Definitions

xuān (verb) to declare; to announce; to proclaim
xuān (verb) to spread; to disseminate

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

About

The character "宣" is structurally composed of the semantic radical "宀", indicating a roof or building, and the phonetic component "亘". Its etymology relates to the act of proclaiming or disseminating information from a spacious hall or court, aligning the building radical with contexts of official communication. Over time, its meaning extended from formal declarations to broader senses of public announcement, circulation, and widespread dissemination, as evidenced in modern compounds like "宣传" for propaganda and "宣布" for declaring.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我们在传环保。

Wǒmen zài xuānchuán huánbǎo.

We are promoting environmental protection.

公司布了新计划。

Gōngsī xuānbù le xīn jìhuà.

The company announced a new plan.

誓成为公民。

Tā xuānshì chéngwéi gōngmín.

He swore to become a citizen.

这张纸质量很好。

Zhè zhāng xuānzhǐ zhìliàng hěn hǎo.

This piece of rice paper has very good quality.

政府传节约用水。

Zhèngfǔ xuānchuán jiéyuē yòngshuǐ.

The government promotes water conservation.

校长布比赛结果。

Xiàozhǎng xuānbù bǐsài jiéguǒ.

The principal announced the competition results.

他们称找到了证据。

Tāmen xuānchēng zhǎodào le zhèngjù.

They claimed to have found evidence.

国际组织布全球合作倡议。

Guójì zǔzhī xuānbù quánqiú hézuò chàngyì.

The international organization announced a global cooperation initiative.