chéngqīng: 澄清 - To Clarify, To Clear Up

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• Summary: Learn the meaning and use of 澄清 (chéngqīng), a crucial Chinese verb for “to clarify” or “to clear up.” This page explains how 澄清 is used in formal situations, such as official statements and refuting rumors, distinguishing it from simpler words like “explain.” Discover its cultural significance related to saving face and restoring reputation, and master its usage with 10 practical example sentences.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): chéngqīng
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: To clarify a matter, clear up a misunderstanding, or refute a false accusation, often in a formal context.
• In a Nutshell: Think of 澄清 (chéngqīng) as the act of making “muddy water” clear again. It’s not for simple explanations. It’s used when a situation has become confused by rumors, lies, or misunderstandings, and a formal, definitive action is needed to restore the truth and clarity. It carries a sense of seriousness and the need to set the record straight.

• 澄 (chéng): This character means “clear” or “limpid,” specifically referring to water. The left side is the water radical (氵), and the right side (登 dēng) provides the sound. Imagine sediment in water (the “mud”) settling down, allowing the water to become clear.
• 清 (qīng): This character also means “clear,” “clean,” or “pure.” It too contains the water radical (氵). The right side (青 qīng) means blue/green, evoking the image of pristine, clear water or a clear sky.

When combined, 澄清 (chéngqīng) literally means “clear and clean.” Metaphorically, it means to take a “muddy” situation (a rumor, a falsehood) and make it “clear” and “pure” with the truth.

In Western cultures, “to clarify” can be a casual request in a conversation. In China, 澄清 (chéngqīng) holds a much heavier weight and is deeply connected to the concepts of 面子 (miànzi) - Face and social harmony. When a person, company, or government body is a victim of rumors (谣言 yáoyán) or false accusations, their reputation and public “face” are damaged. The situation becomes “muddy.” Issuing a public 澄清 is a formal act to reclaim one's good name and restore one's 清白 (qīngbái) - Innocence. It is a direct, serious response to a threat to one's integrity. Unlike a simple “explanation” (解释 jiěshì), which can sometimes sound like an excuse, a 澄清 is a confident declaration of fact aimed at dispelling falsehoods entirely. It's not a negotiation of truth; it's a presentation of it. Therefore, it is most often seen in news reports, official company press releases, and legal statements.

澄清 (chéngqīng) is almost exclusively used in formal or serious situations. You will rarely hear it in casual, everyday chat. In Formal and Official Contexts This is the most common usage. It's the standard term for when an organization or public figure needs to address the public.

• Companies: A company might issue a statement to 澄清 rumors about a faulty product.
• Government: A spokesperson will hold a press conference to 澄清 the government's position on an international issue.
• Celebrities: A celebrity's agent might post on Weibo to 澄清 gossip reported by tabloids.

In Serious Personal Situations While less common, it can be used between individuals if the misunderstanding (误会 wùhuì) is severe and has damaged a relationship or reputation.

• Example: “We need to have a serious talk. I must 澄清 what you heard about me.” (我必须澄清你听到的关于我的事。)

