消息

• Pinyin: xiāo xi
• Hanzi breakdown: 消 = 氵 (water) + 肖 (resemble, phonetic); 息 = 自 (nose/self) + 心 (heart), meaning breath or rest

Meaning

News; message; information. A piece of information communicated from one party to another.

One of the most common words for 'news' or 'message' in everyday Chinese. Used for personal messages (发消息 send a message), breaking news (最新消息 latest news), and general information. Less formal than 新闻 (news report) and broader in scope.

Examples

1. 你有他的消息吗？ Do you have any news about him?
2. 我刚收到一条好消息。 I just received a piece of good news.
3. 她一直在等他的消息。 She has been waiting for his message.

Usage Guide

Context: communication, news, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 请给我发一条消息。(Please send me a message.)
• 有什么新消息吗？(Is there any new news?)

Don't Say

• 我看了今天的消息节目。(For news broadcasts, use 新闻 — say 新闻节目. 消息 refers to individual pieces of information, not a news programme.)

Origin & History

消 means 'to disappear' and 息 means 'to rest' or 'breath'. Historically, 消息 referred to the ebb and flow of information, like breathing in and out.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal