míng
xiàn
线

technical
literary

Meaning of 明线

明线 means explicit plot line; overt narrative thread. Pronounced míng xiàn.

  • explicit plot line; overt narrative thread

Definitions & Examples

Zhè
xiǎo
shuō
de
míng
xiàn线
shì
zhǔ
rén
gōng
de
chéng
zhǎng
jīng
 
àn
xiàn线
shì
qīn
de
guān
xi
 

The explicit plot line of this novel is the protagonist's coming-of-age journey, while the hidden thread is his relationship with his father.

Fēn
shì
jié
gòu
shí
 
shǒu
xiān
yào
fēn
qīng
xiē
shì
míng
xiàn线
 
xiē
shì
àn
xiàn线
 

When analyzing narrative structure, one must first distinguish between the explicit plot lines and the hidden threads.

Zuò
zhě
tōng
guò
duō
tiáo
míng
xiàn线
bìng
xíng
de
fāng
shì
 
zhǎn
xiàn
le
de
shè
huì
jǐng
 

The author presents a complex social panorama through multiple parallel explicit plot lines.

àn
gòu
de
àn
xiàn线
tóng
 
míng
xiàn线
wǎng
wǎng
zhí
jiē
tuī
dòng
qíng
jié
zhǎn
 

Unlike the hidden threads of伏笔 (foreshadowing), the explicit plot line often directly drives the plot forward.

Measure Words

/ tiáo
Primary