adjective HSK 5
yīng míng
wise and brilliant · sagacious · wise (of a leader)

Meaning

英明 describes someone, especially a leader or decision-maker, who possesses outstanding wisdom, foresight, and intelligence. It combines 英 (outstanding, heroic) with 明 (bright, clear-sighted) to convey exceptional clarity of judgment and wise leadership. The term carries a formal, respectful tone and is often used in political, historical, or official contexts.

Usage

英明 is typically used to praise leaders, rulers, or important decision-makers, particularly in formal or written contexts. It appears frequently in phrases like 英明的决策 (wise decision) or 英明的领导 (wise leadership). While respectful, it can sound flattering or even ironic in certain modern contexts. The word is more common in formal writing than casual speech.

Examples

  1. 01
    这是一个英明的决策,将会带来长远的利益。
    Zhè shì yīng míng de jué , jiāng huì dài lái cháng yuǎn de .
    This is a wise decision that will bring long-term benefits.
  2. 02
    历史上许多英明的统治者都重视教育和文化的发展。
    shǐ shàng duō yīng míng de tǒng zhì zhě dōu zhòng shì jiào wén huà de zhǎn.
    Throughout history, many wise rulers have valued the development of education and culture.

Characters

Common collocations

  • 英明的决策
    yīng míng de jué
    wise decision
  • 英明的领导
    yīng míng de lǐng dǎo
    wise leadership
  • 英明领袖
    yīng míng lǐng xiù
    wise leader
  • 英明神武
    yīng míng shén
    brilliantly wise and divinely brave

Antonyms

Origin

英明 combines two classical Chinese characters that individually convey excellence and clarity. The term has been used throughout Chinese history to describe wise rulers and leaders, particularly in classical texts and historical records.

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