声明 en 30 secondes
- A formal public announcement used to clarify a position or state facts.
- Commonly paired with the verb '发表' (fābiǎo - to issue).
- Essential for business, legal, and diplomatic communication in Chinese.
- Distinguished from '说明' (explanation) by its level of formality and authority.
The term 声明 (shēngmíng) is a sophisticated noun in the Chinese language that refers to a formal, public, and often written announcement or declaration. At its core, it is about 'making one's position clear' to an audience, whether that audience is the general public, a specific organization, or a legal body. Unlike a casual conversation or a simple explanation (说明), a 声明 carries a weight of authority and intentionality. It is the act of putting a stake in the ground regarding a particular fact, opinion, or policy.
- Etymology
- The character 声 (shēng) relates to sound or voice, while 明 (míng) means bright or clear. Together, they literally mean 'to make the voice clear' or 'to clarify through sound/word'.
- Formal Context
- It is most frequently used in diplomatic, legal, and corporate settings where precise language is paramount.
- Social Weight
- Issuing a 声明 implies that the speaker or organization is willing to be held accountable for the contents of the message.
“政府发表了一份关于环境保护的官方声明。” (The government issued an official statement regarding environmental protection.)
In a modern digital context, you might see 声明 used in 'Privacy Statements' (隐私声明) or 'Copyright Statements' (版权声明) on websites. It serves as a legal boundary, defining what is permitted and what is not. When a celebrity is involved in a scandal, their management team will often release a 声明 to clarify the facts and protect their reputation. This highlights the word's role as a tool for reputation management and conflict resolution.
“这份声明澄清了双方的误会。” (This statement clarified the misunderstanding between the two parties.)
Furthermore, the word implies a certain level of finality. Once a 声明 is made, it becomes the official record. This is why lawyers and diplomats spend hours debating the specific wording of a single sentence within a 声明. Every word counts because the 声明 represents the definitive stance of the entity issuing it. It is not a dialogue; it is a broadcast of truth or intent.
“联合声明强调了国际合作的重要性。” (The joint statement emphasized the importance of international cooperation.)
- Scope
- Can range from a short social media post to a multi-page legal document.
- Tone
- Always objective, serious, and professional.
Using 声明 correctly requires understanding its grammatical environment. As a noun, it functions as the object of specific 'action' verbs that relate to communication. The most common verb is 发表 (fābiǎo), meaning 'to issue' or 'to publish'. You don't just 'say' a 声明; you 'issue' it. This distinction is crucial for achieving a B1/B2 level of fluency.
- Common Verb Pairings
- 发表声明 (Issue a statement), 签署声明 (Sign a statement), 撤回声明 (Withdraw a statement), 起草声明 (Draft a statement).
“发言人拒绝就此发表任何声明。” (The spokesperson refused to issue any statement on this matter.)
Another important aspect is the use of adjectives to describe the 声明. Because it is a formal word, the adjectives used with it are also typically formal. For example, 联合 (liánhé - joint), 官方 (guānfāng - official), and 正式 (zhèngshì - formal) are frequent modifiers. If two countries agree on a policy, they issue a 联合声明. If a company wants to deny a rumor, they issue a 正式声明.
“我们需要起草一份关于版权保护的法律声明。” (We need to draft a legal statement regarding copyright protection.)
In sentence structure, 声明 often appears in the pattern: [Entity] + [Verb] + [Adjective] + 声明. For example: '公司 (Entity) 发表 (Verb) 了紧急 (Adjective) 声明'. This structure is the backbone of formal Chinese reporting. Mastering this pattern allows you to discuss news, business, and legal matters with precision.
- Syntactic Roles
- Subject: '这份声明非常重要。' (This statement is very important.) Object: '他宣读了声明。' (He read the statement out loud.)
“他的声明引起了广泛的关注。” (His statement attracted widespread attention.)
Finally, consider the 'purpose' of the 声明. It is often used with the preposition 旨在 (zhǐzài - aimed at). For instance, '这份声明旨在澄清事实' (This statement is aimed at clarifying the facts). This level of sentence complexity is what distinguishes a B1 learner from a beginner. It shows you can link the noun to its functional intent.
You will encounter 声明 in several high-stakes environments. The most common is the news media. Whenever a crisis occurs—be it a natural disaster, a political shift, or a corporate scandal—the news will report on the 'official statement' issued by the relevant authorities. If you watch CCTV News (新闻联播), you will hear the phrase '发表声明' almost daily in the context of international relations.
“外交部就边境问题发表了严正声明。” (The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a solemn statement on the border issue.)
