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演说 (yǎn shuō) — (verb) to deliver a speech, to give a speech; (noun) speech, address

Definition

演说 (yǎnshuō) is a formal 'speech' or 'to give a speech,' used for major public occasions. Compare 演讲 (more academic/lecture-style), 讲话 (everyday public remarks), 致辞 (formal ceremonial speech).

verb
to deliver a speechto give a speech
noun
speechaddress
Measure word · 场

Examples

  • 演说。
    Tā zài bì yè diǎn lǐ shàng fā biǎo le jīng cǎi de yǎn shuō.
    He delivered a wonderful speech at the graduation ceremony.
  • 演说。
    Zhè chǎng yǎn shuō yíng dé le quán chǎng guān zhòng de rè liè zhǎng shēng.
    This speech won warm applause from the entire audience.
  • 演说。
    Wǒ bù xí guàn zài hěn duō rén miàn qián yǎn shuō.
    I'm not used to giving speeches in front of many people.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

演yǎnelaborate
说shuōspeak

演 gives the sense of elaborate or develop, and 说 gives speak, together yielding 演说.

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
寅
寅yín演yǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

演 pairs 氵 (water) with 寅, which gives the sound yín.

Open 演 →

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 說; 说 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
兌
兌duì說shuō
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 說 pairs 言 (meaning) with 兌 (sound); the simplified 说 is not the form described here.

Open 说 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Communication & Speech

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.