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发言 (fā yán) — (verb) to make a speech, to speak (in a formal setting); (noun) a speech, a statement

Definition

发言 (fāyán) means 'to speak / a statement,' usually in a meeting or formal setting, often brief and on the record. Lighter than 演讲 (a longer prepared speech) and 讲话 (often a leader's address); 言论 refers to published opinions or views.

verb
to make a speechto speak (in a formal setting)
noun
a speecha statement
Measure word · 个
Easily confused

Examples

  • 发言。
    Tā zài huì shàng fā yán le shí fēn zhōng.
    He spoke for ten minutes at the meeting.
  • ，。
    Wǒ fā guò yí cì yán, dàn shí jiān hěn duǎn.
    I gave a speech once, but it was very short.
  • 发言。
    Qǐng zhǔn bèi yí gè jiǎn duǎn de fā yán.
    Please prepare a short speech.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

发fāemit
言yánspeech

'发' means emit or make, and '言' means words; together they describe making a speech.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 發; 发 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 发 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (爆发, 出发) it is 發; in others (理发, 头发) it is 髮.

The form 發, which 发 stands for in many words, was originally drawn as a bow firing an arrow.

Open 发 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

The early form of 言 shows an opening and a mark indicating a location; the location is not described as the source of speech.

Open 言 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5HSK 2.0 Level 5Communication & Speech5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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