script Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical script

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
明 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

明  

míng

bright, light, brilliant; clear; bright; opposite: dark 暗[àn]; (of meaning) clear; to understand; next; public or open; wise; generic term for a sacrifice to the gods

明  

Míng

Ming Dynasty (1368-1644); surname Ming; Ming (c. 2000 BC), fourth of the legendary Flame Emperors, 炎帝[Yán​dì] descended from Shennong 神農|神农[Shén​nóng] Farmer God

Most common words with 明
Freq.
Word
Meaning

明白

clear

明天

tomorrow

明显

clear

证明

proof

说明

to explain

Component uses

Sound component in 2 characters (0 verified)

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