EXPLAIN    說明說

DISCUSS so as to CAUSE something to BECOME MORE CLEAR.
DESCRIBEGIVE AN EXPLANATION OFMAKE CLEARMAKE INTELLIGIBLESPELL OUTPUT INTO WORDSELUCIDATEEXPOUNDEXPLICATECLARIFYTHROW/SHED LIGHT ONGLOSSINTERPRETACCOUNT FORGIVE AN EXPLANATION FORGIVE A REASON FORJUSTIFYGIVE A JUSTIFICATION FORGIVE AN EXCUSE FORVINDICATELEGITIMIZE
Old Chinese Criteria
1. The current general word for a discursive "analytical" explanation of something that is not sufficiently clear in itself is shuō 說. 2. Yán 言 refers to the explicit articulation of something, and the emphasis often is on the initiative taken to undertake this explanation. 3. Chén 陳 refers to the laying out of something clearly so as to make it accessible to an overview and a clear understanding of the contents of what is laid out, and the social context is typically that of an inferior laying something out for superiors. 4. Míng 明 is to throw intellectual light on something by any means, including illustration as well as historical explanation or definition. 5. Yù 喻 / 諭 refers to making clear to others what is very clear to oneself, and the means is often comparsion or illustration, yù 諭 tending to be used for making something clear through words in later texts, and yù 喻 for explanation by comparison or metaphor. 6. Jiě 解 refers primarily to the unravelling of something that would appear convoluted and non-transparent without the effort of intellectual unravelling. 7. Shì 釋 is late and refers to explanation with special reference to individual difficult points. 8. Shù 述 refers to laying out for others what oneself or others have done or said in the past. 9. Xù 敘 refers to laying out something in an orderly manner, often in conversation with equals and in a confidential context, and the word became current in Han times.
黄金貴：古漢語同義詞辨釋詞典
HUANG JINGUI 2006 EDUCATION 8. 訓，重在隨文釋義。 詁，以當代通語釋古語或方言。 解，重在對內容的分析、闡明。 釋，用於對疑惑不明之處的詮釋。 析，重於辨析事理。
Modern Chinese Criteria
說明 is a current word for explanation which focusses on the transparency that is aimed at. 解釋 is a current word for explanation which focusses on the unravelling achieved. 說破 refers to a manifestly explicit explanation of something that does not need this sort of explicitness. 破說 (rare) focusses on giving away the hidden secrets of something through explanation. 解說 refers in a slightly more literary way to unravelling and expounding. 分解 focusses on the making of relevant distinctions in the unravelling. 詮釋 (lit, arch) refers to scholarly explanation. 訓詁 refers to traditional philological explanation. 詁訓 (rare) refers to traditional philological explanation. 闡釋 is a Buddist word for providing doctrinal explanations. 釋疑 focusses on the exposition of doubtful points. 唇舌 refers to reasoning, explanation or argumentation as typically wasted effort. 講解 辯解 辯護 說 講 詮 釋 rough draft to BEGIN TO identify synonym group members for analysis, based on CL etc. 18.11.2003. CH ／
Hyponym
  • COMPARE　EXPLAIN HOW TWO OR MORE THINGS MUTUALLY RESEMBLE:are-similar OR are MUTUALLY DIFFERENT. (anc: 15/0, child: 0)
  • GLOSS　EXPLAIN the MEANING of what is WRITTEN OR SAID. (anc: 15/0, child: 0)
  • PROVE　EXPLAIN CLEARLY WHY a SENTENCE is TRUE. (anc: 15/0, child: 1)
  • SUMMARISE　EXPLAIN COMPLETELY BUT SHORTLY, OMITTING NOT-IMPORTANT DETAILS. (anc: 15/0, child: 0)
  • SOLVE　EXPLAIN a PROBLEM. (anc: 15/0, child: 0)
  • DESCRIBE　EXPLAIN the SHAPE OR NATURE of something. (anc: 15/0, child: 0)
  • ANALYSE　EXPLAIN something by SYSTEMATICALLY DISTINGUISHING its BASIC PARTS AND their FUNCTIONS. (anc: 15/0, child: 1)
  • TRANSLATE　EXPLAIN USING A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE. (anc: 15/0, child: 0)
  • JUSTIFY　EXPLAIN WHY something is CORRECT OR GOOD. (anc: 15/0, child: 0)
  • DEFINE　EXPLAIN OR FIX the MEANING of something. (anc: 15/0, child: 0)
  • ANALOGY　EXPLANATION USING DETAILED COMPARISON. (anc: 15/0, child: 0)
  • INTERPRET　EXPLAIN ONE'S UNDERSTANDING OF SOMETHING. (anc: 15/0, child: 0)
Hypernym
  • DISCUSS　SPEAK SYSTEMATICALLY on something, BASING oneself on INVESTIGATION AND REFLECTION. (anc: 13/0, child: 2)
  • SPEAK　ACT so as to USE WORDS FOR SHOWING MEANING.*Speech by speaker X, directed towards audience Y, in order to communicate message Z. (anc: 12/0, child: 32)
  • ACT　MOVE OR NOT MOVE CONFORMING to one's SELF:own DECIDE:decision. (anc: 11/0, child: 24)
  • A Dictionary of Selected Synonyms in the Principal Indo-European Languages ( BUCK 1988) p. 17.38

