鼓吹 (gǔ chuī) — (v.) to advocate, to promote (neutral/positive); (v.) to tout, to ballyhoo, to trumpet (often negative, implying exaggeration or propaganda)

Definition

A transitive verb meaning to advocate or promote something, often with the sense of publicizing it heavily. Tone ranges from neutral advocacy to negative hype, depending on context.

verb
(v.) to advocateto promote (neutral/positive)(v.) to toutto ballyhooto trumpet (often negative, implying exaggeration or propaganda)

Examples

  • 鼓吹。
    Tā duō nián lái yì zhí gǔ chuī jiào yù gǎi gé.
    He has been advocating education reform for many years.
  • 鼓吹,。
    Zhè xiē guǎng gào guò yú gǔ chuī chǎn pǐn de xiào guǒ, bú tài kě xìn.
    These ads over-tout the product's effects and aren't very credible.
  • 鼓吹。
    Fǎn duì dǎng gǔ chuī de yán lùn wǎng wǎng quē fá shì shí yī jù.
    The rhetoric touted by the opposition party often lacks factual basis.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

鼓 and 吹 originally describe beating drums and blowing instruments, together suggesting loud promotion.

Characters in this word

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

  • 壴壴zhùdrum
  • 支支zhīhand holding drumstick

鼓 combines 壴, a drum, with 支, a hand holding a drumstick, so the character pictures a drum being struck.

Open 鼓 →

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

吹 pairs 口 (mouth) with 欠 (blow), giving the picture of air being blown from the mouth.

Open 吹 →

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