# 明

| 明 | U+660E, &#26126; CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-660E |
| ← 昍 [U+660D] | CJK Unified Ideographs | 昏 → [U+660F] |

## Translingual
### Han character

明 (Kangxi radical 72, 日+4, 8 strokes, cangjie input 日月 (AB), four-corner 6702$_0$, composition ⿰日月)

#### Derived characters

* 𢜠, 𣷠, 𦁠, 𨧹, 䳟, 𢜏, 焽, 琞, 㿢, 盟, 曌, 奛, 朚, 萌, 𰂚, 奣, 𡦀, 𣇵, 𥯋

#### References

* Kangxi Dictionary: page 491, character 12
* Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 13805
* Dae Jaweon: page 852, character 18
* Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 2, page 1491, character 8
* Unihan data for U+660E

## Chinese
### Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 明 :
| Shang | Western Zhou | Warring States | Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han) | Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han) | Liushutong (compiled in Ming) |
| Oracle bone script | Bronze inscriptions | Chu slip and silk script | Ancient script | Small seal script | Transcribed ancient scripts |
| | Old Chinese |
| 莔 | *mraːŋ, *qʰɯd |
| 明 | *mraŋ |
| 盟 | *mraŋ, *mraːŋs |
| 萌 | *mreːŋ |
| 奣 | *ʔmraːŋʔ |
Ideogrammic compound (會意 / 会意): 日 (“sun”) + 月 (“moon”) – the sun just rising and the moon not yet set – dawn (天明 (tiānmíng)). Alternatively, it may be interpreted as two bright celestial bodies – bright. This form was already found in the oracle bone script and was prevalent throughout the eras.
Three other forms were found in the oracle bone script:
* 朙 < 囧 (“window”) + 月 – the moon shining through a window – moonlight. This form was also prevalent in the ancient scripts and was considered to be the standard form in Shuowen. See this form's entry for its historical forms.
* 眀 (míng) < 目 (“eye”) + 月 – bright eyes. This form was rarely attested, so it is still uncertain whether this form is actually equivalent to 明. It reappeared in the bamboo script of the Qin dynasty, but this was probably a corruption of 朙.
* 𤰾 < 田 + 月 – probably a corruption of the above forms.

### Etymology 1

Of either Proto-Sino-Tibetan origin, compare
* Tibetan མདངས (mdangs, “facial color, appearance, brightness”) (Bodman, 1980), or
* Proto-Sino-Tibetan *brwaŋ (“loud; bright”) (STDET); making it cognate with Burmese ပြင်း (prang:, “acute; violent”), Burmese ပြောင် (praung, “to shine”).
Or from Austroasiatic, cognate with 亮 (OC *raŋs, “bright”) (Schuessler, 2007). For more see 亮 (OC *raŋs).
盟 (OC *mraŋ, *mraːŋs, “covenant”) is a derivative (Schuessler, 2007).

