“Obviously” in Chinese – 明明 míngmíng

Grammar Point:
明明 míngmíng in Chinese is an adverb used to emphasize that something is clear, obvious, or certain, often carrying a tone of dissatisfaction, frustration, or pointing out a contradiction. It roughly translates to “obviously,” “clearly,” or “plainly” in English.

When Do We Use It

1. Used for Emphasizing Facts
2. Expressing Frustration or Complaint
3. Contrasting Two Statements

Structure

明明 míngmíng + Fact Situation + (but) + Unexpected Result

他tā明明míngmíng答應dāyìng了le， 卻què又yòu反悔fǎnhuǐ了le他tā明明míngmíng答应dāyìng了le， 却què又yòu反悔fǎnhuǐ了le
He clearly agreed but went back on his word.
(Used for Emphasizing Facts)

明明míngmíng是shì你nǐ的de錯cuò， 為什麼wèishénme要yào怪guài我wǒ？ 明明míngmíng是shì你nǐ的de错cuò， 为什么wèishénme要yào怪guài我wǒ？
It’s obviously your fault; why are you blaming me?
(Used for Emphasizing Facts)

明明míngmíng天氣tiānqì預報yùbào說shuō今天jīntiān不會búhuì下雨xiàyǔ， 現在xiànzài卻què下xià得de這麼zhème大dà！ 明明míngmíng天气tiānqì预报yùbào说shuō今天jīntiān不会búhuì下雨xiàyǔ， 现在xiànzài却què下xià得de这么zhème大dà！
The weather forecast clearly said it wouldn’t rain today, but now it’s pouring!
(Expressing Frustration)

你nǐ明明míngmíng知道zhīdào他tā不會búhuì來lái， 還hái去qù等děng他tā你nǐ明明míngmíng知道zhīdào他tā不会búhuì来lái， 还hái去qù等děng他tā
You obviously knew he wouldn’t come, but you still waited for him.
(Contrasting Two Statements)

他tā明明míngmíng很hěn喜歡xǐhuān你nǐ， 卻què不敢bùgǎn表白biǎobái他tā明明míngmíng很hěn喜欢xǐhuan你nǐ， 却què不敢bùgǎn表白biǎobái
He clearly likes you, but he doesn’t dare to confess.
(Expressing Frustration)

明明míngmíng很hěn累lèi了le， 還hái要yào加班jiābān工作gōngzuò明明míngmíng很hěn累lèi了le， 还hái要yào加班jiābān工作gōngzuò
Even though it’s obvious you’re tired, you still work overtime.
(Complaint)

你nǐ明明míngmíng就jiù知道zhīdào答案dáàn， 為什麼wèishénme不bú願意yuànyì告訴gàosù我wǒ你nǐ明明míngmíng就jiù知道zhīdào答案dáàn， 为什么wèishénme不bú愿意yuànyì告诉gàosu我wǒ
You clearly know the answer, so why won’t you tell me?

他tā明明míngmíng中文zhōngwén就jiù很hěn好hǎo， 卻què一直yìzhí說shuō自己zìjǐ不會búhuì中文zhōngwén他tā明明míngmíng中文zhōngwén就jiù很hěn好hǎo， 却què一直yìzhí说shuō自己zìjǐ不会búhuì中文zhōngwén
His Chinese is obviously very good, but he keeps saying he doesn’t know the language.