  • Lateinische Synonyme und Etymologien ( DOEDERLEIN 1840) p.

    EXPLAIN

    disserere refers to an act of explaining something in a didactic and coherent form.

    disputare refers to an act of explaining something in a polemical and systematically methodic style.

  • Lateinische Synonymik ( MENGE) p.

  • Historisches Woerterbuch der Philosophie ( RITTER 1971-2007) p. 2.690

    ERKLAEREN

  • 古辭辨 Gu ci bian ( WANG FENGYANG 1993) p. 756

  • 王力古漢語字典 ( WANG LI 2000) p. 1290

    諭，喻

  • 王力古漢語字典 ( WANG LI 2000) p. 1425

    敘，述，陳，說

  • 王力古漢語字典 ( WANG LI 2000) p. 1507

    解，釋

  • Using Chinese Synonyms ( GRACE ZHANG 2010) p. 232

  • Chinese Synonyms Usage Dictionary ( TENG SHOU-HSIN 1996) p. 64

    辯護,辯解

  • The Encyclopedia of Philosophy ( BORCHERT 2005) p.

  • 跟我學同義詞 ( CAI SHAOWEI 2010) p. 81

  • SYNONYMES FRANÇOIS, LEURS DIFFÉRENTES SIGNIFICATIONS, ET LE CHOIX QU'IL EN FAUT FAIRE Pour parler avec justesse ( GIRARD 1769) p. 2.130:86

    ECLAIRCIR.EXPLIQUER.DEVELOPER

  • SYNONYMES FRANÇOIS, LEURS DIFFÉRENTES SIGNIFICATIONS, ET LE CHOIX QU'IL EN FAUT FAIRE Pour parler avec justesse ( GIRARD 1769) p. 1.224.183

    declarer.decouvrir.manifester.reveler.deceler

    • Words (50 items)

    說  shuō OC: lʰod MC: ɕiɛt 83 Attributions

    The current general word for a discursive "analytical" explanation of something that is not sufficiently clear in itself is shuō 說.

      Word relations
    • Contrast: 解/EXPLAIN Jiě 解 refers primarily to the unravelling of something that would appear convoluted and non-transparent without the effort of intellectual unravelling.
    • Contrast: 講/DISCUSS 4444Jiǎng 講 refers to discussing something as an important subject and in a systematic manner. 4444Jiǎng 講 refers to discussing something as an important subject and in a systematic manner.
    • Assoc: 議/DISCUSS The current words for discussion are yì 議 "public discussion", and lùn 論 "discursive discourse; written summary discussion with a conclusion".
    • Assoc: 辯 / 辨/ELOQUENT The current general term for articulate rhetorical ability is biàn 辯 (ant. nè 訥 "be tongue-tied").

