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通知 (tōng zhī) — (verb) to notify, to inform; (noun) notice, notification

Definition

通知 (tōngzhī) is a more formal, written 'notify / notice' than 告诉 — often used for official messages, announcements, or as the noun 'notification'. Unlike 公告 or 告示, it is not posted publicly; it is sent to specific people or groups.

verb
to notifyto inform
noun
noticenotification
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 通知。
    Lǎo shī tōng zhī wǒ men míng tiān bú shàng kè.
    The teacher informed us that there is no class tomorrow.
  • 通知。
    Gōng sī tōng zhī le suǒ yǒu yuán gōng lái kāi huì.
    The company notified all employees to come to a meeting.
  • 通知？
    Nǐ shōu dào tōng zhī le ma?
    Did you receive the notice?

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

通tōngcommunicate
知zhīknow

通 (communicate) leads to 知 (knowing), so the word means to make known or notify.

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
辶Written in full as辵chuò
Sound part声符shēngfú
甬
甬yǒng通tōng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

通 pairs 辶, a part associated with movement, with 甬, which gives the sound.

Open 通 →

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

An early form of 知 showed 大 (adult), 口 (mouth), and 子 (child): an adult speaking to a child to pass on knowledge. The 子 part was dropped, and the 大 part changed shape.

Open 知 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 4HSK 2.0 Level 4Mail & Messaging2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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