#### Pronunciation

* Mandarin
    (Standard)
       (Pinyin): míng (ming$^2$)
       (Zhuyin): ㄇㄧㄥˊ
    (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): min$^2$
* Cantonese
    (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): ming$^4$
    (Taishan, Wiktionary): men$^3$
* Gan (Wiktionary): min$^4$ / miang$^4$
* Hakka
    (Sixian, PFS): mìn / miàng / màng
    (Hailu, HRS): min / miang / mang
    (Meixian, Guangdong): min$^2$ / miang$^2$
* Jin (Wiktionary): ming$^1$ / mi$^1$
* Northern Min (KCR): mâng / mêng
* Eastern Min (BUC): màng / mìng
* Puxian Min (Pouseng Ping'ing): ma$^2$ / mia$^2$ / ming$^2$
* Southern Min
    (Hokkien, POJ): bêng / bîn / miâ / mê / mêe / mî / môa / mâ
    (Teochew, Peng'im): mêng$^5$ / mê$^5$ / mia$^5$ / man$^3$ / muan$^3$
* Wu (Shanghai, Wugniu): $^6$men; $^6$min
* Xiang (Changsha, Wiktionary): min$^2$
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: míng
*** Zhuyin: ㄇㄧㄥˊ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: míng
*** Wade–Giles: ming$^2$
*** Yale: míng
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: ming
*** Palladius: мин (min)
*** Sinological IPA : /miŋ³⁵/
** (Standard Chinese, erhua-ed) (明兒 / 明儿)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: míngr
*** Zhuyin: ㄇㄧㄥˊㄦ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: míngr
*** Wade–Giles: ming$^2$-ʼrh
*** Yale: míngr
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: miengl
*** Palladius: минр (minr)
*** Sinological IPA : /miɤ̯̃ɻ³⁵/
*** Homophones: [Show/Hide]$^{edit}$名兒 / 名儿 明兒 / 明儿
** (Chengdu)
*** Sichuanese Pinyin: min$^2$
*** Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: min
*** Sinological IPA : /min²¹/
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: ming$^4$
*** Yale: mìhng
*** Cantonese Pinyin: ming$^4$
*** Guangdong Romanization: ming$^4$
*** Sinological IPA : /mɪŋ²¹/
** (Taishanese, Taicheng)
*** Wiktionary: men$^3$
*** Sinological IPA : /ᵐben²²/
* Gan
** (Nanchang)
*** Wiktionary: min$^4$ / miang$^4$
*** Sinological IPA : /min³⁵/, /miaŋ³⁵/
* Hakka
** (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
*** Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: mìn / miàng / màng
*** Hakka Romanization System: min$^ˇ$ / miang$^ˇ$ / mang$^ˇ$
*** Hagfa Pinyim: min$^2$ / miang$^2$ / mang$^2$
*** Sinological IPA: /min¹¹/, /mi̯aŋ¹¹/, /maŋ¹¹/
** (Hailu, incl. Zhudong)
*** Hakka Romanization System: min / miang / mang
*** Sinological IPA: /min⁵⁵/, /miaŋ⁵⁵/, /maŋ⁵⁵/
** (Meixian)
*** Guangdong: min$^2$ / miang$^2$
*** Sinological IPA: /min¹¹/, /miaŋ¹¹/
* mìn - literary;
* miàng, màng - vernacular.
* Middle Chinese: mjaeng
Rime :
| Character | 明 |
| Reading # | 1/1 |
| Initial (聲) | 明 (4) |
| Final (韻) | 庚 (111) |
| Tone (調) | Level (Ø) |
| Openness (開合) | Open |
| Division (等) | III |
| Fanqie | 武兵切 |
| Baxter | mjaeng |
| Reconstructions ||
| Zhengzhang Shangfang | /mˠiæŋ/ |
| Pan Wuyun | /mᵚiaŋ/ |
| Shao Rongfen | /miaŋ/ |
| Edwin Pulleyblank | /miajŋ/ |
| Li Rong | /miɐŋ/ |
| Wang Li | /mĭɐŋ/ |
| Bernhard Karlgren | /mi̯ɐŋ/ |
| Expected Mandarin Reflex | míng |
| Expected Cantonese Reflex | ming$^4$ |
* Old Chinese
    (Baxter–Sagart): /*mraŋ/
    (Zhengzhang): /*mraŋ/
Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014) :
| Character | 明 |
| Reading # | 1/1 |
| Modern Beijing (Pinyin) | míng |
| Middle Chinese | ‹ mjæng › |
| Old Chinese | /*mraŋ/ |
| English | bright |
| Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary. ||
Zhengzhang system (2003) :
| Character | 明 |
| Reading # | 1/1 |
| No. | 9188 |
| Phonetic component | 明 |
| Rime group | 陽 |
| Rime subdivision | 0 |
| Corresponding MC rime | 明 |
| Old Chinese | /*mraŋ/ |

