Evident Contrast with 分明 in Chinese
分明
As a stance adverb, 分明 presents a proposition as plainly evident, often against another person's denial or an incompatible claim. It precedes the predicate whose truth is asserted. The form is distinct from adjectival 分明 meaning clear; adverbial 分明 cannot be split or stranded after its predicate object.
Published July 23, 2026
Reviewed July 23, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
Subject + 分明 + Predicate
Read the structure
As a stance adverb, 分明 presents a proposition as plainly evident, often against another person's denial or an incompatible claim. It precedes the predicate whose truth is asserted. The form is distinct from adjectival 分明 meaning clear; adverbial 分明 cannot be split or stranded after its predicate object. Keep the model Subject + 分明 + Predicate visible while you compare each sentence.
他分明知道事情的真相。
He plainly knows the truth of the matter.
Choose the right context
Use 分明 before evidence the speaker treats as obvious. Use it to challenge a conflicting account. Use it before the complete proposition being asserted.
这分明是一个误会。
This is plainly a misunderstanding.
Respect the boundary
Do not split 分明 with an aspect particle. Do not move the stance adverb after the object. Do not confuse adverbial 分明 with the adjective meaning clearly distinguished.
他分了明知道事情的真相。
(He plainly knows the truth of the matter.)
Repair the pattern
Aspect marker splits stance adverb: Adverbial 分明 is indivisible; perfective 了 cannot occur inside it. Stance adverb follows the proposition: Stance 分明 precedes the proposition it evaluates and cannot trail the nominal predicate.
他分明知道事情的真相。
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
他分明知道事情的真相。
He plainly knows the truth of the matter.
他
Subject
This part occupies the Subject position in the model pattern.
分明
分明
This part occupies the 分明 position in the model pattern.
知道
Predicate
This part occupies the Predicate position in the model pattern.
事情
Subject
This part occupies the Subject position in the model pattern.
的
分明
This part occupies the 分明 position in the model pattern.
真相
Predicate
This part occupies the Predicate position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
他分明知道事情的真相。
He plainly knows the truth of the matter.
这分明是一个误会。
This is plainly a misunderstanding.
你分明已经答应过了。
You clearly already agreed.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Use 分明 before evidence the speaker treats as obvious.
- Use it to challenge a conflicting account.
- Use it before the complete proposition being asserted.
Do not use it when
- Do not split 分明 with an aspect particle.
- Do not move the stance adverb after the object.
- Do not confuse adverbial 分明 with the adjective meaning clearly distinguished.
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
他分了明知道事情的真相。
他分明知道事情的真相。
Aspect marker splits stance adverb
Adverbial 分明 is indivisible; perfective 了 cannot occur inside it.
这是一个误会分明。
这分明是一个误会。
Stance adverb follows the proposition
Stance 分明 precedes the proposition it evaluates and cannot trail the nominal predicate.
他分了明知道事情的真相。
Adverbial 分明 is indivisible; perfective 了 cannot occur inside it.
这是一个误会分明。
Stance 分明 precedes the proposition it evaluates and cannot trail the nominal predicate.
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with 分明.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 分明. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
Evident Contrast with 分明 Questions
Can 分明 be an adjective?
Yes. In other frames it can mean clear or distinct; this card covers its preverbal stance-adverb use.
Does 分明 require contradiction?
No, but it often highlights evidence against a denial or competing description.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: GF0025-2021 Appendix A, official combined Levels 7-9 item 【七—九035】 (PDF p. 246)
Provides official combined Levels 7-9 directory placement and examples only; it does not establish the learner-facing usage explanation.
Official sourceModern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide, 3rd ed.
Ross, Ma, Chen, He and Yeh · Routledge · 2024
Locator: Chapter 15, Adverbs
Supports stance adverbs before asserted predicates; GF supplies 分明 as the exact evidential marker.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Compare
其实Correcting Expectations with 其实
Compare 分明, which emphasizes the factual evidence, with 其实, which gently reveals the background truth. Pay attention to the intensity of the speaker's questioning.
Easy to confuse
必定Strong Certainty with 必定
Distinguish between 分明 pointing to observable evidence and 必定 expressing inferred certainty. The type of evidence cannot be ignored just because they are all certain.
Continue learning
看来Inference Frame 看来
From the obvious evidence of 分明 to the inference process of 看来, practice the expression from observation basis to conclusion.
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Continue learning
From the obvious evidence of 分明 to the inference process of 看来, practice the expression from observation basis to conclusion.