宣布

xuānbù: 宣布 - Announce, Declare, Proclaim

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: 宣布, xuanbu, how to say announce in Chinese, declare in Chinese, proclaim in Chinese, official announcement, formal declaration, 宣布 meaning, 宣布 vs 通知, Chinese for announce, HSK 4 vocabulary.
  • Summary: Learn how to use the Chinese verb 宣布 (xuānbù), which means to formally announce, declare, or proclaim. This page breaks down its meaning, cultural significance, and practical use in modern China. Discover the difference between a formal declaration with 宣布 and a simple notification, with dozens of example sentences perfect for HSK 4 learners and beyond.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): xuānbù
  • Part of Speech: Verb
  • HSK Level: 4
  • Concise Definition: To formally announce or declare something to the public or a large group.
  • In a Nutshell: Think of 宣布 (xuānbù) as the verb for “big” announcements. You don't use it to tell a friend you're going to the store. You use it when a government declares a new policy, a company launches a major product, or a judge delivers a verdict. It implies a one-way communication from a position of authority and carries a strong sense of formality and finality.

Character Breakdown

  • 宣 (xuān): This character means “to declare” or “to publicize.” The top radical 宀 (mián) is the “roof” radical, often associated with buildings or houses. This suggests a declaration made from a formal place, like a palace or government hall.
  • 布 (bù): This character's original meaning is “cloth.” From this, it gained the extended meaning “to spread out” or “to distribute,” like laying out a large piece of cloth for everyone to see.
  • When combined, 宣布 (xuānbù) literally means “to declare and spread out.” This paints a vivid picture of taking an important piece of information and broadcasting it widely and officially for all to know.

Cultural Context and Significance

  • In Chinese culture, communication from authority figures (government officials, company leaders, family elders) is often structured and formal. 宣布 (xuānbù) perfectly captures this top-down flow of information. It's not a conversation or a discussion; it's a proclamation.
  • Compared to the English word “announce,” 宣布 (xuānbù) carries significantly more weight. You might “announce” a birthday party on Facebook, but you would almost never use 宣布 for such a casual event. A closer Western concept would be “to issue a proclamation” or “to make a formal declaration.” Using 宣布 signals that the information is official, non-negotiable, and important. This reflects a cultural context where official pronouncements are taken very seriously.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • Government and Law: This is the most common context. Governments 宣布 new laws, policies, states of emergency, or diplomatic decisions. Courts 宣布 verdicts.
    • Example: “The government announced a new tax policy.”
  • Business: Companies use 宣布 for major events like product launches, mergers and acquisitions, significant leadership changes, or unfortunately, bankruptcy.
    • Example: “Apple announced the new iPhone.”
  • Formal Personal Events: While less common, it can be used for significant life events if the announcement is made in a very formal setting. For example, at a formal engagement dinner, the father of the bride might 宣布 the couple's intention to marry.
    • Example: “They formally announced their engagement to all their relatives.”
  • Media: News headlines are filled with 宣布. It's a standard, neutral verb to report on official declarations.
  • Formality: 宣布 is almost exclusively used in formal or official situations. Using it in a casual conversation can sound overly dramatic or sarcastic.