      Syntactic words
    • nab.adVin theory; in principleLZ
    • nabactdetailed explanation; satisfactory explanation; doctrine, thesis; discourse
    • vadNgiven to making explanations
    • vadVby way of explanation
    • vt(oN)expound the contextually determinate matter N
    • vt+prep+Sexplain how S
    • vt[oN]offer explanations (by way of teaching); make oneself clearBUDDH: engage in preaching (= 說法 )
    • vtoNanalyse, explain; expound;  explain in detail; give a satisfactory explanation of; BUDDH specifically: preach about
    • vtoNmathematical termCHEMLA 2003:
    • vtoNPab{S}explain that S
    • vtoNpassivebe explained, be expanded on
    • vtoSstate that; expound that
    言  yán OC: ŋan MC: ŋi̯ɐn 37 Attributions

    Yán 言 refers to the explicit articulation of something, and the emphasis often is on the initiative taken to undertake this explanation.

      Syntactic words
    • nabactexplanation; account; theory
    • vt(oN)explain, explicate, express the contextually determinate N
    • vtoNexpress in words; put into words; explain (something) in fairly formal discourse or discussion, pronounce on formally; discuss (a matter); make explicit
    • vtoNpassiveto be explained in words
    • vttoN1(. prep N2)explain the subject N1 to the contextually determinate N2CH
    明  míng OC: mraŋ MC: mɣaŋ 20 Attributions

    Míng 明 is to throw intellectual light on something by any means, including illustration as well as historical explanation or definition.

      Word relations
    • Contrast: 議/DISCUSS The current words for discussion are yì 議 "public discussion", and lùn 論 "discursive discourse; written summary discussion with a conclusion".
    • Oppos: 辯/UNDERSTAND Biàn 辨/辯 (ant. huò 惑 "be al confused about") refers to discriminating and highly articulate specialised, often professional knowledge about something

      Syntactic words
    • vttoNPab. prep Nelucidate the NPab to the audience NCH
    • vt(oN)elucidate the contextually determinate point
    • vtoNabelucidate the abstract matter of NabCH
    • vtoNcausativeearly: elucidate the sacred content of; later: cast light on; clarify; elucidate, explain and proclaim; 
    • vtoNPab{S}causative(cause to be clear>) make clear, cause something to become clearly understood
    • vtoNreflexive.自explain (onself), make (oneself) clear, elucidate one's position
    • vtoSexplain, make it clear that S
    • vtt(oN1.)+prep+N2passivebe explained to N2CH
    陳  chén OC: ɡrliŋ MC: ɖin 19 Attributions

    Chén 陳 refers to the laying out of something clearly so as to make it accessible to an overview and a clear understanding of the contents of what is laid out, and the social context is typically that of an inferior laying something out for superiors.

      Syntactic words
    • vadNpassiveexplainedCH
    • vtoNlay out in words; set forth, put forward; bring out into the open
    • vtoNpassivebe laid out clearly, be made explicit; be publicly pronounced (of words)
    • vtoNprepositionto explain (something) 以; to lay out clearly (something)
    說法  shuō fǎ OC: lʰod pab MC: ɕiɛt pi̯ɐp 17 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • NPabactthe preaching of the dharma
    • VPiactpreach the dharma
    喻  yù OC: los MC: ji̯o
    諭  yù OC: los MC: ji̯o 13 Attributions

    Yù 喻/諭 refers to making clear to others what is very clear to oneself, and the means is often comparsion or illustration, yù 諭 tending to be used for making something clear through words in later texts, and yù 喻 for explanation by comparison or metaphor.

      Syntactic words
    • nabdiscursive explanationCH
    • vt(oN)make one's point about the contextually determinate thing
    • vt[oN]modalbe able to fully express what one meansLZ
    • vtoNexplain, make fully clear
    • vtoNconativetry to explain something (often using examples, metaphors etc.)DS
    • vtoNPab{S}express that S
    • vtt[oN1.]+N2explain the relevant contextually determinate things N1 to N2CH
    解  jiě OC: kreeʔ MC: kɣɛ 7 Attributions

    Jiě 解 refers primarily to the unravelling of something that would appear convoluted and non-transparent without the effort of intellectual unravelling.

      Word relations
    • Contrast: 答 / 荅/ANSWER Dá 答 (ant. jīn 吟 (口字旁加金字)而不答 "not answer") refers to an immediate unpremeditated reply. [ASCENDING], [FAST]
    • Contrast: 說/EXPLAIN The current general word for a discursive "analytical" explanation of something that is not sufficiently clear in itself is shuō 說.
    • Assoc: 剝/ANALYSE
    • Assoc: 釋/EXPLAIN Shì 釋 is late and refers to explanation with special reference to individual difficult points.

