shēngmíng: 声明 - Statement, Declaration, To State, To Declare

• Keywords: shengming, 声明, Chinese word for statement, declare in Chinese, public announcement, formal declaration, Chinese legal terms, business Chinese, official statement, HSK 5 vocabulary.
• Summary: Learn to use 声明 (shēngmíng), the formal Chinese word for a “statement” or “declaration.” This comprehensive guide explores its meaning, character origins, and critical use in business, legal, and official contexts. Understand the difference between 声明 and simpler words like “say” or “tell” to master formal Chinese communication and correctly interpret public announcements in China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): shēngmíng
• Part of Speech: Noun, Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: A formal, often public, statement or declaration, or the act of making one.
• In a Nutshell: 声明 is the word you reach for when things get serious. It's not for casual conversation. Think of a company issuing a press release, a government making a public proclamation, or an individual making a formal declaration to clear their name. It carries a weight of formality, authority, and officiality.

• 声 (shēng): This character originally depicted a hand holding a tool striking a musical stone, representing “sound” or “voice.” It's about making something audible.
• 明 (míng): This character is a combination of the sun (日) and the moon (月). Together, they signify “bright,” “light,” or “clear.” It's about making something easy to see and understand.

When combined, 声明 (shēngmíng) literally means “to make a sound clear.” This beautifully captures the essence of the word: to voice something in a way that is clear, unambiguous, and publicly understood. It's about taking a definitive stance and making it known.

In Chinese culture, where communication can often be indirect to preserve harmony (面子, miànzi), a 声明 is a powerful tool for establishing absolute clarity. Issuing a 声明 cuts through ambiguity. It's a formal act that says, “This is our official and final position on the matter.” A useful comparison is to the Western concept of an “official statement” or “press release.” While the English word “statement” can be very broad (e.g., “The detective took his statement,” or “He made a fashion statement”), 声明 is almost exclusively used in formal, public, or legal contexts. It signifies that words are being chosen carefully and carry significant weight. Using it implies that the matter is important enough to warrant a formal, public record. This formality reflects a cultural respect for official communication and the clear demarcation between casual talk (聊天, liáotiān) and official pronouncements.

声明 is a staple in formal written and spoken Chinese. You will encounter it frequently in the news, legal documents, and corporate communications.

• Business Context: Companies issue a 公司声明 (gōngsī shēngmíng) to address rumors, announce a product recall, or clarify their stance on a controversy. Website footers often contain a 法律声明 (fǎlǜ shēngmíng) (legal disclaimer) or 隐私声明 (yǐnsī shēngmíng) (privacy statement).
• Government & Politics: A government spokesperson will 发表声明 (fābiǎo shēngmíng) - “issue a statement” - to announce policy or respond to international events. Two or more parties might issue a 联合声明 (liánhé shēngmíng), a “joint statement.”
• Personal (Formal): While less common, an individual, especially a public figure, might issue a 个人声明 (gèrén shēngmíng) to address a public accusation or personal matter that has become public. The adverb 郑重 (zhèngzhòng), meaning “solemnly,” is often used to add gravity, as in 郑重声明 (zhèngzhòng shēngmíng) - “to solemnly declare.”

