Usage note
说明表示解释清楚。
shuō míng biǎo shì jiě shì qīng chǔ。
Explain means to make something clear.
Context note
说明常用于文字、规则和步骤。
shuō míng cháng yòng yú wén zì 、 guī zé hé bù zhòu。
Explain is often used with text, rules, and steps.
5 examples
请说明原因。
qǐng shuō míng yuán yīn。
Please explain the reason.
这本书有说明。
zhè běn shū yǒu shuō míng。
This book has instructions.
老师说明了规则。
lǎo shī shuō míng le guī zé。
The teacher explained the rules.
我还想听说明。
wǒ hái xiǎng tīng shuō míng。
I still want to hear the explanation.
请看说明书。
qǐng kàn shuō míng shū。
Please look at the instruction manual.
5 mini stories
老师给我们说明了考试要求。
lǎo shī gěi wǒ men shuō míng le kǎo shì yāo qiú。
The teacher explained the exam requirements to us.
他把问题说明得很清楚。
tā bǎ wèn tí shuō míng dé hěn qīng chǔ。
He explained the problem very clearly.
说明书上写着怎么使用。
shuō míng shū shàng xiě zhe zěn me shǐ yòng。
The instruction manual says how to use it.
妈妈让我先看说明。
mā ma ràng wǒ xiān kàn shuō míng。
Mom asked me to read the instructions first.
请再说明一次。
qǐng zài shuō míng yí cì。
Please explain it once more.
Mini dialogue
游戏规则
A
这个游戏怎么玩？你能说明一下规则吗？
Zhège yóuxì zěnme wán? Nǐ néng shuōmíng yīxià guīzé ma?
How do you play this game? Can you explain the rules?
B
好的，我来简单说明，每个人轮流抽一张卡片。
Hǎo de, wǒ lái jiǎndān shuōmíng, měi gè rén lúnliú chōu yī zhāng kǎpiàn.
Okay, let me explain briefly. Each person takes turns drawing a card.
请假原因
A
你昨天为什么没来上学？需要向老师说明原因。
Nǐ zuótiān wèishénme méi lái shàngxué? Xūyào xiàng lǎoshī shuōmíng yuányīn.
Why didn't you come to school yesterday? You need to explain the reason to the teacher.
B
我已经写了请假条，上面说明了是因为发烧。
Wǒ yǐjīng xiě le qǐngjià tiáo, shàngmiàn shuōmíng le shì yīnwèi fāshāo.
I already wrote a leave note, which explained it was because of a fever.
Related words and contrasts
similar
解释
jiě shì
to explain
To make something clear or easy to understand.
related
说明书
shuō míng shū
instruction manual
A booklet that gives explanations on how to use something.