はっきり
hakkiri
On-mim N4Adv

Meaning

  1. clearly
  2. plainly
  3. distinctly

About This Word

Hakkiri conveys the idea of clarity, plainness, and distinctness. It describes something that is easily understood, visible, or audible, leaving no room for doubt or ambiguity. Consider a clear, cloudless sky or a voice that is loud and easily heard. The imagery evoked by the word is sharp and well-defined, free from any blurriness or vagueness.

Hakkiri is mainly used as an adverb, commonly paired with the particle "to" and the verb "suru" to describe the manner in which something is done or perceived. For example, "hakkiri to miru" means "to see clearly." It is used in a wide range of situations, from describing the clarity of an image to the distinctness of a sound. This is a common word, seen in everyday conversation and a variety of media.

For learners, hakkiri is a useful and relatively easy word to remember, especially since it has close English equivalents like “clearly” and “distinctly.” However, it is important to remember that the nuance of hakkiri highlights a more assertive form of clarity, compared to similar terms indicating general clear conditions. To learn properly, be aware that even though it has clear equivalents, hakkiri emphasizes not just clear conditions but an assured tone of clarity is present.

Word Info

Japaneseはっきり
Romajihakkiri
TypeOn-mim (Onomatopoeic & Mimetic)
Part of SpeechAdverb (fukushi)
JLPT LevelJLPT N4
SourceJisho

About On-mim

General onomatopoeic and mimetic expressions from the Japanese lexicon.

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