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宣布 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
宣布xuānbùto declareHSK 5, v, 14 strokes, rank #1770, Hard
宣布xuānbùto announceHSK 5, v, 14 strokes, rank #1770, Hard
宣布xuānbùto proclaimHSK 5, v, 14 strokes, rank #1770, Hard
xuānbù(xuan1bu4)xuan bu T1
  1. 1to declare
  2. 2to announce
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March 24, 2026

宣布xuānbù(xuan1bu4)

宣布 (xuān bù) means to formally declare or announce something, often used in official contexts such as government statements, news releases, or public declarations. It conveys a sense of importance and is typically associated with significant information being shared with an audience.

Strokes14Frequency#1770DifficultyHard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, announcements can carry significant weight, especially when made by government officials or during important events like festivals or ceremonies. The formal nature of 宣布 reflects the importance of communication in maintaining social order and conveying respect.

Memory tip

Imagine a town crier in ancient China ringing a bell to xuan (宣) the news of a royal decree. The bell's sound echoes throughout the streets, making sure everyone is aware of what has been bu (布) announced. The image of the crier helps connect the action of announcing to the pronunciation.

Meanings of 宣布

xuānbù(xuan1bu4)
1to declare
2to announce
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 宣布

宣布Simplified
14Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#1770Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2

Podcast: 宣布

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Podcast: 宣布

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AI study notes for 宣布

Quick Contrast

公告 (gōnggào) — use 宣布 (xuānbù) for formal declarations, while 公告 (gōnggào) is more about public notices.

Usage Notes

Be cautious of the context in which you use 宣布, as it is more formal than casual terms for 'tell' or 'say.' Common collocations include '宣布决定' (to announce a decision) and '宣布消息' (to announce news). Avoid using it in informal conversations where simpler expressions might suffice.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 5 word, it's important to recognize how 宣布 connects with other verbs of communication, such as 说 (shuō - to say) and 告诉 (gào sù - to tell). Focus on understanding its formal tone and contexts of use, as well as practicing with related vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 宣布 with 说 (shuō) and use it inappropriately in informal contexts, such as saying '我宣布他去商店' (I announce he goes to the store). The correct usage would be '我告诉他去商店' (I tell him to go to the store).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 宣布

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Component characters

宣Xuānto declare (publicly)
9 strokes宀
View full entry
布bùto announce
HSK 65 strokes巾
View full entry

How to say to declare in Chinese

“to declare” in Chinese is宣布xuānbù

宣布 (xuān bù) means to formally declare or announce something, often used in official contexts such as government statements, news releases, or public declarations. It conveys a sense of importance and is typically associated with significant information being shared with an audience.

When to use 宣布

Be cautious of the context in which you use 宣布, as it is more formal than casual terms for 'tell' or 'say.' Common collocations include '宣布决定' (to announce a decision) and '宣布消息' (to announce news). Avoid using it in informal conversations where simpler expressions might suffice.

宣布 or something close to it

公告 (gōnggào) — use 宣布 (xuānbù) for formal declarations, while 公告 (gōnggào) is more about public notices.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 宣布 with 说 (shuō) and use it inappropriately in informal contexts, such as saying '我宣布他去商店' (I announce he goes to the store). The correct usage would be '我告诉他去商店' (I tell him to go to the store).

Write 宣布

宣
布

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Grammar patterns of 宣布

宣布 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

“我来要求归还我的房产,”她向接待人员____。

"I've come to reclaim my property," she announced to the desk clerk.

Example sentences for 宣布 (10)

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1
“我来要求归还我的房产,”她向接待人员宣布。

“ wǒ lái yāoqiú guīhuán wǒ de fáng chǎn,” tā xiàng jiēdài rényuán xuānbù。

"I've come to reclaim my property," she announced to the desk clerk.
2
爱沙尼亚议会已经通过了宣布共和国完全独立的决议。

ài Shā ní yà yìhuì yǐjīng tōngguò le xuānbù gònghéguó wánquán dúlì de juéyì。

The Estonian parliament has passed a resolution declaring the republic fully independent.
3
今天他将正式宣布参加总统竞选。

jīntiān tā jiāng zhèngshì xuānbù cānjiā zǒngtǒng jìngxuǎn。

Today he is formally announcing his candidacy for President.
4
一贯性急冲动的他又宣布要退学了。

yíguàn xìng jí chōngdòng de tā yòu xuānbù yào tuìxué le。

With characteristic impetuosity, he announced he was leaving school.
5
卡翁达总统兑现了他的承诺,宣布了全民公决的日期。

kǎ wēng dá zǒngtǒng duìxiàn le tā de chéngnuò, xuānbù le quán mín gōng jué de rìqī。

President Kaunda fulfilled his promise of announcing a date for the referendum.
6
他面无表情地站在那里,听法官宣布判决。

tā miàn wú biǎoqíng dì zhàn zài nàlǐ, tīng fǎguān xuānbù pànjué。

He stood emotionless as he heard the judge pass sentence.
7
倒闭和失业的消息又在一次次地反复宣布着。

dǎobì hé shīyè de xiāoxi yòu zài yī cì cì dì fǎnfù xuānbù zhe。

Closures and job losses are again being announced with monotonous regularity.
8
然后就在开幕式开始之前,她决定要宣布一件激动人心的事情。

ránhòu jiù zài kāimùshì kāishǐ zhīqián, tā juédìng yào xuānbù yī jiàn jīdòng rén xīn de shìqing。

She then decided right before the opening to make a dramatic announcement.
9
上个星期四,尼克宣布公司收入创下34亿美元的纪录。

shàng gè xīngqī sì, ní kè xuānbù gōngsī shōurù chuàng xià34 yì měiyuán de jìlù。

Last Thursday, Nick announced record revenues of $4 billion.
10
请你宣布一下他要来的消息好 吗 ?

qǐng nǐ xuānbù yíxià tā yào lái de xiāoxi hǎo ma?

Would you spread the news about that he is coming?

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Frequently asked questions about 宣布

It's best to avoid using 宣布 in casual settings; instead, opt for simpler terms like 说 (shuō) or 告诉 (gào sù) for everyday discussions.

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