If something is self-evident, it is clearly true on its own. You should not need a pile of proof, a lecture, or a clever argument. The fact is supposed to show itself.

If something is self-evident 如果一件事是self-evident的，it is clearly true on its own 它本身就清楚地是真的。You should not need a pile of proof, a lecture, or a clever argument 你不需要一堆證據、一場演講，或很聰明的論證。The fact is supposed to show itself 這個事實應該自己就能顯現出來。

The word is rather formal. You meet it in essays, law, and speeches more than in the kitchen. The famous American line “We hold these truths to be self-evident” is where many learners first see it, and it still has that civic, slightly grand sound.

The word is rather formal 這個字滿正式的：You meet it in essays, law, and speeches more than in the kitchen 你在論文、法律、演講裡比較會遇到它，而不是在廚房裡聊天。The famous American line "We hold these truths to be self-evident" 美國那句有名的「We hold these truths to be self-evident」 is where many learners first see it 是很多學習者第一次看到這個字的地方，and it still has that civic, slightly grand sound 而且它到現在還帶著那種公民、有點宏大的語氣。

In looser talk people just say “obvious” or “of course.” Though actually, calling something self-evident can also be a power move: it shuts the door on questions. What is “clearly true” to one group is not always clear to another, so the word names a claim about proof, not a magic stamp that ends all disagreement.

In looser talk people just say "obvious" or "of course." 講話比較隨性時，大家就直接說「obvious」或「of course」。Though actually, calling something self-evident can also be a power move 但其實說一件事self-evident也可能是一種權力操作：it shuts the door on questions 它會把提問的門關起來。What is "clearly true" to one group is not always clear to another 對一群人來說「明顯是真的」，對另一群人不一定明顯，so the word names a claim about proof, not a magic stamp that ends all disagreement 所以這個字講的是一種對證明的主張，不是一個能終結所有爭議的神奇印章。