Meaning
remarkable; conspicuous; notable; marked; striking; pronounced
Nuance & Usage
顕著 describes something that stands out clearly and unmistakably — a trend, effect, or characteristic that is impossible to ignore. 顕著な差 (marked difference), 顕著な効果 (notable effect), 顕著に現れる (to appear conspicuously), 顕著な傾向 (pronounced tendency) are typical uses. It is almost always used in formal writing, academic papers, and news articles. The adverb form 顕著に (noticeably, markedly) modifies verbs to describe how clearly something stands out. Positive and negative phenomena alike can be described as 顕著.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes use 明らか (akiraka — obvious, clear) or 著しい (ichijirushii — remarkable, conspicuous — similar!) instead of 顕著. 顕著 and 著しい are very similar — both mean remarkably noticeable — but 顕著 tends to appear in more formal/academic contexts, while 著しい is slightly more flexible in usage. 顕著な違い (a notable difference) is standard formal language. Don't use 顕著 in casual conversation — 明らか or はっきり are more natural there.
Example Sentences
近年、若者の活字離れが顕著になってきている。
きんねん、わかもののかつじばなれがけんちょになってきている。
In recent years, the trend of young people moving away from print media has become increasingly notable.
治療の効果が顕著に現れ、患者の状態は大幅に改善した。
ちりょうのこうかがけんちょにあらわれ、かんじゃのじょうたいはおおはばにかいぜんした。
The effects of treatment appeared markedly, and the patient's condition improved greatly.
この地域では、人口減少の影響が特に顕著に表れている。
このちいきでは、じんこうげんしょうのえいきょうがとくにけんちょにあらわれている。
In this region, the effects of population decline are particularly pronounced.
Quick Quiz
N14 questionsTest your knowledge of 顕著 with 4 different question types.
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