      Syntactic words
    • nabexplanationLZ
    • vt(oN)unravel and explain the contextually determinate thingDS
    • vt+V[0]unravel and explain
    • vtoNcause to understand > unravel and explain
    辯說  biàn shuō OC: brenʔ lʰod MC: biɛn ɕiɛt 6 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • NPabactdisquisitive explanations
    • VPiactcome up with reasoned explanations, make eloquent arguments
    代云  dài yún OC: lɯɯɡs ɢun MC: dəi ɦi̯un 5 Attributions
    • Studies in the Language of Zǔtáng jí 祖堂集 ( ANDERL 2004B) p. 564, fn.1508

      There are ca. 115 instances of 代云 is ZTJ, 18 instances of 代曰; note that there are no occurrences of ＊代說

      Syntactic words
    • VPtoS1.postS2historiographyBUDDH: Chán historiographic term: comment in S1 upon something defined in S2 (introducing a layer of commentary by a another master into the text)
    抒  shū OC: ɢljaʔ MC: ʑi̯ɤ
    舒  shū OC: lʰa MC: ɕi̯ɤ
    杼  shù OC: ɢljaʔ MC: ʑi̯ɤ 5 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • vtoNdredge out and explain; give full expression to.
    盡  jìn OC: dzinʔ MC: dzin 5 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • vt(oN)explain exhaustively or completely (with contextually determinate object)
    • vtoNfigurativearticulate exhaustively or completely
    • vtoNpassivebe exhaustively explainedCH
    述  shù OC: ɢljud MC: ʑʷit 4 Attributions

    Shù 述 refers to laying out for others what oneself or others have done or said in the past.

      Syntactic words
    • vtoNreport carefully (what oneself or others have said or done)
    申  shēn OC: lʰin MC: ɕin 4 Attributions

      Word relations

      Syntactic words
    • vtoNexpound (at length or repeatedly), lay out 
    • vtoNpsychexplain (oneself)
    • vttoN1+.vtoN2instruct (an audience N1) in (a subject N2)
    辯  biàn OC: brenʔ MC: biɛn 3 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • viactengage in logically quibbling explanatory discourseCH
    • vtoNperfectiveexplain rationally and distinctlyCH
    • vtoNpsychexplain (one's own) case
    代  dài OC: lɯɯɡs MC: dəi 3 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • vadVBUDDH: (say) instead of > as a commentary (this seems to be a technical term in Chán historiography, marking passages where commentaries of other masters are inserted into the discussion)
    辭  cí OC: zɯ MC: zɨ 2 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • nabactexplaining things, verbalisations, explaining things awayCH
    • vtoNpassivebe explained (Zheng Xuan!)
    釋  shì OC: lʰaɡ MC: ɕiɛk 2 Attributions

    Shì 釋 is late and refers to explanation with special reference to individual difficult points.

      Word relations
    • Assoc: 解/EXPLAIN Jiě 解 refers primarily to the unravelling of something that would appear convoluted and non-transparent without the effort of intellectual unravelling.

