bright, light
明 centers on clear light: something bright, visible, or illuminated. Its common abstract uses grow naturally from that same idea of clarity.
明 combines 日 (sun) and 月 (moon), two sources of light, to express brightness or illumination.
The sun 日 and moon 月 appear together, filling the scene with light. When both lights are out, everything is bright and clear.
For メイ, imagine a bright May morning when sun and moonlight make everything clear: May -> メイ.
explanation; exposition; description; account; caption; legend
tomorrow
unclear; obscure; indistinct; uncertain; ambiguous
clear; obvious; evident; plain; definite
proof; testimony; demonstration; verification; certification
light; bright; well-lit; well-lighted
clear; precise; definite; distinct
Meiji era (1868.9.8-1912.7.30)
establishing; proving; ascertaining; identifying; confirming
civilization; civilisation; culture
transparent; clear
invention
declaration; indication; representation; manifestation; demonstration; expression; announcement; assertion
illumination; lighting
declaration; statement; proclamation
elucidation; explication; explaining; unravelling; clarification; understanding
light; glow; gleam
to pass (the night); to spend
clear writing; specification
dawn; daybreak
obvious; clear; plain; evident; apparent; explicit; overt
Komeito (Japanese political party)
elucidation; explicit statement; specification
day after tomorrow
wise; sensible; well-advised; intelligent; sagacious; prudent
vivid; clear; distinct
declaration; statement
opaque; obscure; murky; turbid
details; particulars; specifics
investigation (esp. in academic and scientific contexts); finding out the facts; bringing (a matter) to light; inquiring into
early dawn; grey of morning; gray of morning
clear; plain; distinct; obvious; evident; articulate
beginning of the year; early in the New Year
explanation; excuse; clarification; vindication; apology
fairness; openness; impartiality
explanation; vindication
loss of eyesight; loss of sight; going blind; blindness
clear; clear-cut; lucid; unequivocal; explicit
tomorrow morning
self-evident; obvious; axiomatic; self-explanatory; trivial
intelligent; wise; bright; brilliant; clear-sighted
dawn; daybreak
morning star; Venus
bright light
to confide; to reveal; to disclose; to lay bare; to speak frankly; to open (one's heart)
light and darkness; light and shade
stipulation; stating clearly; documenting in writing; stating explicitly
morning and evening; daily routine
cheerful; bright
detailed; scrupulous; careful; minute; faithful; elaborate
declaration; statement; assertion
next (day, morning, etc.); following
of uncertain meaning; ambiguous; cryptic; nonsensical; incomprehensible; perplexing
in three days' time; two days after tomorrow
Happy New Year
next year
tomorrow evening
end of the rainy season
missing (of a person); lost; unaccounted for; whereabouts unknown
certificate; credentials; testimonial
(printed) instructions; manual; explanatory leaflet (pamphlet, note); description
identification papers; piece of identification; identity document; ID
beginning of next week (usu. Monday); early next week