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 政府刚刚宣布了一项新政策。
    • Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ gānggāng xuānbùle yí xiàng xīn zhèngcè.
    • English: The government just announced a new policy.
    • Analysis: This is a classic, straightforward use of 宣布. A government (authority) is making an official policy public.
  • Example 2:
    • 公司宣布，下个月将发布一款新产品。
    • Pinyin: Gōngsī xuānbù, xià ge yuè jiāng fābù yī kuǎn xīn chǎnpǐn.
    • English: The company announced that it will release a new product next month.
    • Analysis: Here, the company is the authority figure making a formal declaration about a major business event.
  • Example 3:
    • 法官当庭宣布了判决结果。
    • Pinyin: Fǎguān dāngtíng xuānbùle pànjué jiéguǒ.
    • English: The judge announced the verdict in court.
    • Analysis: A legal verdict is a highly formal and official declaration. 宣布 is the perfect verb here.
  • Example 4:
    • 他们向所有亲友宣布了结婚的喜讯。
    • Pinyin: Tāmen xiàng suǒyǒu qīnyǒu xuānbùle jiéhūn de xǐxùn.
    • English: They announced the happy news of their marriage to all their friends and relatives.
    • Analysis: While personal, the context of announcing to “all friends and relatives” makes it a large-scale, formal declaration for a major life event.
  • Example 5:
    • 比赛结束后，主持人宣布了获胜者名单。
    • Pinyin: Bǐsài jiéshù hòu, zhǔchírén xuānbùle huòshèngzhě míngdān.
    • English: After the competition ended, the host announced the list of winners.
    • Analysis: Announcing official results to an audience is a formal act, fitting for 宣布.
  • Example 6:
    • 由于恶劣天气，航空公司宣布所有航班取消。
    • Pinyin: Yóuyú èliè tiānqì, hángkōng gōngsī xuānbù suǒyǒu hángbān qǔxiāo.
    • English: Due to the severe weather, the airline announced the cancellation of all flights.
    • Analysis: This is an official, public-facing announcement from an organization (the airline) that affects many people.
  • Example 7:
    • 这位著名的演员宣布他要退出演艺圈了。
    • Pinyin: Zhè wèi zhùmíng de yǎnyuán xuānbù tā yào tuìchū yǎnyìquān le.
    • English: This famous actor announced that he is retiring from show business.
    • Analysis: A major career decision made public by a public figure is significant enough to warrant 宣布.
  • Example 8:
    • 校长宣布，暑假从下周一开始。
    • Pinyin: Xiàozhǎng xuānbù, shǔjià cóng xià zhōu yī kāishǐ.
    • English: The principal announced that summer vacation will start next Monday.
    • Analysis: The principal is the authority figure of the school, and this is an official announcement to the entire student body.
  • Example 9:
    • 两国宣布建立外交关系。
    • Pinyin: Liǎng guó xuānbù jiànlì wàijiāo guānxì.
    • English: The two countries announced the establishment of diplomatic relations.
    • Analysis: This is a high-level, formal declaration in the field of international politics.
  • Example 10:
    • 由于经营不善，该公司不得不宣布破产。
    • Pinyin: Yóuyú jīngyíng bùshàn, gāi gōngsī bùdébù xuānbù pòchǎn.
    • English: Due to poor management, the company had to declare bankruptcy.
    • Analysis: Declaring bankruptcy is a formal, legal, and public process, making 宣布 the appropriate term.

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • Mistake 1: Using 宣布 for casual information.
    • A common mistake for learners is to use 宣布 like the English “announce” for everyday things.
    • Incorrect: 我宣布我饿了。(Wǒ xuānbù wǒ è le.) This sounds very strange, like you are a king proclaiming his hunger to the court.
    • Correct: 我告诉大家，我有点饿了。(Wǒ gàosu dàjiā, wǒ yǒudiǎn è le.) - “I'm telling everyone, I'm a bit hungry.” Use 告诉 (gàosu - to tell) for casual information.
  • Mistake 2: Confusing 宣布 (xuānbù) with 通知 (tōngzhī).
    • These two are often confused but have a clear difference in scope and purpose.
    • 宣布 (xuānbù): To declare something publicly and formally. The audience is often large and indefinite. It's a one-way proclamation.
      • Example: 公司宣布了新的着装要求。(The company announced a new dress code.) - This is a formal, company-wide declaration.
    • 通知 (tōngzhī): To notify or inform specific people who need to know. It's more functional and can be less formal.
      • Example: HR 通知我明天开会。(HR notified me about a meeting tomorrow.) - This is information directed at you specifically.

Related Terms and Concepts

  • 通知 (tōngzhī) - To notify; a notice. More about informing specific individuals rather than making a public proclamation.
  • 公布 (gōngbù) - To make public; to promulgate. Very similar to 宣布, but often emphasizes making previously private or internal information public (e.g., exam scores, a list of names).
  • 公告 (gōnggào) - A public announcement; a bulletin (noun). This is the thing that is announced. 公司发布了一个公告。(The company issued a public notice.)
  • 声明 (shēngmíng) - A statement; to state. Often used to clarify a position or make a formal point, especially in response to something. 他发表声明否认了所有指控。(He issued a statement denying all accusations.)
  • 发表 (fābiǎo) - To publish; to issue. Used for releasing works like articles, research papers, or delivering a speech.
  • 宣告 (xuāngào) - To declare; to proclaim. Very similar to and often interchangeable with 宣布, but can sometimes feel even more formal or literary.
  • 告诉 (gàosu) - To tell. The common, informal verb for conveying information to someone. The opposite of 宣布 in terms of formality.
  • 声称 (shēngchēng) - To claim; to allege. Implies that what is being said may not be proven or true.