====== xiǎnéryìjiàn: 显而易见 - Obvious, Evident, Apparent ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** 显而易见, xianeryijian, Chinese for obvious, Chinese idiom for evident, what does 显而易见 mean, how to use 显而易见, self-evident in Chinese, clear at a glance, Chinese chengyu, HSK 6 vocabulary, 顯而易見.
  * **Summary:** 显而易见 (xiǎn ér yì jiàn) is a fundamental Chinese idiom (chengyu) that means "obvious," "evident," or "clear at a glance." It is used to describe a fact, situation, or conclusion that is so apparent it requires no further explanation. Learning how to use 显而易见 is key to sounding more articulate in Chinese, as this popular chengyu is used in everything from academic papers to casual conversations to point out something that is self-evident.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** xiǎn ér yì jiàn
  * **Part of Speech:** Idiom (成语, chéngyǔ), Adjective
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 6
  * **Concise Definition:** Something that is very obvious and easy to see or understand.
  * **In a Nutshell:** 显而易见 is the Chinese way of saying "it's plain as day" or "it goes without saying." The idiom literally translates to "to show, and then (it's) easy to see." It's used when a situation is so transparently clear that you can grasp it immediately without needing any deep thought or explanation. It points to an undeniable, self-evident truth.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **显 (xiǎn):** To show, to display, to appear, to be obvious. Think of something being clearly displayed for all to see.
  * **而 (ér):** A grammatical connector, linking the first and second parts. Here it functions like "and so" or "and as a result."
  * **易 (yì):** Easy or simple.
  * **见 (jiàn):** To see or to perceive.
When combined, 显 (to show) + 而 (and so) + 易 (it's easy) + 见 (to see) creates a vivid and logical meaning: "Once it is shown, it is easy to see." This structure perfectly captures the idea of something being immediately apparent.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
As a `chengyu` (成语), 显而易见 is part of a rich tradition of using four-character idioms to convey complex ideas concisely. Using chengyu demonstrates a higher level of linguistic and cultural fluency. While it doesn't tie to a deep philosophical concept like [[关系]] (guānxi), its usage reflects a value for clear, logical communication.
In Western culture, we might say "it's self-evident," "it's plain as day," or even a more casual "duh, obviously." 显而易见 covers a similar range but as a single, more structured phrase. Unlike the very informal "duh," 显而易见 is perfectly acceptable in formal writing and speeches. Its existence as a common idiom highlights the efficiency of the Chinese language, where four characters can express what takes a full clause in English. Using it correctly shows that you can not only state a fact but also frame it as an established, undeniable starting point for an argument.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
显而易见 is an extremely versatile idiom used across all registers of the language.
  * **Formal Contexts:** In academic writing, business reports, or formal speeches, it's used to introduce a premise that is considered universally accepted. E.g., "The benefits of this policy are **显而易见**."
  * **Everyday Conversation:** Among friends and family, it's used to point out something obvious in a situation. E.g., "Look at the dark clouds, it's going to rain. That's **显而易见**."
  * **Tone and Connotation:** The tone is generally neutral, simply stating a fact. However, it can also carry a hint of impatience or sarcasm, similar to saying "Isn't it obvious?" in English. The context and your tone of voice will determine the connotation.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 这个问题的答案是**显而易见**的。
    * Pinyin: Zhège wèntí de dá'àn shì **xiǎn'éryìjiàn** de.
    * English: The answer to this question is obvious.
    * Analysis: A straightforward, neutral use. The `的 (de)` at the end is common when the idiom is used as a predicate adjective.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 从他脸上的笑容就能看出，他的快乐是**显而易见**的。
    * Pinyin: Cóng tā liǎn shàng de xiàoróng jiù néng kàn chū, tā de kuàilè shì **xiǎn'éryìjiàn** de.
    * English: You can tell from the smile on his face that his happiness is evident.
    * Analysis: Here, it describes an emotion that is clearly visible to others.
  * **Example 3:**
    * 投资这个项目的好处**显而易见**。
    * Pinyin: Tóuzī zhège xiàngmù de hǎochu **xiǎn'éryìjiàn**.
    * English: The benefits of investing in this project are obvious.
    * Analysis: A common phrase in a business or formal context. Notice the absence of `是...的`. The idiom can often stand alone as the predicate.
  * **Example 4:**
    * 他在撒谎，这难道不**显而易见**吗？
    * Pinyin: Tā zài sāhuǎng, zhè nándào bù **xiǎn'éryìjiàn** ma?
    * English: He's lying, isn't that obvious?
    * Analysis: This example shows its use in a rhetorical question, often implying impatience or frustration.
  * **Example 5:**
    * 全球变暖带来的影响是**显而易见**的。
    * Pinyin: Quánqiú biànnuǎn dài lái de yǐngxiǎng shì **xiǎn'éryìjiàn** de.
