釈明

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 釈明(しゃくめい) means explaining the circumstances behind words or conduct that have prompted doubt or misunderstanding.
• Basic usage: It describes the company president publicly clarifying the intention behind a remark.
  • 社長は会見を開き、発言の真意を釈明した。

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• General explanation and clarification
  • 説明(せつめい) broadly means explaining something. 釈明 suits a context in which someone is trying to clear up questions about their words or actions.
• Clarifying and apologizing
  • 釈明する means to explain the circumstances, while 謝罪する(しゃざいする) means to apologize for wrongdoing. Both may occur on the same occasion, but their purposes differ.