Another major area is Legal and Business. If you sign a contract in China, or even just sign up for a Chinese app like WeChat or Alipay, you are agreeing to a 'User Agreement and Privacy Statement' (用户协议与隐私声明). These are legal documents where the entity 'declares' its terms of service. In a courtroom, a witness might provide a 'written statement' (书面声明), which serves as their formal testimony.
- Business Context
- Earnings reports, merger announcements, and product recalls all involve 声明.
- Academic Context
- Researchers often include a 'Statement of Originality' in their theses to declare that the work is their own.
“他在社交媒体上发布了一则个人声明。” (He posted a personal statement on social media.)
Lastly, you'll find it in Entertainment and Celebrity Culture. In the age of Weibo, celebrities frequently use 声明 to address rumors about their personal lives. These statements are usually highly stylized, written on company letterhead with an official red seal (公章) to prove their authenticity. For a Chinese learner, reading these 'Weibo Statements' is a great way to see how the word is used to manage public perception in real-time.
“工作室发表声明否认了不实传闻。” (The studio issued a statement denying the false rumors.)
One of the most frequent errors learners make is confusing 声明 (shēngmíng) with 说明 (shuōmíng). While they both involve 'explaining' or 'clarifying', their usage is quite different. 说明 is used for instructions or general explanations (like a manual or explaining why you were late), whereas 声明 is for formal, public positions. You wouldn't '声明' how to use a microwave; you would '说明' it.
- 声明 vs. 说明
- 声明 = Formal Declaration/Position. 说明 = Explanation/Instruction.
- 声明 vs. 报告
- 报告 (bàogào) is a report, usually containing data and analysis. A 声明 is just the conclusion or the stance.
❌ “这是微波炉的使用声明。” (Incorrect: This is the microwave's 'statement' of use.)
✅ “这是微波炉的使用说明。” (Correct: This is the microwave's 'instructions' for use.)
Another mistake is using the wrong verb. Beginners often use 说 (shuō) or 讲 (jiǎng) with 声明. However, because 声明 is a formal noun, it requires a formal verb like 发表 (fābiǎo). Saying '他说了一个声明' sounds childish and grammatically awkward. It's like saying 'He said a proclamation' in English instead of 'He issued a proclamation'.
Furthermore, learners sometimes confuse 声明 with 宣布 (xuānbù). While both involve public speaking, 宣布 is a verb meaning 'to announce' (e.g., announcing the winner of a race). 声明 is the *noun* for the formal text itself. You can '宣布一个声明' (announce a statement), but you cannot use 声明 as a direct synonym for the action of announcing a simple event.
“市长宣布了比赛结果，并发表了一份关于体育精神的声明。” (The mayor announced the results and issued a statement on sportsmanship.)
To truly master 声明, you must understand its place within a family of similar terms. The most closely related word is 公告 (gōnggào). A 公告 is a 'public notice' or 'bulletin'. While a 声明 often expresses an opinion or a stance, a 公告 is usually more factual and administrative, such as a notice about a road closure or a change in company policy.
- 宣言 (xuānyán)
- A 'manifesto' or 'proclamation'. Much more grand and idealistic than a 声明. Example: '独立宣言' (Declaration of Independence).
- 启事 (qǐshì)
- A 'notice' or 'announcement' often found in newspapers, like a 'Lost and Found' (寻物启事) or a 'Recruitment Notice' (招聘启事).
“这不仅仅是一份声明，更是一份改变世界的宣言。” (This is not just a statement, but a manifesto that will change the world.)
Another synonym is 陈述 (chénshù). This means 'statement' or 'representation' in a more descriptive sense, often used in legal contexts to describe a witness's account of events. While 声明 is a formal 'broadcast', 陈述 is a formal 'telling'. If you are explaining your side of the story to the police, you are making a 陈述.
Lastly, consider 表态 (biǎotài). This is a verb-noun that means 'to make one's stance known'. It is less formal than 声明. If a boss asks you if you agree with a new rule, he is asking you to 表态. A 声明 is the formal document that might result from that 表态. In diplomatic news, you will often hear that a country has 'refused to 表态' (refused to take a stand).
“在正式声明发布之前，他拒绝做出任何表态。” (Before the formal statement was released, he refused to make any stance known.)
How Formal Is It?
Niveau de difficulté
Grammaire à connaître
Measure words for documents (份, 则)
Prepositional phrases with '关于' and '就'
Passive voice with '被'
Formal verb-object collocations
Noun modification with '的'
Exemples par niveau
这是一个声明。
This is a statement.
Basic 'Subject + Verb + Object' structure.
我看声明。
I read the statement.
Simple verb-object pair.
他不发表声明。
He does not issue a statement.
Negative form using '不'.
声明在哪里？
Where is the statement?
