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报信 (bào xìn) — to notify, to inform (usually about news or an event)

Definition

A verb-object phrase meaning to deliver news or notify someone, often urgently or on someone's behalf (给他报信 = 'go inform him'). Closer in nuance to 'go tell' than 通知, which is more formal and institutional.

verb
to notifyto inform (usually about news or an event)

Examples

  • 报信。
    Tā lián yè gǎn qù gěi zǒng bù bào xìn.
    He rushed overnight to notify the headquarters.
  • 。
    Wǒ yǐ jīng gěi tā bào guò yí cì xìn le.
    I've already informed her once.
  • 。
    Qǐng nǐ bāng wǒ bào gè xìn gěi lǎo wáng.
    Please send a message to Old Wang for me.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

报bàoreport
信xìnnews

报 means report, and 信 is news, so the word is to notify.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 報; 报 is its simplified writing.

  • 㚔㚔㚔handcuffs
  • 𠬝𠬝𠬝to subdue

The traditional form 報 puts 㚔 (handcuffs) beside 𠬝 (to subdue), showing someone restrained and subdued, as in convicting or punishing a guilty person. The simplified 报 is a later shorthand.

Open 报 →

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
言言yánwords
Sound part声符shēngfú
人
人rén信xìn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

信 pairs 人 as the sound part with 言 (words) as the meaning part.

Open 信 →
Appears in
Communication & Speech

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