transparent
transparent — adjective
1. describes a material that lets light pass through so objects behind it are fully
describes a material that lets light pass through so objects behind it are fully visible, like window glass or clear water.
The aquarium walls are made of transparent acrylic, giving a clear view of the fish.
pattern: made of + transparent + material
Sivan prefers transparent containers for the kitchen so she can find ingredients at a glance.
collocation: transparent containers
The scientist placed the tiny sample on a transparent glass slide before using the microscope.
Ritu filled a transparent bottle with water and placed it in the sun.
- clear
more general; describes both transparency and lack of cloudiness
- see-through
informal, often used for clothing or thin materials
- crystal-clear
emphasizes that the view is perfectly sharp, not just seeable
用法筆記
Frequently used with nouns for materials and containers: glass, plastic, acrylic, bottle, jar, box, window. The opposite is opaque.
常見錯誤
2. expressed in plain words that leave no room for confusion, so any reader can gra
expressed in plain words that leave no room for confusion, so any reader can grasp the meaning.
The contract was written in transparent language that even a non-lawyer could understand.
collocation: transparent language
Henry asked his teacher for a more transparent explanation of the math problem.
collocation: transparent explanation
The annual report gave a transparent account of how donations were spent.
Liang’s reasons for leaving the job were transparent — he wanted more responsibility.
- clear
widely used; less formal and covers more situations
- straightforward
emphasizes simplicity and lack of complication
- unambiguous
has only one possible interpretation, leaving no room for doubt
用法筆記
Used with nouns relating to information and communication: explanation, language, account, process, rules. The focus is on clarity and lack of confusion.
常見錯誤
3. behaving in an open and honest way, without hiding information or keeping secret
behaving in an open and honest way, without hiding information or keeping secret motives.
Théo's boss promised to be fully transparent about any changes to the team's schedule.
pattern: be transparent about + noun
The new mayor runs a transparent administration where council meetings are posted online.
collocation: transparent administration
Mert thanked the charity for being transparent with donors about how every dollar is used.
Sade believes that a healthy relationship requires both partners to be transparent about their feelings.
用法筆記
Very common in discussions of government, business, and personal relationships. The noun form transparency is especially frequent in political and corporate contexts (e.g. 'a lack of transparency in the bidding process'). Often followed by about or with.
常見錯誤
4. describes cloth or material that is so thin and fine that you can see through it
describes cloth or material that is so thin and fine that you can see through it.
Camila wore a transparent silk scarf over her shoulders at the outdoor concert.
collocation: transparent fabric / transparent silk
The designer used transparent fabric layers to create a light, airy dress.
Femi chose transparent curtains for the bedroom so the morning sun would come through softly.
The bride wore a veil made of transparent lace that drifted behind her.
- sheer
the standard term in fashion; sounds more natural than transparent for clothing
- see-through
informal; common in everyday speech about clothing
- diaphanous
literary or formal; describes extremely delicate, light fabric
用法筆記
Used primarily for textiles, curtains, and clothing. See-through is a more common informal alternative for clothing ('a see-through blouse'). Sheer is a synonym commonly used in fashion contexts.