# 昭然若揭

zhāo rán ruò jiē

Be unmistakably obvious

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** So clear it seems unveiled

**Register:** Standard · expressive

[Perspective](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/perspective)

## When to use it

Describe a motive or fact plainly exposed.

Often concerns blame or hidden intention.

## Understanding the expression

Removing a covering makes something visible, and the expression says that the truth is already that clear. It often refers to a motive, scheme, or wrongdoing that evidence has exposed. The tone is emphatic, sometimes accusatory. What seems obvious still needs support when others reasonably dispute it. A good sentence identifies the facts that reveal the matter rather than relying on the expression alone to turn suspicion into certainty.

## Examples

他的欺骗意图昭然若揭。

### Traditional Chinese

他的欺騙意圖昭然若揭。

tā de qī piàn yì tú zhāo rán ruò jiē 。

His deceptive intention is unmistakably clear.

账目公开后，问题昭然若揭。

### Traditional Chinese

賬目公開後，問題昭然若揭。

zhàng mù gōng kāi hòu ， wèn tí zhāo rán ruò jiē 。

Once the accounts were published, the problem was obvious.

邮件让双方的分歧昭然若揭。

### Traditional Chinese

郵件讓雙方的分歧昭然若揭。

yóu jiàn ràng shuāng fāng de fēn qí zhāo rán ruò jiē 。

The emails made the disagreement between the parties unmistakable.

重复造假使他的动机昭然若揭。

### Traditional Chinese

重複造假使他的動機昭然若揭。

chóng fù zào jiǎ shǐ tā de dòng jī zhāo rán ruò jiē 。

Repeated falsification made his motives plainly apparent.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E6%98%AD%E7%84%B6%E8%8B%A5%E6%8F%AD)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=875&webMd=1&la=0)

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