#### Definitions

明
* bright; light; brilliant
    明月 ― míngyuè ― splendid moon
    From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11th – 7th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
    Dōngfāng wèimíng, diāndǎo yīcháng. [Pinyin]
    Before the east was bright, I was putting on my clothes upside down;
* clear; limpid (transparent; light-conducting; not obscured)
    窗明几淨／窗明几净 ― chuāngmíngjījìng ― a neat place (literally, "the window is clear, the desk is clean")
* manifest; apparent (easily seen, perceived, or detected)
    明顯／明显 ― míngxiǎn ― obvious
    明瞭／明了 ― míngliǎo ― apparent; simple and clear
       míng qiāng yì duǒ, ànjiàn nán fáng [Pinyin]
       It is easy to dodge an open attack, but difficult to defend against a concealed one.
* vision; sight (the ability to see)
    失明 ― shīmíng ― to be blind; to lose eyesight
    From: Mencius, c. 4th century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
    Míng zúyǐ chá qiūháo zhī mò, ér bùjiàn yúxīn. [Pinyin]
    [M]y eyesight is sharp enough to examine the point of an autumn hair, but I do not see a cart-load of firewood.
* (of vision) acute; sharp; keen
    耳聰目明／耳聪目明 ― ěrcōngmùmíng ― sharp at hearing and vision
* (figurative) intellect; knowledge; judgement; discernment; sensibility
    無明／无明 ― wúmíng ― ignorance
* (figurative) intelligent; sensible; informed; wise
    明智 ― míngzhì ― wise; sensible
    英明 ― yīngmíng ― wise
    From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE
    Wáng zhī bùmíng, qǐ zú fú zāi! [Pinyin]
    How can a monarch's lack of judgement be a blessing? (Literally, "That the monarch is not wise, how can this amount to a blessing?")
* to understand; to know
    講明／讲明 ― jiǎngmíng ― to explain
    明事理 ― míngshìlǐ ― sensible; capable
       nei$^5$ m$^4$ ming$^4$ jat$^1$ ding$^6$ jiu$^3$ ceot$^1$ seng$^1$. [Jyutping]
       If you don't understand you must speak up.
       ngo$^5$ zan$^1$ hai$^6$ m$^4$ hai$^6$ hou$^2$ ming$^4$ dim$^2$ gaai$^2$ (......) [Jyutping]
       I really don't get why (…)
* evidently
    明知故問／明知故问 ― míngzhīgùwèn ― to ask intentionally a question one already knows the answer to
* (literary) to make known
    開宗明義／开宗明义 ― kāizōngmíngyì ― to make clear the main idea at the beginning in one's speech or writing
    From: The Book of Rites, c. 4th – 2nd century BCE
    Gǔ zhī yù míng míngdé yú tiānxià zhě, xiān zhì qí guó. [Pinyin]
    The ancients who wished to illustrate illustrious virtue throughout the kingdom, first ordered well their own states.
* next; following
    明天 ― míngtiān ― tomorrow
    明年 ― míngnián ― next year or the following year
    今冬明春 ― jīn dōng míng chūn ― this winter and next spring
* (literary) tomorrow
    From: 721, Wang Wei, 宿鄭州
    Míng dāng dù Jīngshuǐ, zuówǎn yóu Jīngǔ. [Pinyin]
    Tomorrow I shall cross Jingshui(the capital's river); last night I was still in Jingu.
* (～朝) Ming dynasty
* a surname, listed as #111 on the Baijiaxing
    明玉珍 ― Míng Yùzhēn ― Ming Yuzhen (late Yuan revolutionary)
* (～母) (Chinese linguistics) the Middle Chinese initial of 明 (MC mjaeng)