• Example 1:
  • 该公司就产品质量问题发表了声明。
  • Pinyin: Gāi gōngsī jiù chǎnpǐn zhìliàng wèntí fābiǎo le shēngmíng.
  • English: The company issued a statement regarding the product quality issue.
  • Analysis: This is a classic example of a corporate statement. 发表 (fābiǎo) is the common verb paired with 声明, meaning “to issue” or “publish.”
• Example 2:
  • 我在此声明，我与此事无关。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zài cǐ shēngmíng, wǒ yǔ cǐ shì wúguān.
  • English: I hereby declare that I have nothing to do with this matter.
  • Analysis: Here, 声明 is used as a verb in a formal personal context. 在此 (zài cǐ) means “hereby,” adding to the formality.
• Example 3:
  • 两国政府签署了一份联合声明。
  • Pinyin: Liǎng guó zhèngfǔ qiānshǔ le yī fèn liánhé shēngmíng.
  • English: The governments of the two countries signed a joint statement.
  • Analysis: 联合声明 (liánhé shēngmíng) is a fixed phrase for a “joint statement,” common in diplomacy and politics.
• Example 4:
  • 在采取任何法律行动之前，他们必须先发出书面声明。
  • Pinyin: Zài cǎiqǔ rènhé fǎlǜ xíngdòng zhīqián, tāmen bìxū xiān fāchū shūmiàn shēngmíng.
  • English: Before taking any legal action, they must first issue a written statement.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the legal weight of a 声明. 书面 (shūmiàn) means “in writing.”
• Example 5:
  • 网站的隐私声明解释了他们如何收集用户数据。
  • Pinyin: Wǎngzhàn de yǐnsī shēngmíng jiěshì le tāmen rúhé shōují yònghù shùjù.
  • English: The website's privacy statement explains how they collect user data.
  • Analysis: 隐私声明 (yǐnsī shēngmíng) is a very common term you'll see on websites and apps.
• Example 6:
  • 他声明放弃遗产继承权。
  • Pinyin: Tā shēngmíng fàngqì yíchǎn jìchéng quán.
  • English: He declared that he was renouncing his right to the inheritance.
  • Analysis: This shows 声明 used as a verb for a serious, legally binding personal decision.
• Example 7:
  • 我们郑重声明：所有信息均来自官方渠道。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen zhèngzhòng shēngmíng: suǒyǒu xìnxī jūn láizì guānfāng qúdào.
  • English: We solemnly declare: all information comes from official channels.
  • Analysis: The phrase 郑重声明 (zhèngzhòng shēngmíng) is a powerful way to begin a formal announcement, emphasizing its truthfulness and seriousness.
• Example 8:
  • 面对指控，他选择保持沉默，没有发表任何声明。
  • Pinyin: Miànduì zhǐkòng, tā xuǎnzé bǎochí chénmò, méiyǒu fābiǎo rènhé shēngmíng.
  • English: Faced with the accusations, he chose to remain silent and did not issue any statement.
  • Analysis: This shows the absence of a 声明 can be just as significant as its presence.
• Example 9:
  • 这份声明的措辞非常谨慎。
  • Pinyin: Zhè fèn shēngmíng de cuòcí fēicháng jǐnshèn.
  • English: The wording of this statement is very cautious.
  • Analysis: This highlights that a 声明 is a carefully crafted document. 措辞 (cuòcí) means “wording” or “phrasing.”
• Example 10:
  • 免责声明通常位于合同的末尾。
  • Pinyin: Miǎnzé shēngmíng tōngcháng wèiyú hétong de mòwěi.
  • English: The disclaimer (statement of exemption from responsibility) is usually located at the end of the contract.
  • Analysis: 免责声明 (miǎnzé shēngmíng) is the standard term for a “disclaimer.”

• Don't Use It Casually: The most common mistake for learners is using 声明 for everyday opinions or facts. It is grammatically incorrect and sounds strange.
  • Incorrect: 我声明今天天气很好。(Wǒ shēngmíng jīntiān tiānqì hěn hǎo.)
  • Why it's wrong: This is like saying “I hereby declare the weather is nice today.” It's far too formal.
  • Correct: 我说今天天气很好。(Wǒ shuō jīntiān tiānqì hěn hǎo.) or 我觉得今天天气很好。(Wǒ juéde…)
• “Statement” is a False Friend: The English word “statement” has a much broader meaning. A police officer “taking a statement” from a witness is not a 声明; that would be a 口供 (kǒugòng) or 证词 (zhèngcí). Making a “fashion statement” is a figurative concept with no direct equivalent using 声明. Always remember: 声明 implies formality, officiality, and public declaration.
• 声明 vs. 说明 (shuōmíng): Don't confuse 声明 (shēngmíng - to declare) with 说明 (shuōmíng - to explain). A 声明 states a position; a 说明 clarifies the details. A company might issue a 声明 that a product is being recalled, and then provide a separate 说明 detailing the recall process.

• 宣布 (xuānbù) - To announce. Often used for upcoming events, news, or results (e.g., announcing a wedding, a new policy, a winner). It's about revealing new information.
• 公告 (gōnggào) - A public notice, a bulletin. This is often a physical or digital notice posted for everyone to see, like a notice about a change in business hours.
• 表示 (biǎoshì) - To express, to show, to state. A much more general and less formal term. You can 表示感谢 (express thanks) or 表示同意 (express agreement).
• 发表 (fābiǎo) - To issue, to publish. This is the action verb most commonly paired with 声明. You 发表声明 (issue a statement) or 发表文章 (publish an article).
• 说明 (shuōmíng) - To explain; an explanation. Focuses on making something clear and easy to understand, rather than on declaring a formal position.
• 宣称 (xuānchēng) - To claim, to assert. Often carries a slight implication that the claim might be unproven or contested.
• 宣言 (xuānyán) - A manifesto, a declaration. This is a type of 声明 on a grand, ideological scale. The most famous example is the American Declaration of Independence (美国《独立宣言》).
• 郑重 (zhèngzhòng) - Solemn, serious. An adverb used to emphasize the gravity of an action, frequently paired with 声明 as in 郑重声明.