    * English: The effects of global warming are self-evident.
    * Analysis: Used here to state a widely accepted fact in a serious, formal discussion.
  * **Example 6:**
    * 他为什么生气了？**显而易见**，因为你迟到了一个小时。
    * Pinyin: Tā wèishéme shēngqì le? **Xiǎn'éryìjiàn**, yīnwèi nǐ chídào le yī ge xiǎoshí.
    * English: Why did he get angry? Obviously, because you were an hour late.
    * Analysis: Here, 显而易见 is used at the beginning of the clause to mean "obviously." This usage is common in spoken language.
  * **Example 7:**
    * 这两幅画的风格差异**显而易见**。
    * Pinyin: Zhè liǎng fú huà de fēnggé chāyì **xiǎn'éryìjiàn**.
    * English: The difference in style between these two paintings is apparent.
    * Analysis: Used to describe a clear, perceivable difference between two things.
  * **Example 8:**
    * 这是一个**显而易见**的错误，我们必须马上改正。
    * Pinyin: Zhè shì yī ge **xiǎn'éryìjiàn** de cuòwù, wǒmen bìxū mǎshàng gǎizhèng.
    * English: This is a blatant mistake, we must correct it immediately.
    * Analysis: Here, it functions as an attributive adjective, modifying the noun `错误 (cuòwù)`. The `的 (de)` is necessary here.
  * **Example 9:**
    * 缺乏锻炼对健康不利，这个道理是**显而易见**的。
    * Pinyin: Quēfá duànliàn duì jiànkāng bùlì, zhège dàolǐ shì **xiǎn'éryìjiàn** de.
    * English: The fact that a lack of exercise is bad for one's health, this principle is obvious.
    * Analysis: This sentence structure, "[Topic], this is **显而易见**," is very common for framing a point.
  * **Example 10:**
    * 他们两人之间的紧张关系，对在场的每一个人来说都是**显而易见**的。
    * Pinyin: Tāmen liǎng rén zhījiān de jǐnzhāng guānxì, duì zàichǎng de měi yī ge rén lái shuō dōu shì **xiǎn'éryìjiàn** de.
    * English: The tense relationship between the two of them was obvious to everyone present.
    * Analysis: This shows how to specify *who* finds it obvious ("to everyone present").
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **Don't confuse with [[明显]] (míngxiǎn):** While both mean "obvious," 显而易见 is a chengyu and carries more weight and formality. [[明显]] is a simple adjective. For a simple observation like "The price is obviously too high," using `价格明显太高了 (jiàgé míngxiǎn tài gāo le)` is more common and natural than using `显而易见`. Save 显而易见 for when you want to emphasize the self-evident nature of a conclusion or situation.
  * **Grammatical Position:** As a four-character idiom, it has less flexible placement than the English word "obviously." It's rarely used like an adverb at the very start of a sentence followed by a comma (e.g., "**Obviously,** he doesn't want to go.").
  * **Incorrect:** `**显而易见**，他不想去。` (`**Xiǎn'éryìjiàn**, tā bù xiǎng qù.`)
  * **Correct:** `他不想去，这是**显而易见**的。` (`Tā bù xiǎng qù, zhè shì **xiǎn'éryìjiàn** de.`) - "He doesn't want to go, this is obvious."
  * **Correct:** `他不想去这个事实是**显而易见**的。` (`Tā bù xiǎng qù zhège shìshí shì **xiǎn'éryìjiàn** de.`) - "The fact that he doesn't want to go is obvious."
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[一目了然]] (yī mù liǎo rán) - Clear at a single glance. A very close synonym, emphasizing the speed of comprehension.
  * [[不言而喻]] (bù yán ér yù) - Self-evident; something that is understood without needing to be said. Another close synonym, with a slightly more literary or philosophical feel.
  * [[众所周知]] (zhòng suǒ zhōu zhī) - As everyone knows; it is common knowledge. This is related but different. 显而易见 refers to something logically or visually obvious, while this refers to something that is widely known by the public.
  * [[明显]] (míngxiǎn) - Obvious, clear, apparent. The most common and simple HSK3/4 adjective for "obvious." Less formal than 显而易见.
  * [[清楚]] (qīngchu) - Clear, distinct. A broader term that can mean easy to see, easy to understand, or being sure about something.
  * [[毋庸置疑]] (wú yōng zhì yí) - Without a doubt; beyond all doubt. A synonym that stresses the certainty and unquestionable nature of something.
  * [[模糊]] (móhu) - Vague, blurry, indistinct. A direct antonym.
  * [[深奥]] (shēn'ào) - Profound, abstruse, difficult to understand. A conceptual antonym, describing something that is the opposite of obvious.