Hakkiri is a Japanese word for ‘clearly’, explained

What does “hakkiri” mean in Japanese?

Native speakers use hakkiri often to mean ‘clearly’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this word as it is sometimes used in Japanese conversations. In this blog post, however, I’m explaining this word in detail together with example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners understand hakkiri more clearly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meaning of “hakkiri”
  • How to say “clearly” in Japanese
  • Another example of “hakkiri”
• Summary

Definition and meaning of “hakkiri”

Let me start with the definition and meaning of hakkiri.

• hakkiri – はっきり : an adverb meaning ‘clearly’ in Japanese.

Native speakers use this adverb, for example, when they see something clearly defined or something clearly differentiated from the others.

The definition and meaning are simple and clear. Then, let me explain how to use this adverb through the example sentences below.

How to say “clearly” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• yama – 山 (やま) : a noun meaning a ‘mountain’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.
• no – の : a case particle used to join two nouns. Normally, the first one can work as a modifier to describe the second. In the example, this is used to join yama and katachi. The formed phrase literally means ‘the shape of a mountain’ in Japanese. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this case particle is similar to that of the English preposition, of.
• katachi – 形 (かたち) : a noun meaning a ‘shape’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• ga – が : a case particle used to make the subject word or the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after yama no katachi to make the subject in the sentence.
• mie – 見え (みえ) : one conjugation of the verb, mieru, which means ‘to be seen’, ‘to be able to seen’, or such. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
• ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form. In the example, this is used after mie to make its past tense form, mie ta.

This is a typical usage of hakkiri. In this example, it works in the middle of the sentence to mean ‘clearly’ in Japanese.

The original meaning of the Japanese sentence is more like ‘the shape of a mountain could be seen’, but it has been translated more naturally.

Another example of “hakkiri”

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kanojo – 彼女 (かのじょ) : a pronoun meaning ‘she’ in Japanese.
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after kanojo to make the subject in the sentence.
• iken – 意見 (いけん) : a noun meaning an ‘opinion’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• wo – を : a case particle used to make the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after iken to make the object in the sentence.
• nobe – 述べ (のべ) : one conjugation of the verb, noberu, which means ‘to state’ in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.

This is another example of hakkiri. When we want to mean ‘clearly’ in Japanese, this adverb is always a very good option.

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of hakkiri together with the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

• hakkiri – はっきり : an adverb meaning ‘clearly’ in Japanese. Native speakers use this adverb, for example, when they see something clearly defined or something clearly differentiated from the others.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.