表态 (biǎo tài) — to state one's position, to take a stand

Definition

表态 means to state one's position or take a stand, often on a specific issue or in a meeting — more about declaring one's stance than 声明, which is a formal public declaration. 主张 emphasizes actively advocating a view or proposition.

verb
to state one's positionto take a stand

Examples

  • 表态
    Zài huì yì shàng, tā míng què biǎo tài zhī chí zhè ge jì huà.
    At the meeting, he clearly stated his position in support of this plan.
  • 表态
    Duì yú zhè ge wèn tí, zhèng fǔ hái méi yǒu zhèng shì biǎo tài.
    The government has not yet officially stated its position on this issue.
  • 表态
    Nǐ yīng gāi biǎo tài, ràng dà jiā zhī dào nǐ de xiǎng fǎ.
    You should take a stand and let everyone know what you think.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

biǎoexpress
tàiattitude

“表” (express) acts on “态” (attitude), giving a stated position.

Characters in this word

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

The shape 表 pairs 衣 (garment) with 毛 (hair or feather), originally an outer garment.

Open 表 →

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
xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
tàitài
Same sound today

态 is made of 太, which gives the sound, and 心 (heart).

Open 态 →

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