Question form using '在哪里'.
这是我的声明。
This is my statement.
Possessive '我的' modifying the noun.
老师写了声明。
The teacher wrote a statement.
Simple past action with '了'.
声明很短。
The statement is very short.
Adjective predicate with '很'.
请看这个声明。
Please look at this statement.
Polite request using '请'.
公司昨天发表了声明。
The company issued a statement yesterday.
Time adverb '昨天' and formal verb '发表'.
这是一份很重要的声明。
This is a very important statement.
Measure word '份' for documents.
他在报纸上看到了声明。
He saw the statement in the newspaper.
Location phrase '在报纸上'.
我们要写一份正式的声明。
We need to write a formal statement.
Modal verb '要' and adjective '正式'.
声明的内容很清楚。
The content of the statement is very clear.
Noun phrase '声明的内容'.
他不同意这份声明。
He doesn't agree with this statement.
Verb '不同意' taking the noun as an object.
学校发布了关于放假的声明。
The school released a statement about the holiday.
Preposition '关于' (about).
请读一下这份声明。
Please read this statement for a bit.
Verb + '一下' for brief action.
发言人拒绝就此事发表声明。
The spokesperson refused to issue a statement on this matter.
Structure: '就...发表声明'.
这份声明澄清了之前的误会。
This statement clarified the previous misunderstanding.
Verb '澄清' (clarify) acting on the noun.
双方签署了一份联合声明。
Both parties signed a joint statement.
Adjective '联合' (joint).
由于压力，他撤回了之前的声明。
Due to pressure, he withdrew his previous statement.
Conjunction '由于' (due to).
网站上有一则关于隐私保护的声明。
There is a statement about privacy protection on the website.
Measure word '则' often used for short notices/statements.
他的声明引起了媒体的广泛关注。
His statement attracted widespread media attention.
Verb '引起' (cause/attract).
我们需要在声明中加入更多细节。
We need to add more details to the statement.
Location '在声明中'.
这份声明代表了公司的官方立场。
This statement represents the company's official stance.
Verb '代表' (represent).
外交部发表严正声明，谴责这种行为。
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a solemn statement condemning this behavior.
Adjective '严正' (solemn/stern).
这份免责声明保护了公司的合法权益。
This disclaimer protects the company's legal rights and interests.
Compound noun '免责声明' (disclaimer).
在没有得到律师许可前，他不会发表任何声明。
He won't issue any statement before getting permission from his lawyer.
Complex time clause '在...前'.
联合声明强调了维护地区稳定的重要性。
The joint statement emphasized the importance of maintaining regional stability.
Verb '强调' (emphasize).
这则声明被翻译成了多种语言。
This statement was translated into multiple languages.
Passive voice '被'.
公众对这份含糊其辞的声明表示不满。
The public expressed dissatisfaction with this vague statement.
Idiom '含糊其辞' (vague/equivocal) modifying the noun.
起草这份声明耗费了我们整整一周的时间。
Drafting this statement took us a whole week.
Gerund-like subject '起草这份声明'.
声明中明确指出，任何违约行为都将受到追究。
The statement clearly pointed out that any breach of contract will be prosecuted.
Adverb '明确' (clearly) and verb '指出' (point out).
该声明旨在平息由谣言引发的社会动荡。
The statement is aimed at calming the social unrest caused by rumors.
Verb '旨在' (aimed at) and '平息' (calm down).
律师建议客户在发表公开声明时要格外谨慎。
The lawyer advised the client to be extra cautious when making a public statement.
Adverb '格外' (extraordinarily).
这份声明的措辞经过了反复推敲。
The wording of this statement has been repeatedly refined.
Noun '措辞' (wording) and idiom '推敲' (weigh/refine).
尽管发表了声明，但外界的质疑声并未消失。
Despite the statement, outside doubts have not disappeared.
Conjunction '尽管...但' (despite... but).
该声明被视为该国政策转向的重要信号。
The statement is seen as an important signal of the country's policy shift.
Passive structure '被视为' (be seen as).
签署这份声明意味着双方达成了初步共识。
Signing this statement means both parties have reached a preliminary consensus.
Verb '意味着' (mean/imply).
这份版权声明详细列出了受保护的内容。
This copyright statement lists the protected content in detail.
Adverb '详细' (in detail).
他发表声明，对自己过去的行为表示忏悔。
He issued a statement expressing repentance for his past actions.
Verb '表示' (express) and noun '忏悔' (repentance).
这份声明不仅是立场的宣示，更是对普世价值的捍卫。
This statement is not only a declaration of stance but also a defense of universal values.
Correlative conjunction '不仅是...更是'.
