EXPLAIN  說明

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
Hypernym
  • DISCUSSSPEAK SYSTEMATICALLY on something, BASING oneself on INVESTIGATION AND REFLECTION.
    • SPEAKACT so as to USE WORDS FOR SHOWING MEANING.*Speech by speaker X, directed towards audience Y, in order to communicate message Z.
      • ACTMOVE OR NOT MOVE CONFORMING to one's SELF:own DECIDE:decision.
        • MOVECHANGE PLACE OR SITUATION....
Hyponym
  • COMPARE EXPLAIN HOW TWO OR MORE THINGS MUTUALLY RESEMBLE:are-similar OR are MUTUALLY DIFFERENT.
    • GLOSS EXPLAIN the MEANING of what is WRITTEN OR SAID.
      • PROVE EXPLAIN CLEARLY WHY a SENTENCE is TRUE.
        • REFUTE PROVE that something is NOT TRUE.
      • SUMMARISE EXPLAIN COMPLETELY BUT SHORTLY, OMITTING NOT-IMPORTANT DETAILS.
        • SOLVE EXPLAIN a PROBLEM.
          • DESCRIBE EXPLAIN the SHAPE OR NATURE of something.
            • ANALYSE EXPLAIN something by SYSTEMATICALLY DISTINGUISHING its BASIC PARTS AND their FUNCTIONS.
              • CRITIQUE POLITICAL ANALYSIS of the PRESENT SITUATION PREPARING BASIC POLITICAL CHANGE of SOCIETY.
            • TRANSLATE EXPLAIN USING A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE.
              • JUSTIFY EXPLAIN WHY something is CORRECT OR GOOD.
                • DEFINE EXPLAIN OR FIX the MEANING of something.
                  • ANALOGY EXPLANATION USING DETAILED COMPARISON.
                    • INTERPRET EXPLAIN ONE'S UNDERSTANDING OF SOMETHING.
                      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









                      rough draft to BEGIN TO identify synonym group members for analysis, based on CL etc. 18.11.2003. CH /

                      • 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

                        shuō OC: lʰod MC: ɕiɛt 81 AttributionsWD

                      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
                        yán OC: ŋan MC: ŋi̯ɐn 37 AttributionsWD

                      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
                        míng OC: mraŋ MC: mɣaŋ 19 AttributionsWD

                      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
                      說法  shuō fǎ OC: lʰod pab MC: ɕiɛt pi̯ɐp 17 AttributionsWD
                        Syntactic words
                      • NPabactthe preaching of the dharma
                      • VPiactpreach the dharma
                        chén OC: ɡrliŋ MC: ɖin 16 AttributionsWD

                      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)
                        yù OC: los MC: ji̯o
                        yù OC: los MC: ji̯o 13 AttributionsWD

                      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
                        jiě OC: kreeʔ MC: kɣɛ 7 AttributionsWD

                      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 AttributionsWD
                        Syntactic words
                      • NPabactdisquisitive explanations
                      • VPiactcome up with reasoned explanations, make eloquent arguments
                        shū OC: ɢljaʔ MC: ʑi̯ɤ
                        shū OC: lʰa MC: ɕi̯ɤ
                        shù OC: ɢljaʔ MC: ʑi̯ɤ 5 AttributionsWD
                        Syntactic words
                      • vtoNdredge out and explain; give full expression to.
                      代云  dài yún OC: lɯɯɡs ɢun MC: dəi ɦi̯un 5 AttributionsWD
                      • 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)
                        shēn OC: lʰin MC: ɕin 4 AttributionsWD

                        Word relations

                        Syntactic words
                      • vtoNexpound (at length or repeatedly), lay out 
                      • vtoNpsychexplain (oneself)
                      • vttoN1+.vtoN2instruct (an audience N1) in (a subject N2)
                        jìn OC: dzinʔ MC: dzin 4 AttributionsWD
                        Syntactic words
                      • vt(oN)explain exhaustively or completely (with contextually determinate object)
                      • vtoNfigurativearticulate exhaustively or completely
                        shù OC: ɢljud MC: ʑʷit 4 AttributionsWD

                      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)
                        dài OC: lɯɯɡs MC: dəi 3 AttributionsWD
                        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)
                        biàn OC: brenʔ MC: biɛn 3 AttributionsWD
                        Syntactic words
                      • viactengage in logically quibbling explanatory discourseCH
                      • vtoNperfectiveexplain rationally and distinctlyCH
                      • vtoNpsychexplain (one's own) case
                        fū OC: phla MC: phi̯o 2 AttributionsWD
                        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
                        mù OC: muɡ MC: muk 2 AttributionsWD
                        Syntactic words
                      • vtoNgive details of, explain in detail; itemise properly
                        shì OC: lʰaɡ MC: ɕiɛk 2 AttributionsWD

