清楚

清楚 (qīngchu) is an adjective meaning 'clear' — used both for perception (a clear voice, a clear photo) and for understanding (to be clear about something in your mind). Two things differ from English: first, 清楚 covers both 'clear to the senses' and 'clear in your head,' where English splits these into 'clear' vs. 'understand'; saying 我很清楚 means 'I understand it well,' not 'I am transparent.'

Second, 清楚 frequently rides on a verb as a result complement: 听清楚 (hear clearly), 看清楚 (see clearly), 说清楚 (say clearly / spell it out). The negated complement is 听不清楚 / 看不清楚 ('can't hear / see clearly'). The opposite is 模糊 (móhu, blurry / vague).