##### See also

Dynasties (朝代) in Chinese history :
| Name | Time period | Divisions | Divisions |
| Xia 夏 (～朝, ～代) | 2070 – 1600 BCE | | |
| Shang 商 (～朝, ～代) 殷 (～朝, ～代) | 1600 – 1046 BCE | | |
| Zhou 周 (～朝, ～代) | 1046 – 256 BCE | Western Zhou 西周 | |
| Zhou 周 (～朝, ～代) | 1046 – 256 BCE | Eastern Zhou 東周 / 东周 | Spring and Autumn period 春秋 |
| Zhou 周 (～朝, ～代) | 1046 – 256 BCE | Eastern Zhou 東周 / 东周 | Warring States period 戰國 / 战国 |
| Qin 秦 (～朝, ～代) | 221 – 206 BCE | | |
| Han 漢 / 汉 (～朝, ～代) | 206 BCE – 220 C.E. | Western Han 西漢 / 西汉 | Western Han 西漢 / 西汉 |
| Xin 新 (～朝) ||
| Eastern Han 東漢 / 东汉 ||
| Three Kingdoms 三國 / 三国 | 220 – 280 C.E. | Wei 魏 | Wei 魏 |
| Shu Han 蜀漢 / 蜀汉 ||
| Wu 吳 / 吴 ||
| Jin 晉 / 晋 (～朝, ～代) | 265 – 420 C.E. | Western Jin 西晉 / 西晋 | Western Jin 西晉 / 西晋 |
| Eastern Jin 東晉 / 东晋 ||
| Southern and Northern dynasties 南北朝 | 420 – 589 C.E. | Northern dynasties 北朝 | Northern Wei 北魏 |
| Southern and Northern dynasties 南北朝 | 420 – 589 C.E. | Northern dynasties 北朝 | Western Wei 西魏 |
| Southern and Northern dynasties 南北朝 | 420 – 589 C.E. | Northern dynasties 北朝 | Eastern Wei 東魏 / 东魏 |
| Southern and Northern dynasties 南北朝 | 420 – 589 C.E. | Northern dynasties 北朝 | Northern Zhou 北周 |
| Southern and Northern dynasties 南北朝 | 420 – 589 C.E. | Northern dynasties 北朝 | Northern Qi 北齊 / 北齐 |
| Southern and Northern dynasties 南北朝 | 420 – 589 C.E. | Southern dynasties 南朝 | Liu Song 劉宋 / 刘宋 |
| Southern and Northern dynasties 南北朝 | 420 – 589 C.E. | Southern dynasties 南朝 | Southern Qi 南齊 / 南齐 |
| Southern and Northern dynasties 南北朝 | 420 – 589 C.E. | Southern dynasties 南朝 | Liang 梁 (～朝, ～代) |
| Southern and Northern dynasties 南北朝 | 420 – 589 C.E. | Southern dynasties 南朝 | Chen 陳 / 陈 (～朝, ～代) |
| Sui 隋 (～朝, ～代) | 581 – 618 C.E. | | |
| Tang 唐 (～朝, ～代) | 618 – 907 C.E. | | |
| Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms 五代十國 / 五代十国 | 907 – 960 C.E. | | |
| Liao 遼 / 辽 (～朝, ～代) | 907 – 1125 C.E. | | |
| Song 宋 (～朝, ～代) | 960 – 1279 C.E. | Northern Song 北宋 | Northern Song 北宋 |
| Southern Song 南宋 ||
| Western Xia 西夏 | 1038 – 1227 C.E. | | |
| Jin 金 (～朝, ～代) | 1115 – 1234 C.E. | | |
| Western Liao 西遼 / 西辽 | 1124 – 1218 C.E. | | |
| Yuan 元 (～朝, ～代) | 1271 – 1368 C.E. | | |
| Ming 明 (～朝, ～代) | 1368 – 1644 C.E. | | |
| Qing 清 (～朝, ～代) | 1636 – 1912 C.E. | | |

