明暗(めいあん)

めいあん
noun
light and darkness; contrast
1. light and darkness; brightness and shadow
The contrast between light and dark areas.
この絵(え)は明暗(めいあん)のコントラストが美(うつく)しい。
This painting has beautiful contrast between light and dark.
明暗(めいあん)をはっきりつける。
To create clear contrast between light and shadow.
2. fortune and misfortune; fate
The contrast between good and bad outcomes.
人生(じんせい)の明暗(めいあん)を分(わ)ける。
To determine one's fate (lit: to divide light and dark of life).

明暗(めいあん) combines 明(めい) (bright) and 暗(あん) (dark), forming a compound with both literal and figurative meanings.

LITERAL MEANING:
Contrast between light and shadow in visual art, photography, or film. Important in Japanese aesthetics.

FIGURATIVE MEANING:
Contrast between good fortune and misfortune; the difference between success and failure.

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

  • 明暗(めいあん)を分(わ)ける: to determine fate/outcome ("divide light and dark")
  • 明暗(めいあん)をつける: to create contrast
  • 明暗(めいあん)がはっきりする: contrast becomes clear

USAGE:
Often used in sports/competition contexts: この試合(しあい)が明暗(めいあん)を分(わ)けた (This match determined their fates).

SIMILAR COMPOUNDS: 白黒(しろくろ) (black and white), 陰陽(いんよう) (yin and yang).

general
Added 2026.1.16 17:11 · Revised 2026.1.30 9:20
05500/05560_meian