1.
clearly; distinctly; definitely
Used to describe something that is clear, obvious, or unmistakable. Almost always appears in the negative form 判然としない (not clear, unclear), which is far more common than the affirmative.
原因は判然としない。
The cause is unclear.
事実は判然としている。
The facts are clear.
詳しい経緯は判然としないが、何かトラブルがあったようだ。
The detailed circumstances are unclear, but it seems there was some trouble.
判然 is almost always used with とする/としない. The negative form 判然としない (unclear) is much more frequent than the affirmative. This is a formal, written-register word.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 判然としない — unclear, not definite
- 判然としている — clear, definite
- 判然としなかった — was unclear
RELATED WORDS:
- 明確 — clear, definite
- 不明 — unknown, unclear
- 曖昧 — vague, ambiguous