##### Compounds

* 三明 (sānmíng)
* 三明治 (sānmíngzhì)
* 不明 (bùmíng)
* 五明
* 休明
* 伯明罕
* 修明 (xiūmíng)
* 催明鳥 / 催明鸟
* 光明 (guāngmíng)
* 光明燈 / 光明灯 (guāngmíngdēng)
* 克明 (kèmíng)
* 公明 (gōngmíng)
* 公生明
* 分明 (fēnmíng)
* 判明 (pànmíng)
* 剖明
* 半透明 (bàntòumíng)
* 南明 (Nánmíng)
* 呈明
* 哉生明
* 唐明皇 (Tángmínghuáng)
* 喪明 / 丧明
* 嚮明 / 向明
* 嚴明 / 严明 (yánmíng)
* 因明
* 圓明園 / 圆明园 (Yuánmíngyuán)
* 夜明 (yèmíng)
* 夜明珠 (yèmíngzhū)
* 大明 (Dàmíng)
* 大明星
* 大明曆 / 大明历
* 大明湖 (Dàmínghú)
* 天明 (tiānmíng)
* 失明 (shīmíng)
* 孔明 (Kǒngmíng)
* 孔明燈 / 孔明灯 (kǒngmíngdēng)
* 宣明 (xuānmíng)
* 小明 (Xiǎomíng)
* 小聰明 / 小聪明 (xiǎocōngmíng)
* 平明 (píngmíng)
* 幽明
* 幽明錄 / 幽明录
* 廉明 (liánmíng)
* 復明 / 复明 (fùmíng)
* 打明火
* 投明
* 指明 (zhǐmíng)
* 挑明
* 擺明 / 摆明 (bǎimíng)
* 敘明 / 叙明
* 啟明 / 启明 (qǐmíng)
* 文明 (wénmíng)
* 文明人 (wénmíngrén)
* 文明戲 / 文明戏 (wénmíngxì)
* 文明病
* 方明
* 旦明 (dànmíng)
* 明世 (míngshì)
* 明丟丟 / 明丢丢
* 明主 (míngzhǔ)
* 明了 (míngliǎo)
* 明亮 (míngliàng)
* 明亮亮
* 明亮隔
* 明人 (míngrén)
* 明令 (mínglìng)
* 明仔載 / 明仔载 (bîn-á-chài)
* 明信片 (míngxìnpiàn)
* 明倫堂 / 明伦堂
* 明允
* 明光 (Míngguāng)
* 明光光
* 明光瓦亮
* 明兒 / 明儿
* 明兩 / 明两
* 明公 (mínggōng)
* 明凈 / 明净
* 明分
* 明刑
* 明前
* 明升暗降
* 明君 (míngjūn)
* 明命
* 明哲 (míngzhé)
* 明喻 (míngyù)
* 明器 (míngqì)
* 明四家
* 明堂
* 明夜
* 明天 (míngtiān)
* 明太祖
* 明夷 (míngyí)
* 明妃
* 明如翦
* 明威
* 明媚 (míngmèi)
* 明密
* 明察 (míngchá)
* 明察暗訪 / 明察暗访 (míngchá'ànfǎng)
* 明察秋毫 (míngchá qiūháo)
* 明局
* 明師 / 明师
* 明幌幌
* 明年 (míngnián)
* 明府
* 明度 (míngdù)
* 明後 / 明后
* 明徹 / 明彻
* 明德 (míngdé)
* 明德茶
* 明心 (míngxīn)
* 明志 (míngzhì)
* 明忘八
* 明快 (míngkuài)
* 明恕
* 明悟
* 明慎
* 明慧 (mínghuì)
* 明打明
* 明挖
* 明搶 / 明抢
* 明據 / 明据
* 明擺著/明摆着
* 明教 (míngjiào)
* 明文 (míngwén)
* 明新
* 明斷 / 明断
* 明旌
* 明日 (míngrì)
* 明旦 (míngdàn)
* 明早 (míngzǎo)
* 昆明 (Kūnmíng)
* 明明 (míngmíng)
* 昌明 (chāngmíng)
* 昏明
* 昆明池
* 昆明湖 (Kūnmíng Hú)
* 明星 (míngxīng)
* 明時 / 明时
* 明晃晃 (mínghuǎnghuǎng)
* 明晨
* 明晰 (míngxī)
* 明智 (míngzhì)
* 明暗 (míng'àn)
* 明暢 / 明畅
* 明曉 / 明晓
* 明月 (míngyuè)
* 明月光
* 明朗 (mínglǎng)
* 明朝
* 明杖
* 明板
* 明格列爾 / 明格列尔 (Mínggéliè'ěr)
* 明槍 / 明枪
* 明槍易躲，暗箭難防 / 明枪易躲，暗箭难防 (míngqiāng yì duǒ, ànjiàn nán fáng)
* 明槍暗箭 / 明枪暗箭
* 明樓 / 明楼
* 明正
* 明水 (Míngshuǐ)
* 明決 / 明决
* 明汪汪
* 明河 (mínghé)
* 明法
* 明治 (Míngzhì)
* 明淨 / 明净 (míngjìng)
* 明溝 / 明沟
* 明滅 / 明灭 (míngmiè)
* 明滴溜
* 明潔 / 明洁
* 明澈 (míngchè)
* 明火 (mínghuǒ)
* 明燈 / 明灯 (míngdēng)
* 明燭 / 明烛
* 明燦燦 / 明灿灿
* 明牌
* 明牧
* 明王 (míngwáng)
* 明玕
* 明珠 (míngzhū)
* 明琅
* 明理 (mínglǐ)
* 明瑟
* 明璫 / 明珰
* 明瓦
* 明當 / 明当
* 明發 / 明发
* 明白
* 明白人 (míngbairén)
* 明盛
* 明盤 / 明盘 (míngpán)
* 明目 (míngmù)
* 明目張膽 / 明目张胆 (míngmùzhāngdǎn)
