一目瞭然(いちもくりょうぜん)

いちもくりょうぜん
na-adjective, noun, expression
obvious at a glance
descriptiveexpression
1. obvious at a glance, crystal clear
A four-character idiom meaning something is so clear that it can be understood immediately upon seeing it.
グラフを見(み)れば結果(けっか)は一目瞭然(いちもくりょうぜん)だ。
The results are obvious at a glance when you look at the graph.
差(さ)は一目瞭然(いちもくりょうぜん)で、説明(せつめい)の必要(ひつよう)がない。
The difference is crystal clear; no explanation is needed.
写真(しゃしん)を比(くら)べれば変化(へんか)が一目瞭然(いちもくりょうぜん)だ。
The change is obvious at a glance when you compare the photos.

FOUR-CHARACTER IDIOM (四字熟語(よじじゅくご))

Literal meaning: 一目(いちもく) (one glance) + 瞭然(りょうぜん) (clear, obvious) = Clear with one glance.

Forms

  • 一目瞭然(いちもくりょうぜん)だ (predicative)
  • 一目瞭然(いちもくりょうぜん)な+noun (attributive - less common)
  • 一目瞭然(いちもくりょうぜん)で (adverbial)

Common patterns

  • 〜は一目瞭然(いちもくりょうぜん)だ (~ is obvious at a glance)
  • 見(み)れば一目瞭然(いちもくりょうぜん) (obvious once you look)
  • 比(くら)べれば一目瞭然(いちもくりょうぜん) (obvious when compared)

Usage

Close English equivalents

  • Crystal clear
  • Plain as day
  • Self-evident