Malinaw

Malinaw is a Filipino adjective meaning clear, transparent, or obvious. It can describe physical visibility, such as water, air, or weather, and also abstract concepts like explanations, instructions, or intentions. In everyday use, it conveys that something can be understood easily or that there is no ambiguity.

The word derives from the root linaw, which means clarity, with the prefix ma- forming an adjective that describes a quality. In Tagalog, linaw can be a noun meaning clarity, while malinaw functions as a predicate or modifier that asserts that something possesses that quality. The term is common across formal and informal registers.

Malinaw often emphasizes understandability or perceptual transparency, as opposed to merely being bright or luminous. It is frequently used in contexts such as statements, plans, or instructions that are easy to grasp. In some contexts, synonyms or near-synonyms include klaro, and the contrastive terms malabo or hindi malinaw describe something unclear or ambiguous. The distinction between malinaw and maliwanag is nuanced: malinaw relates more to clarity of meaning, while maliwanag more commonly refers to light or visual brightness.

Examples of usage include: Malinaw ang paliwanag ng guro tungkol sa proyekto. Malinaw ang tubig ng ilog pagkatapos ng ulan. Mas malinaw ang layunin ng bagong patakaran. Ang mensahe ng patalastas ay malinaw at madaling maunawaan. Malinaw na bahagi ng wikang Filipino, ang termino ay karaniwang matatagpuan sa edukasyon, media, at pang-araw-araw na pakikipag-usap.