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致词 (zhì cí) — speech (formal), address

Definition

A formal written/spoken address, typically prepared in advance for an official occasion such as an opening ceremony or banquet. The measure word 篇 signals it is a written text.

noun
speech (formal)address
Measure word · 篇

Examples

  • 致词。
    Zǒng jīng lǐ zài kāi mù shì shàng fā biǎo le jiǎn duǎn de zhì cí.
    The general manager delivered a brief speech at the opening ceremony.
  • 致词。
    Tā de zhì cí yíng dé le rè liè de zhǎng shēng.
    His speech won warm applause.
  • 致词，。
    Qǐng tí qián zhǔn bèi hǎo zhì cí gǎo, bú yào lín chǎng fā huī.
    Please prepare your speech draft in advance and don't improvise on the spot.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

致zhìdeliver
词cíwords

致 means to deliver, and 词 means words or remarks.

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
攵Written in full as攴pū
Sound part声符shēngfú
至
至zhì致zhì
Same sound today

致 pairs 至, used for its sound, with 攵, written in full as 攴.

Open 致 →

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 詞; 词 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánspeech
Sound part声符shēngfú
司
司sī詞cí(r)
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 詞 uses 言, meaning speech, and 司 to show how it was pronounced; the simplified 词 is a shorthand, and its right side is not the historical sound part.

Open 词 →
Appears in
Communication & Speech

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