表决

• Pinyin: biǎo jué
• Hanzi breakdown: 表 = 衣 (clothing) + 毛 (fur) — to express; 决 = 冫 (ice) + 夬 (to break through)

Meaning

To vote; to put to a vote; to decide by voting.

Formal voting procedure, typically in official settings like legislatures, committees, or assemblies. Different from general elections (选举). Often used in parliamentary or organizational contexts for decision-making.

Examples

1. 这项提案将在明天的会议上进行表决。 This proposal will be put to a vote at tomorrow's meeting.
2. 经过激烈讨论后，大会对该议案进行了表决。 After intense discussion, the assembly voted on the motion.
3. 表决结果显示，赞成票远超反对票。 The voting results showed that yes votes far exceeded no votes.

Usage Guide

Context: politics, meetings, governance

Tone: official

Do Say

• 请大家举手表决。(Please vote by raising your hands.)
• 这个问题需要表决。(This issue needs to be put to a vote.)

Don't Say

• 用表决形容非正式投票 (Don't use 表决 for casual voting — it implies formal procedural voting)

Origin & History

表 (express) + 决 (decide). To express one's decision — to vote.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal