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致辞 (zhì cí) — to deliver a speech (at a formal occasion)

Definition

致辞 is a formal verb for giving a short speech, often at an opening, ceremony, or celebration. Compared with 演说, a 致辞 is usually shorter and more ceremonial; 讲话 covers speeches more broadly.

verb
to deliver a speech (at a formal occasion)

Examples

  • 致辞。
    Tā zài dà huì shàng zhì cí.
    He delivered a speech at the conference.
  • 。
    Tā zhì le yí gè hěn cháng de cí.
    He gave a very long speech.
  • 致辞。
    Qǐng dǒng shì zhǎng zhì cí.
    Please invite the chairman to give a speech.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

致zhìexpress/deliver
辞cíwords/speech

致 means express or deliver, and 辞 means words or speech, so 致辞 is to express words as a speech.

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 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 辞 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Communication & Speech

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