clarify

clarify — verb

1. to speak or write about something in a more straightforward way so that people c

1.動詞及物 / 不及物C1
釋義

to speak or write about something in a more straightforward way so that people can understand it without difficulty, especially when there has been confusion or a misunderstanding

例句

Mr. Dimitrov clarified the math problem by drawing a simple diagram on the board.

clarify + noun phrase + by + gerund for method

Could you please clarify what you meant by restructuring the team?

clarify + wh-clause for asking for explanation

同義詞
  • explain

    Neutral and more common in everyday speech; clarify suggests the information was already partly known but needed clearing up

  • elucidate

    Much more formal, found in academic writing; implies thorough, careful explanation

  • clear up

    Informal phrasal verb; often used for resolving small misunderstandings or confusion

  • spell out

    Informal; suggests explaining something step by step in very simple terms

反義詞
  • confuse

    The opposite effect — making something harder to understand rather than easier

  • obscure

    To hide or make unclear, deliberately or unintentionally

文法句型

clarify + noun phrase

clarify + wh-clause (what, why, how)

clarify + that-clause

用法筆記

More formal than 'explain' — common in professional writing, meetings, and academic contexts. Often used when correcting a misunderstanding rather than introducing new information.

常見錯誤

❌Can you clarify me the situation?
✅Can you clarify the situation for me?
💡clarify does not take a direct indirect object; add 'for' before the person.
❌The teacher clarified the students the rules.
✅The teacher clarified the rules for the students.
💡same pattern: object of clarification comes first, then 'for' + recipient.

2. to heat butter or another cooking fat gently so that the water and solid particl

2.動詞及物
釋義

to heat butter or another cooking fat gently so that the water and solid particles separate out, leaving a clear, pure liquid that can be used for cooking at higher temperatures

例句

To make clarified butter, you gently heat the butter until the milk solids separate.

infinitive of purpose: to make clarified + noun

The chef clarified the butter before using it for the rich sauce.

clarify + butter in professional cooking context

同義詞
  • refine

    Broader term for removing impurities; can apply to sugar, oil, or metals beyond cooking

  • purify

    Very formal or scientific; refers to removing ALL unwanted matter

  • strain

    Different method — uses a filter rather than heat separation; simpler and faster

文法句型

clarify + noun phrase (butter, fat, ghee)

用法筆記

Almost always used with a direct object naming the fat. The passive form 'clarified butter' or 'clarified fat' is extremely common as an ingredient name. Gentle heat is essential — boiling would burn the solids rather than separate them cleanly.

常見錯誤

❌I clarified the butter by boiling it hard on high heat.
✅I clarified the butter by gently heating it and skimming off the foam.
💡high heat burns the milk solids; clarifying requires low, gentle heat.