                      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 AttributionsWD
                        Syntactic words
                      • VPiactmake elaborate explanations about things
                      • VPtoNexplain in detail
                      解說  jiě shuō OC: kreeʔ lʰod MC: kɣɛ ɕiɛt 2 AttributionsWD
                        Syntactic words
                      • VPt(oN)omexplain and expound > explain, elucidate (with contextually determinate N)
                      言說  yán shuō OC: ŋan lʰod MC: ŋi̯ɐn ɕiɛt 2 AttributionsWD
                        Syntactic words
                      • NPabactexplanation, theory, doctrine, doctrinal teaching
                        cí OC: zɯ MC: zɨ 2 AttributionsWD
                        Syntactic words
                      • nabactexplaining things, verbalisations, explaining things awayCH
                      • vtoNpassivebe explained (Zheng Xuan!)
                        guǎng MC: kwangX OC: kʷaaŋʔCH 2 AttributionsWD
                        Syntactic words
                      • vtoNbroaden one's understanding of> elaborate onCH
                        chá OC: skhreed MC: ʈʂhɣɛt 1 AttributionWD
                        Syntactic words
                      • vtoNcausativecause (oneself) to be understood properly
                        xiào OC: ɡreews MC: ɦɣɛu 1 AttributionWD
                        Syntactic words
                      • vtoNdemonstrate something about (something) 以人效天
                        jué OC: kʷeed MC: ket 1 AttributionWD
                        Syntactic words
                      • vt(oN)solve the contextually determinate taskDS
                      • vtoNsolve (a difficulty), find a solution to (political revolt) [But wher are the examples?]
                        lǐ OC: ɡ-rɯʔ MC: lɨ 1 AttributionWD
                        Syntactic words
                      • vtoNsort out intellectually, reduce to its principles, explain in a principled manner
                      • vtt(oN1.)+N2explain the contextually determinate N1 to N2
                        bái OC: braaɡ MC: bɣɛk 1 AttributionWD
                        Syntactic words
                      • vtoNexplain something in detail; report in detail; make something clear
                      • vtt(oN1.)+N2make something contextually determinate clear to (someone)
                        quān OC: skhon MC: tshiɛn 1 AttributionWD
                        Syntactic words
                      • vtoNexplain, make explicit
                      代曰  dài yuē OC: lɯɯɡs ɢʷad MC: dəi ɦi̯ɐt 1 AttributionWD
                        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)
                      具說  jù shuō OC: ɡos lʰod MC: gi̯o ɕiɛt 1 AttributionWD
                        Syntactic words
                      • VPtoNexplain comprehensively
                      宣說  xuān shuō OC: sqon lʰod MC: siɛn ɕiɛt 1 AttributionWD
                        Syntactic words
                      • VPt(oN)explain openly the contextually determinate matter N
                      广演  yǎn yǎn OC: lenʔ MC: ŋiɛm jiɛn 1 AttributionWD
                        Syntactic words
                      • VPtoNexpound in detail
                      明白  míng bái OC: mraŋ braaɡ MC: mɣaŋ bɣɛk 1 AttributionWD
                        Syntactic words
                      • VPtoNstate clearly> explain clearly
                      解諫  jiě jiàn OC: kreeʔ kraans MC: kɣɛ kɣan 1 AttributionWD
                        Syntactic words
                      • vttoN1.+N2explain N1 to N2 so as to advise N2
                      說了  shuō liǎo OC: lʰod reewʔ MC: ɕiɛt leu 1 AttributionWD
                        Syntactic words
                      • VPt[oN]perfectivehave finished explaining things
                      講法  jiǎng fǎ OC: krooŋʔ pab MC: kɣɔŋ pi̯ɐp 1 AttributionWD
                        Syntactic words
                      • VPiactexpound the way of the Buddha
                      講說  jiǎng shuō OC: krooŋʔ lʰod MC: kɣɔŋ ɕiɛt 1 AttributionWD
                        Syntactic words
                      • VPtoNexpound
                      辨說  biàn shuō OC: brenʔ lʰod MC: biɛn ɕiɛt 1 AttributionWD
                        Syntactic words
                      • VPiactengage in discriminating explanatory discourse
                      辯明  biàn míng OC: brenʔ mraŋ MC: biɛn mɣaŋ 1 AttributionWD
                        Syntactic words
                      • VPtoNresultativeexplain something so as to make it clear
                        lùn 1 AttributionWD
                        Syntactic words
                      • vtoNexplainCH
                      書論  shū lùn MC: syo lwon OC: qhlja ɡ-ruunsCH 1 AttributionWD
                        Syntactic words
                      • NPnonreferentialdisquisitions and discussions of any kindCH
                        yǎn MC: yenX OC: lenʔCH 1 AttributionWD
                        Syntactic words
                      • vtoNexpand so as to explain in detailCH
                      陳說  chén shuō MC: drin -- OC: ɡrliŋ lʰodDS 1 AttributionWD
                        Syntactic words
                      • VPiconativetry to explain and find an excuse for what happenedDS
                        zhǐ MC: tsyijX OC: kjiʔLZ 1 AttributionWD
                        Syntactic words
                      • VPt(oN)explain a contextually determinate NLZ
                      辟稱  pì chēng MC: bjiek tsyhing OC: beɡ thjɯŋLZ 1 AttributionWD
                        Syntactic words
                      • NPabargumentation based on similes and quotationsLZ
                      談通  tán tōng MC: dam thuwng OC: ɡ-laam kh-looŋCH 1 AttributionWD
                        Syntactic words
                      • VPtoNtalk decisively and transparently about; do justice to in talkCH
                        xù OC: ljaʔ MC: zi̯ɤ 0 AttributionsWD

                      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
                        chǎn OC: thjanʔ MC: tɕhiɛn 0 AttributionsWD
                        Syntactic words
                      • vtoNpost-Han, WENXINDIAOLONG: expound and make accessible to a wider public
                      申說  shēn shuō OC: lʰin lʰod MC: ɕin ɕiɛt 0 AttributionsWD
                        Syntactic words
                      • VPtoNreflexive.自explain oneself; explain one's involvement in something

                      Existing SW for

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