      Syntactic words
    • vtoNrare, Du Yu on ZUO: make clear; sort out in a mediating manner
    • vtoNpsychexplain (oneself), explain (one's own actions)
    敷演  fū yǎn OC: phla lenʔ MC: phi̯o jiɛn 2 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • VPiactmake elaborate explanations about things
    • VPtoNexplain in detail
    解說  jiě shuō OC: kreeʔ lʰod MC: kɣɛ ɕiɛt 2 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • VPt(oN)omexplain and expound > explain, elucidate (with contextually determinate N)
    言說  yán shuō OC: ŋan lʰod MC: ŋi̯ɐn ɕiɛt 2 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • NPabactexplanation, theory, doctrine, doctrinal teaching
    廣  guǎng MC: kwangX OC: kʷaaŋʔ 2 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • vtoNbroaden one's understanding of> elaborate onCH
    敷  fū OC: phla MC: phi̯o 2 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • vtoNpsychlay out the facts concerning (onself), plead (one's own) case
    • vttoN1.+prep+N2psychexplain (oneself) to N2, plead (one's own case) with N2
    白  bái OC: braaɡ MC: bɣɛk 2 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • vtoNexplain something in detail; report in detail; make something clear
    • vtt(oN1.)+N2make something contextually determinate clear to (someone)
    目  mù OC: muɡ MC: muk 2 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • vtoNgive details of, explain in detail; itemise properly
    書論  shū lùn MC: syo lwon OC: qhlja ɡ-ruuns 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • NPnonreferentialdisquisitions and discussions of any kindCH
    詮  quān OC: skhon MC: tshiɛn 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • vtoNexplain, make explicit
    論  lùn 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • vtoNexplainCH
    說了  shuō liǎo OC: lʰod reewʔ MC: ɕiɛt leu 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • VPt[oN]perfectivehave finished explaining things
    宣說  xuān shuō OC: sqon lʰod MC: siɛn ɕiɛt 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • VPt(oN)explain openly the contextually determinate matter N
    解諫  jiě jiàn OC: kreeʔ kraans MC: kɣɛ kɣan 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • vttoN1.+N2explain N1 to N2 so as to advise N2
    陳說  chén shuō MC: drin -- OC: ɡrliŋ lʰod 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • VPiconativetry to explain and find an excuse for what happenedDS
    講法  jiǎng fǎ OC: krooŋʔ pab MC: kɣɔŋ pi̯ɐp 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • VPiactexpound the way of the Buddha
    辯明  biàn míng OC: brenʔ mraŋ MC: biɛn mɣaŋ 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • VPtoNresultativeexplain something so as to make it clear
    明白  míng bái OC: mraŋ braaɡ MC: mɣaŋ bɣɛk 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • VPtoNstate clearly> explain clearly
    察  chá OC: skhreed MC: ʈʂhɣɛt 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • vtoNcausativecause (oneself) to be understood properly
    談通  tán tōng MC: dam thuwng OC: ɡ-laam kh-looŋ 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • VPtoNtalk decisively and transparently about; do justice to in talkCH
    辟稱  pì chēng MC: bjiek tsyhing OC: beɡ thjɯŋ 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • NPabargumentation based on similes and quotationsLZ
    广演  yǎn yǎn OC: lenʔ MC: ŋiɛm jiɛn 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • VPtoNexpound in detail
    講說  jiǎng shuō OC: krooŋʔ lʰod MC: kɣɔŋ ɕiɛt 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • VPtoNexpound
    指  zhǐ MC: tsyijX OC: kjiʔ 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • VPt(oN)explain a contextually determinate NLZ
    效  xiào OC: ɡreews MC: ɦɣɛu 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • vtoNdemonstrate something about (something) 以人效天
    具說  jù shuō OC: ɡos lʰod MC: gi̯o ɕiɛt 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • VPtoNexplain comprehensively
    決  jué OC: kʷeed MC: ket 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • vt(oN)solve the contextually determinate taskDS
    • vtoNsolve (a difficulty), find a solution to (political revolt) [But wher are the examples?]
    演  yǎn MC: yenX OC: lenʔ 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • vtoNexpand so as to explain in detailCH
    辨說  biàn shuō OC: brenʔ lʰod MC: biɛn ɕiɛt 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • VPiactengage in discriminating explanatory discourse
    理  lǐ OC: ɡ-rɯʔ MC: lɨ 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • vtoNsort out intellectually, reduce to its principles, explain in a principled manner
    • vtt(oN1.)+N2explain the contextually determinate N1 to N2
    代曰  dài yuē OC: lɯɯɡs ɢʷad MC: dəi ɦi̯ɐt 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • VPtoS1.postS2historiographyBUDDH: Chán historiographic term: comment in S1 upon something defined in S2 (introducing a layer of commentary by a another master into the text)
    闡  chǎn OC: thjanʔ MC: tɕhiɛn 0 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • vtoNpost-Han, WENXINDIAOLONG: expound and make accessible to a wider public
    申說  shēn shuō OC: lʰin lʰod MC: ɕin ɕiɛt 0 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • VPtoNreflexive.自explain oneself; explain one's involvement in something
    敘  xù OC: ljaʔ MC: zi̯ɤ 0 Attributions

    Xù 敘 refers to laying out something in an orderly manner, often in conversation with equals and in a confidential context, and the word became current in Han times.

      Syntactic words
    • vtoNGY: give an orderly account of (for information); lay out in proper sequence