(chǎn) - To explain & to elucidate

Tone 3

chǎn | 11 strokes | radical:

· chǎn

To explain;

to elucidate;

to clarify;

to expound;

to make clear.

To explainto elucidateto clarify

Usage highlights

To explain clearlyTo elaborate onTo elucidate and developTo explain and interpretTo expound the essenceTo clarify the meaning

Synonyms

  • to explain, to interpret
  • to explain, to untangle
  • to clarify, to make clear

Antonyms

  • to cover, to obscure
  • to conceal, to hide

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The teacher explained the concept clearly (阐明概念).
  • The government elaborated on the new policy (阐述新政策).
  • The book elucidates this philosophical theory (阐发这一哲学理论).
  • He expounded on the profound meaning (阐释深意).

Collocations

  • To explain clearly(阐明)
  • To elaborate on(阐述)
  • To elucidate and develop(阐发)
  • To explain and interpret(阐释)
  • To expound the essence(阐扬)
  • To clarify the meaning(阐义)

Idioms

  • To elucidate the subtle and profound(阐幽明微)
  • To expound the profound and reveal the subtle(阐幽探赜)
  • To elucidate the classics and promote the orthodoxy(阐经弘道)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally meant 'to open, to reveal' in classical Chinese, evolving to mean 'to explain, to make clear'.
  • Frequently used in academic, philosophical, and religious contexts to denote thorough explanation of doctrines or theories.
  • Appears in Buddhist texts for explaining sutras and in Confucian classics for elucidating moral principles.

FAQ