Meaning
宣 means to declare or announce something publicly, often in a formal or official context. It carries connotations of making something known widely and clearly. The character is commonly used in compound words related to propaganda, publicity, and official announcements.
Usage
宣 is typically used in formal contexts and is rarely used alone in modern Mandarin. It almost always appears in two-character compounds like 宣布 (xuānbù, to announce), 宣传 (xuānchuán, to publicize/propaganda), or 宣告 (xuāngào, to proclaim). When used independently in classical or literary contexts, it retains its meaning of making something known.
Examples
- 01政府今天正式宣布了新的经济政策。.The government officially announced the new economic policy today.
- 02公司通过各种渠道宣传新产品。.The company publicizes new products through various channels.
Common collocations
- 宣布消息to announce news
- 宣传活动publicity campaign
- 宣战to declare war
- 宣读to read out (a statement)
Antonyms
Origin
The character 宣 originally depicted a spacious room (宀 roof radical) where proclamations were made. The bottom component suggests spreading or circulating, reflecting the idea of disseminating information from an official space.