Meaning

Primary

Obvious

Alternatives

Unmistakable, Indisputable

Word Type

adjective, adverb

Explanation

History has a nature that's obvious and unmistakable. It's about stuff that's already happened, so it's basically indisputable. We don't know what the future holds, but history? We know that stuff happened, unmistakably.

You'll mostly encounter 歴然 in writing or other relatively formal situations. Note that you need to add と to the end of this word to make it an adverb, and たる to make it an adjective!

Reading

れきぜん
  • Miyuki
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

This jukugo word uses on'yomi readings for the kanji, both of which you've learned. Guess that makes the れきぜん reading pretty 歴然 for you, huh?

Context

Common Word Combinations

  • 歴然としている

    to be obvious, to be unmistakable

    歴然とした差

    obvious difference

    歴然と分かる

    to be patently obvious, to be abundantly clear

Context Sentences

二人の実力差は歴然だった。

The difference in their abilities was obvious.

プロと初心者では動きが歴然と違う。

The movements of a pro and a beginner are obviously different.

草履にしただけで、歩き方の落ち着きが歴然と変わった。

Just switching to zori sandals made my gait unmistakably calmer.

そのゲーム、課金ユーザーと無課金ユーザーの強さが歴然としすぎているんだよ。

In that game, the difference in strength between paying users and free-to-play users is way too stark.

Kanji Composition