宣布

• Pinyin: xuān bù
• Hanzi breakdown: 宣 = 宀 (roof) + 亘 (extending), meaning to proclaim; 布 = originally a pictograph of cloth, extended to mean to spread

Meaning

To announce; to declare; to proclaim. To make something known publicly and officially.

A formal verb used for official or public announcements. Common objects: 宣布结果 (announce results), 宣布消息 (announce news), 宣布开始 (declare the start). Often seen in news reports and formal contexts. More official than 通知 (notify) or 说 (say).

Examples

1. 校长宣布了新学期的计划。 The principal announced the plan for the new term.
2. 公司宣布下个月开始放假。 The company announced that the holiday will begin next month.
3. 裁判宣布比赛正式开始。 The referee declared the competition officially started.

Usage Guide

Context: official, news, ceremonies

Tone: authoritative

Do Say

• 总统宣布了新政策。(The president announced a new policy.)
• 他们宣布婚礼的日期了。(They announced the date of the wedding.)

Don't Say

• 我宣布我饿了。(Don't use 宣布 for casual personal statements — it sounds overly dramatic. Say 我饿了 directly.)

Origin & History

宣 means 'to spread' or 'to proclaim' (originally referring to an imperial decree) and 布 means 'to spread' or 'to distribute'. Together they describe the act of spreading information publicly.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal