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宣称 (xuān chēng) — to assert, to claim

Definition

宣称 means 'to claim/assert' — often used for official or public statements. Closer to 声称 than to the simpler 称, and stronger than 重申 (which reiterates something already said).

verb
to assertto claim

Examples

  • 宣称。
    Tā xuān chēng zì jǐ shì wú gū de.
    He claims he is innocent.
  • 宣称。
    Gōng sī xuān chēng xīn chǎn pǐn jiāng zài xià yuè shàng shì.
    The company claims the new product will launch next month.
  • 宣称。
    Kē xué jiā xuān chēng yǐ zhǎo dào zhì yù de fāng fǎ.
    Scientists claim they have found a cure.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

宣xuānproclaim
称chēngcall

The 宣 is proclaiming and the 称 is calling or saying, so the sense is to assert something openly.

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 →

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 稱; 称 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
禾禾hérice
Sound part声符shēngfú
爯
爯chēng稱chēng
Same sound today

The traditional form 稱 pairs 禾 (rice) with 爯, a part giving the sound; it is explained as measuring rice. The simplified 称 is a later shorthand.

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

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