宣示 (xuān shì) — to proclaim, to declare (formally or officially)

Definition

A formal, official verb meaning 'to proclaim / declare' — stronger and more ceremonial than the everyday 宣布, typically used for policies, verdicts, or public positions.

verb
to proclaimto declare (formally or officially)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 宣示。
    Zhèng fǔ xuān shì le xīn de jīng jì zhèng cè.
    The government proclaimed a new economic policy.
  • 宣示。
    Fǎ yuàn xuān shì le pàn jué jié guǒ.
    The court announced the verdict.
  • 宣示。
    Tā men gōng kāi xuān shì le zì jǐ de lì chǎng.
    They publicly declared their position.

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.

宣xuāndeclare
示shìshow

「宣」 as declare and 「示」 as show combine to mean formally make 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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
宀宀miánroof
Sound part声符shēngfú
亘
亘gèn宣xuān
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

宣 pairs the roof 宀, pointing to the emperor's main hall, with 亘 as the sound part. From that hall meaning, it came to mean clear or evident.

Open 宣 →

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

示 began as a drawing of an altar. Extra strokes were added to keep it distinct from unrelated old forms.

Open 示 →

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