* 明眼
* 明眸 (míngmóu)
* 明眼人 (míngyǎnrén)
* 明瞭 / 明了 (míngliǎo)
* 明知 (míngzhī)
* 明知道
* 明石 (míngshí)
* 明確 / 明确 (míngquè)
* 明碼 / 明码 (míngmǎ)
* 明礬 / 明矾 (míngfán)
* 明示 (míngshì)
* 明祀
* 明神
* 明秀
* 明節 / 明节
* 明範 / 明范
* 明經 / 明经 (míngjīng)
* 明線 / 明线
* 明者
* 明聖 / 明圣
* 明肌雪
* 明膠 / 明胶 (míngjiāo)
* 明臺 / 明台
* 明良
* 明蘆 / 明芦 (Mínglú)
* 明處 / 明处
* 明蝦 / 明虾 (míngxiā)
* 明蟾 (míngchán)
* 明衣
* 明見 / 明见
* 明言 (míngyán)
* 明訓 / 明训
* 明詔 / 明诏
* 明詩 / 明诗
* 明說 / 明说 (míngshuō)
* 明誓
* 明調 / 明调
* 明講 / 明讲 (míngjiǎng)
* 明證 / 明证 (míngzhèng)
* 明豔 / 明艳 (míngyàn)
* 明貺 / 明贶
* 明賢 / 明贤
* 明輪 / 明轮
* 明辨 (míngbiàn)
* 明通 (Míngtōng)
* 明達 / 明达 (míngdá)
* 明道
* 明遠樓 / 明远楼
* 明銳 / 明锐 (míngruì)
* 明鏡 / 明镜 (míngjìng)
* 明鐙 / 明镫
* 明鑑 / 明鉴
* 明鑒 / 明鉴
* 明閃閃 / 明闪闪
* 明開 / 明开
* 明間 / 明间
* 明降
* 明靈 / 明灵 (mínglíng)
* 明靜 / 明静
* 明順 / 明顺
* 明顯 / 明显 (míngxiǎn)
* 明駝 / 明驼
* 明麗 / 明丽 (mínglì)
* 昭明 (zhāomíng)
* 春明
* 晨明 (chénmíng)
* 晦明 (huìmíng)
* 月明 (yuèmíng)
* 朏明
* 朧明 / 胧明
* 未明 (wèimíng)
* 朱明 (zhūmíng)
* 東明 / 东明 (Dōngmíng)
* 松明 (sōngmíng)
* 查明 (chámíng)
* 標明 / 标明 (biāomíng)
* 正明師 / 正明师
* 永明體 / 永明体
* 沒天明 / 没天明
* 決明 / 决明 (juémíng)
* 決明子 / 决明子 (juémíngzǐ)
* 注明 (zhùmíng)
* 洞明
* 流明 (liúmíng)
* 清明 (qīngmíng)
* 淺明 / 浅明
* 清明河 (Qīngmínghé)
* 清明節 / 清明节 (Qīngmíngjié)
* 澄明 (chéngmíng)
* 焦明 (jiāomíng)
* 無明 / 无明 (wúmíng)
* 無明火 / 无明火 (wúmínghuǒ)
* 照明 (zhàomíng)
* 照明彈 / 照明弹 (zhàomíngdàn)
* 申明 (shēnmíng)
* 發明 / 发明 (fāmíng)
* 發明家 / 发明家 (fāmíngjiā)
* 真理越辯越明 / 真理越辩越明 (zhēnlǐ yuèbiànyuèmíng)
* 知人者智，自知者明 (zhī rén zhě zhì, zì zhī zhě míng)
* 石決明 / 石决明 (shíjuémíng)
* 砸明火
* 神明 (shénmíng)
* 稟明 / 禀明
* 空明
* 簡明 / 简明 (jiǎnmíng)
* 精明 (jīngmíng)
* 聖明 / 圣明 (shèngmíng)
* 聰明 / 聪明 (cōngmíng)
* 聲明 / 声明 (shēngmíng)
* 聰明人 / 聪明人 (cōngmíngrén)
* 至明
* 芵明
* 英明 (yīngmíng)
* 薄明
* 虛明 / 虚明
* 表明 (biǎomíng)
* 言明 (yánmíng)
* 註明 / 注明 (zhùmíng)
* 詳明 / 详明 (xiángmíng)
* 說明 / 说明 (shuōmíng)
* 說明文 / 说明文 (shuōmíngwén)
* 說明書 / 说明书 (shuōmíngshū)
* 證明 / 证明 (zhèngmíng)
* 證明書 / 证明书 (zhèngmíngshū)
* 賢明 / 贤明 (xiánmíng)
* 質明 / 质明
* 趙公明 / 赵公明
* 趕明兒 / 赶明儿
* 載明 / 载明
* 辨明 (biànmíng)
* 通明 (tōngmíng)
* 透明 (tòumíng)
* 透明化
* 透明度 (tòumíngdù)
* 透明漆
* 透明體 / 透明体 (tòumíngtǐ)
* 過明路 / 过明路
* 遲明 / 迟明
* 重明 (chóngmíng)
* 野決明 / 野决明
* 長明燈 / 长明灯 (chángmíngdēng)
* 開明 / 开明 (kāimíng)
* 闡明 / 阐明 (chǎnmíng)
* 陽明 / 阳明 (yángmíng)
* 陽明山 / 阳明山
* 靜明園 / 静明园
* 頭明 / 头明
* 顯明 / 显明 (xiǎnmíng)
* 餘明 / 余明
* 馬明王 / 马明王
* 驗明 / 验明
* 高明 (gāomíng)
* 鬼聰明 / 鬼聪明
* 鮮明 / 鲜明 (xiānmíng)
* 鷦明 / 鹪明 (jiāomíng)
* 黃明 / 黄明
* 黃明膠 / 黄明胶
* 黎明 (límíng)
* 齊明 / 齐明

