传扬 (chuán yáng) — to spread (news, reputation, etc.) by word of mouth; to make widely known (often with a positive connotation)

Definition

A formal written verb meaning 'to spread' a story, reputation, or legend so it becomes widely known — often used for positive, virtuous content (heroic deeds, legends) rather than neutral news.

verb
to spread (news, reputation, etc.) by word of mouthto make widely known (often with a positive connotation)

Examples

  • 传扬。
    Tā de yīng xióng shì jì hěn kuài chuán yáng kāi lái.
    His heroic deeds quickly spread by word of mouth.
  • 传扬，。
    Zhè jiàn shì qiān wàn bú yào chuán yáng chū qù, yǐng xiǎng bù hǎo.
    You absolutely must not spread this matter around; it will have a bad effect.
  • 传扬。
    Zhè ge chuán shuō zài mín jiān guǎng wéi chuán yáng.
    This legend is widely spread among the people.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

传chuánspread
扬yángraise

"传" and "扬" both convey spreading or raising something, so together they mean making news or reputation widely known.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 傳; 传 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
人人rénman
Sound part声符shēngfú
專
專zhuān傳chuán
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 傳 puts 人 (man) beside 專, which gives the sound; the simplified 传 is a later shorthand, and its parts are not the historical ones.

Open 传 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 揚; 扬 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
昜
昜yáng揚
Same sound today

The traditional form 揚 uses 手 to show a hand-related action and 昜 to give the sound; the simplified 扬 is a later abbreviation.

Open 扬 →

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