颁 (bān) — to issue, to promulgate (laws, decrees, official documents); to confer, to award (prizes, medals, diplomas)
Definition
A formal, written verb used in official contexts only — typically paired with 布 to mean 'promulgate' laws/regulations, or with 发 to mean 'award/grant' prizes or titles. Almost never used in everyday speech.
bound form
to issueto promulgate (laws, decrees, official documents)to conferto award (prizes, medals, diplomas)
Examples
- 。Zhèng fǔ bān bù le xīn de huán bǎo fǎ guī.The government promulgated new environmental regulations.
- 。Xué xiào xiàng yōu xiù xué shēng bān fā le jiǎng xué jīn.The school awarded scholarships to outstanding students.
- 。Tā yīn tū chū gòng xiàn bèi bān fā le jiǎng xiàng.He was awarded a prize for his outstanding contributions.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost 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 頒; 颁 is its simplified writing.
Meaning part形符xíngfú
頁頁yèhead
Sound part声符shēngfú
分
分fēn頒bān
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
The traditional form 頒 puts 頁 (head) beside 分, which gives the sound; the simplified 颁 is a shorthand.
Appears in
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