#### Descendants

* → Japanese: 明(みょう) (myō); 明(めい) (mei); 明(みん) (Min)
* → Korean: 명(明) (Myeong)
* → Vietnamese: minh (明)

### Etymology 2

* For pronunciation and definitions of 明 – see 樠 (“elm; part of a pine tree branch with large amounts of resin; etc.”). (This character is a variant form of 樠).

### References

* Dictionary of Chinese Character Variants (教育部異體字字典), A01784
* “明”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎, 香港中文大學 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014–
* 莆田市荔城区档案馆 [Putian City Licheng District Archives], editor (2022), “明”, in 莆仙方言文读字汇 [Puxian Dialect Literary Reading Dictionary] (overall work in Mandarin and Puxian Min), page 159.

## Japanese
### Kanji

(Second grade kyōiku kanji)

#### Readings

* Go-on: みょう (myō, Jōyō)
* Kan-on: めい (mei, Jōyō)
* Tō-on: みん (min)
* Kun: あかり (akari, 明かり, Jōyō)、あかるい (akarui, 明るい, Jōyō)、あかるむ (akarumu, 明るむ, Jōyō)、あからむ (akaramu, 明らむ, Jōyō)、あきらか (akiraka, 明らか, Jōyō)、あける (akeru, 明ける, Jōyō)、あく (aku, 明く, Jōyō)、あくる (akuru, 明くる, Jōyō)、あかす (akasu, 明かす, Jōyō)
* Nanori: あ (a)、あか (aka)、あかり (akari)、あかる (akaru)、あき (aki)、あきら (akira)、あけ (ake)、あける (akeru)、きよし (kiyoshi)、くに (kuni)、さとし (satoshi)、てる (teru)、とおる (tōru)、とし (toshi)、なお (nao)、のり (nori)、はじめ (hajime)、はる (haru)、ひろ (hiro)、み (mi)、みつ (mitsu)、よし (yoshi)

#### Compounds

* 明後日(あさって) (asatte)
* 明日(あした) (ashita)
* 明日(あす) (asu)
* 明(あき)信(のぶ) (Akinobu)
* 明明後日(しあさって) (shiasatte)
* 明太(めんたい) (mentai)
* 克(かつ)明(あき) (Katsuaki)
* 松明(たいまつ) (taimatsu)

### Etymology 1

* Kanji in this term
* 明
* めい Grade: 2
* kan'on
From Middle Chinese 明 (MC mjaeng).

#### Affix

明(めい) • (mei)
* bright, brightening
* clarifying, understanding
* brighten, enlighten
* open to the world
* deity, god

##### Derived terms

* 明(めい)暗(あん) (meian)
* 明(めい)快(かい) (meikai)
* 明(めい)解(かい) (meikai)
* 明(めい)海(かい) (meikai)
* 明(めい)確(かく) (meikaku)
* 明(めい)鏡(きょう) (meikyō)
* 明(めい)君(くん) (meikun)
* 明(めい)言(げん) (meigen)
* 明(めい)察(さつ) (meisatsu)
* 明(めい)示(じ) (meiji)
* 明(めい)治(じ) (Meiji)
* 明(めい)晰(せき) (meiseki)
* 明(めい)白(はく) (meihaku)
* 明(めい)瞭(りょう) (meiryō)
* 解(かい)明(めい) (kaimei)
* 究(きゅう)明(めい) (kyūmei)
* 克(こく)明(めい) (kokumei)
* 松(しょう)明(めい) (shōmei)
* 照(しょう)明(めい) (shōmei)
* 証(しょう)明(めい) (shōmei)
* 晨(しん)明(めい) (shinmei)
* 透(とう)明(めい) (tōmei)
* 薄(はく)明(めい) (hakumei)
* 発(はつ)明(めい) (hatsumei)
* 不(ふ)明(めい) (fumei)
* 文(ぶん)明(めい) (bunmei)

#### Noun

明(めい) • (mei)
* brightness
* insight
* eyesight, vision

### Etymology 2

* Kanji in this term
* 明
* みょう Grade: 2
* goon
/mʲau/ → /mʲɔː/ → /mʲoː/
From Middle Chinese 明 (MC mjaeng).
The Buddhist senses are a translation of Sanskrit विद्या (vidyā, “knowledge, wisdom”).

