信息 (xìn xī) — information, news, message

Definition

信息 is the broad, neutral word for 'information' or 'data' (online, official, technical). 新闻 is news reports about current events; 消息 is more like news/word-of-mouth updates.

noun
informationnewsmessage

Examples

  • 信息。
    Qǐng bǎ zhè ge xìn xī fā gěi wǒ.
    Please send this information to me.
  • 信息。
    Wǎng shàng yǒu hěn duō yǒu yòng de xìn xī.
    There is a lot of useful information online.
  • 信息？
    Zhè tiáo xìn xī shì cóng nǎ lǐ lái de?
    Where did this piece of information come from?

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.

信xìnmessage
息xīnews

信 (message) and 息 (news) form a pair: news or messages received.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánwords
Sound part声符shēngfú
人
人rén信xìn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

信 pairs 人 as the sound part with 言 (words) as the meaning part.

Open 信 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

In 息, 自 is nose and 心 is heart, showing breath or life passing through one's nose.

Open 息 →
Appears in
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