• Example 1:
  • 公司迅速发表声明，澄清了有关产品安全的谣言。
  • Pinyin: Gōngsī xùnsù fābiǎo shēngmíng, chéngqīng le yǒuguān chǎnpǐn ānquán de yáoyán.
  • English: The company quickly issued a statement to clarify the rumors about product safety.
  • Analysis: A classic example of corporate communication. A “statement” (声明 shēngmíng) is the vehicle for the “clarification” (澄清).
• Example 2:
  • 在记者会上，外交部发言人澄清了政府的官方立场。
  • Pinyin: Zài jìzhěhuì shàng, wàijiāobù fāyánrén chéngqīng le zhèngfǔ de guānfāng lìchǎng.
  • English: At the press conference, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson clarified the government's official position.
  • Analysis: This shows its use in a very formal, official government setting.
• Example 3:
  • 他花了很长时间才澄清他们之间的误会。
  • Pinyin: Tā huāle hěn cháng shíjiān cái chéngqīng le tāmen zhījiān de wùhuì.
  • English: It took him a long time to clear up the misunderstanding between them.
  • Analysis: Here, 澄清 is used in a personal but serious context. The “misunderstanding” (误会 wùhuì) was significant enough to require a formal act of clarification.
• Example 4:
  • 面对指控，他决定站出来澄清事实。
  • Pinyin: Miànduì zhǐkòng, tā juédìng zhàn chūlái chéngqīng shìshí.
  • English: Facing the accusations, he decided to step forward and clarify the facts.
  • Analysis: This emphasizes the goal of 澄清: to establish the “facts” (事实 shìshí).
• Example 5:
  • 这篇报道有助于澄清公众的一些疑虑。
  • Pinyin: Zhè piān bàodào yǒuzhùyú chéngqīng gōngzhòng de yīxiē yílǜ.
  • English: This report helps to allay (lit: clarify) some of the public's doubts.
  • Analysis: Here, the object being clarified is “doubts” or “concerns” (疑虑 yílǜ).
• Example 6:
  • 在澄清真相之前，请不要下结论。
  • Pinyin: Zài chéngqīng zhēnxiàng zhīqián, qǐng bùyào xià jiélùn.
  • English: Please do not jump to conclusions before the truth has been clarified.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the role of 澄清 in revealing the “truth” (真相 zhēnxiàng).
• Example 7:
  • 这位科学家写了一篇文章，澄清了他理论中的几个关键点。
  • Pinyin: Zhè wèi kēxuéjiā xiěle yī piān wénzhāng, chéngqīng le tā lǐlùn zhōng de jǐ gè guānjiàn diǎn.
  • English: The scientist wrote an article to clarify several key points in his theory.
  • Analysis: This shows 澄清 can also be used in an academic context to clear up complex ideas that might be misunderstood.
• Example 8:
  • 警方发布公告澄清，网上流传的视频是经过恶意剪辑的。
  • Pinyin: Jǐngfāng fābù gōnggào chéngqīng, wǎngshàng liúchuán de shìpín shì jīngguò èyì jiǎnjí de.
  • English: The police issued a notice clarifying that the video circulating online was maliciously edited.
  • Analysis: This is a common use case in the modern digital age, refuting fake news or manipulated content.
• Example 9:
  • 有些事情需要时间来澄清。
  • Pinyin: Yǒuxiē shìqíng xūyào shíjiān lái chéngqīng.
  • English: Some matters need time to be cleared up.
  • Analysis: A more philosophical use. Here, 澄清 is something that happens passively over time, as the truth naturally emerges.
• Example 10:
  • 谢谢你的解释，但这并不能完全澄清我的疑惑。
  • Pinyin: Xièxiè nǐ de jiěshì, dàn zhè bìng bùnéng wánquán chéngqīng wǒ de yíhuò.
  • English: Thank you for your explanation, but it doesn't completely clear up my doubts.
  • Analysis: This sentence directly contrasts a simple “explanation” (解释 jiěshì) with the more thorough act of 澄清. The explanation wasn't enough to resolve the deep-seated “doubt” (疑惑 yíhuò).

The most common mistake for English speakers is using 澄清 (chéngqīng) in casual situations where “clarify” would be fine in English.

• Mistake: Using 澄清 for a simple request.
  • Incorrect: 你能澄清一下你的意思吗？(Nǐ néng chéngqīng yíxià nǐ de yìsi ma?) - This sounds overly dramatic and formal, as if you're accusing them of deception.
  • Correct: 你能说明一下你的意思吗？(Nǐ néng shuōmíng yíxià nǐ de yìsi ma?) - “Can you explain what you mean?”
  • Correct: 你是说周三，不是周二，对吗？我确认一下。(Nǐ shì shuō zhōusān, bùshì zhōu'èr, duì ma? Wǒ quèrèn yíxià.) - “You mean Wednesday, not Tuesday, right? Let me just confirm.”
• 澄清 (chéngqīng) vs. 解释 (jiěshì) vs. 说明 (shuōmíng)
  • 澄清 (chéngqīng): To clear up serious falsehoods or misunderstandings. The focus is on refuting wrong information and establishing the truth. It is corrective.
  • 解释 (jiěshì) - To Explain: To explain why something happened or what something means. It can often carry a slight connotation of giving an excuse.
  • 说明 (shuōmíng) - To Explain, To Illustrate: To explain how something works or to state facts clearly. It is neutral and informative.

Rule of thumb: If you're not a company spokesperson, a government official, or trying to undo serious damage to your reputation, you probably want to use 说明 (shuōmíng) or simply ask a question.

• 说明 (shuōmíng) - (shuōmíng) To explain, to illustrate. A more neutral and common word for making something clear.
• 解释 (jiěshì) - (jiěshì) To explain, to interpret. Often used when giving a reason or an excuse for something.
• 辟谣 (pìyáo) - (pìyáo) To refute a rumor. A very specific action, and a public 澄清 is often the method used to 辟谣.
• 声明 (shēngmíng) - (shēngmíng) A statement, a declaration. A formal 澄清 is usually delivered via an official 声明.
• 误会 (wùhuì) - (wùhuì) A misunderstanding. This is the “muddy water” that needs to be 澄清-ed.
• 事实 (shìshí) - (shìshí) Fact, reality. The goal of a 澄清 is to establish the 事实.
• 清白 (qīngbái) - (qīngbái) Innocent, clean (of reputation). To 澄清 a false accusation is to prove one's 清白.
• 真相 (zhēnxiàng) - (zhēnxiàng) The real truth, the actual facts. A 澄清 aims to reveal the 真相.