#### Affix

明(みょう) • (myō)
* bright
* light, lamp
* clarifying
* passing to the next in time
* graceful, respectful
* (Buddhism) passing of knowledge, scholarship, or study

##### Derived terms

* 明(みょう)鏡(きょう) (myōkyō)
* 明(みょう)後(ご)日(にち) (myōgonichi)
* 明(みょう)星(じょう) (myōjō)
* 明(みょう)朝(ちょう) (myōchō)
* 明(みょう)日(にち) (myōnichi)
* 明(みょう)明(みょう)後(ご)日(にち) (myōmyōgonichi)
* 灯(とう)明(みょう) (tōmyō)

#### Noun

明(みょう) • (myō)
* (Buddhism) knowledge or wisdom that dispels the darkness of ignorance and brings to the realization of truth; enlightenment
* (Buddhism) an esoteric mantra

#### Adnominal

明(みょう) • (myō)
* this coming...

### Etymology 3

* Kanji in this term
* 明
* みん Grade: 2
* tōon
From Mandarin 明 (míng).

#### Proper noun

明(みん) • (Min)
* the Ming dynasty (1368–1644)

##### Derived terms

* 明(みん)曲(きょく) (minkyoku)
* 明(みん)朝(ちょう) (Minchō)
* 明(みん)律(りつ) (minritsu)

### Etymology 4

* Kanji in this term
* 明
* さや Grade: 2
* irregular
For pronunciation and definitions of 明 – see the following entry. :
| 【清さや】4 | [adverb] brightly, clearly, vividly [adverb] cleanly, freshly, purely [adverb] rustlingly [proper noun] a female given name |
(This term, 明, is an alternative spelling of the above term.) :

### Etymology 5

* Kanji in this term
* 明
* あき(ら) Grade: 2
* nanori
Nominalization of the stem of adjective 明らか (akiraka, “clear, visible”).

#### Proper noun

明(あきら) • (Akira)
* a male given name

### References

* ↑ Matsumura, Akira (1995) 大辞泉 [Daijisen] (in Japanese), First edition, Tokyo: Shogakukan, →ISBN

## Korean
### Hanja

明 (eumhun 밝을 명 (balgeul myeong))
* hanja form of 명 (“bright”)

## Kunigami
### Kanji

(Second grade kyōiku kanji)
* Kun: はか゚い (hangai, 明か゚い)

## Miyako
### Kanji

(Second grade kyōiku kanji)
* Kun: あかーㇲ゙ (akādz, 明かーㇲ゙)

## Okinawan
### Kanji

(Second grade kyōiku kanji)

#### Readings

* On (unclassified): みー (mī)
* Kun: あかい (akai, 明かい)

#### Compounds

* 清(しー)明(みー) (shīmī)
* 聡(すー)明(みー) (sūmī)

## Vietnamese
### Han character

明: Hán Việt readings: minh (眉(mi)兵(binh)切(thiết))
明: Nôm readings: mừng, minh, mầng, miêng, mênh
* chữ Hán form of minh (“bright; clear”).
* chữ Hán form of Minh (“given name”).
* chữ Nôm form of mừng.

#### Compounds

* 分明 (phân minh)
* 明公 (minh công)
* 明白 (minh bạch)
* 清明 (Thanh minh)
* 高明 (cao minh)

### References

* 1 2 Nguyễn (2014).
* 1 2 3 4 Nguyễn et al. (2009).
* 1 2 3 4 Trần (2004).
* ↑ Hồ (1976).
* 1 2 3 4 Taberd & Pigneau de Béhaine (1838).

## Yaeyama
### Kanji

(Second grade kyōiku kanji)
* Kun: あかりぃ (akarï, 明かりぃ)

## Yonaguni
### Kanji

(Second grade kyōiku kanji)
* Kun: あがい (agai, 明がい)