在外交辞令中，这份声明的每一个标点都蕴含深意。
In diplomatic parlance, every punctuation mark in this statement carries deep meaning.
Noun '外交辞令' (diplomatic parlance).
该声明试图在多方利益博弈中寻求一种微妙的平衡。
The statement attempts to seek a delicate balance amidst the interplay of multiple interests.
Noun '利益博弈' (game of interests).
这份联合声明的发表，标志着两国关系进入了新纪元。
The publication of this joint statement marks the entry of bilateral relations into a new era.
Verb '标志着' (mark/symbolize).
声明中对于历史问题的表述，引发了学术界的激烈辩论。
The wording regarding historical issues in the statement triggered heated debate in academia.
Noun '表述' (expression/formulation).
他通过一份书面声明，彻底撇清了与该丑闻的关系。
Through a written statement, he completely distanced himself from the scandal.
Verb '撇清' (clear oneself/distance oneself).
这份声明的法律效力仍有待相关部门的进一步确认。
The legal validity of this statement remains to be further confirmed by relevant authorities.
Phrase '有待' (remain to be/await).
在权力交接之际，这份声明起到了稳定人心的作用。
At the time of the transfer of power, this statement served to stabilize public sentiment.
Phrase '起到了...的作用' (played the role of...).
Collocations courantes
Phrases Courantes
Souvent confondu avec
Expressions idiomatiques
Facile à confondre
Structures de phrases
Comment l'utiliser
In legal contexts, 声明 can be binding.
声明 is more formal than 解释.
On the internet, it often refers to 'Terms and Conditions'.
- Using '说' instead of '发表'.
- Confusing '声明' with '说明'.
- Forgetting the measure word '份'.
- Using it in too casual a context (e.g., with friends).
- Mispronouncing 'shēng' as 'shèng'.
Astuces
Verb Pairing
Always use '发表' (fābiǎo) when you want to say 'issue a statement'. It makes you sound much more natural.
Measure Words
Use '一份' for a full document and '一则' for a short announcement on social media.
The Red Seal
In China, a formal 声明 often needs a 'gōngzhāng' (official seal) to be taken seriously by the public.
Internet Usage
When you see '声明' on a website, it's usually the legal stuff. Don't ignore it if you're signing a contract!
Vs. 说明
If you are explaining *how* something works, use 说明. If you are explaining *where you stand*, use 声明.
Business Writing
In emails, use '特此声明' (hereby state) to introduce a formal point.
News Cues
News anchors often say '发表声明' right before quoting a government official.
Formal Tone
Use 声明 when you want to clarify a misunderstanding in a serious way.
Structure
A good 声明 starts with the background, then the stance, then the conclusion.
Visualizing
Visualize a 'Clear Sound' (声+明) to remember it means a clear declaration.
Mémorise-le
Origine du mot
Classical Chinese. '声' (voice/fame) + '明' (bright/clear). Originally referred to making one's reputation or intentions clear to the world.
Contexte culturel
Statements are often carefully worded to allow all parties to 'save face'.
A 声明 without a red seal is often viewed with skepticism in business.
State media statements carry the highest level of authority in China.
Pratique dans la vie réelle
Contextes réels
Amorces de conversation
"你看到公司最新的声明了吗？"
"对于那份联合声明，你有什么看法？"
"为什么他拒绝发表任何声明？"
"这份声明能解决目前的危机吗？"
"你觉得这份声明的措辞够严谨吗？"
Sujets d'écriture
写一份关于你个人学习目标的‘声明’。
如果你是一家公司的CEO，面对产品质量问题，你会如何写声明？
描述一次你看到的让你印象深刻的官方声明。
讨论为什么在现代社会，书面声明比口头承诺更重要。
分析一份你常用的APP的隐私声明。
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsYes, it can mean 'to declare' or 'to state'. For example: '他声明自己是无辜的' (He declared he was innocent). However, in B1/B2 levels, it is very commonly used as a noun.
The most common measure word is '份' (fèn), used for documents. '则' (zé) is also used for short notices or items in a list.
Usually, yes. Even if someone 'reads' a statement, it is typically prepared in writing beforehand to ensure accuracy.
宣布 is a verb (to announce). 声明 is the noun (the statement itself). You can '宣布' a '声明'.
It means 'Disclaimer'. It is a legal statement where an entity declares they are not responsible for certain outcomes.
It is formal and neutral. It is not necessarily 'polite' or 'impolite', but it is professional.
Yes, individuals can make '个人声明' (personal statements), especially public figures.
It means 'Joint Statement', usually issued by two or more countries or organizations agreeing on something.
Look for '隐私声明' (Yǐnsī Shēngmíng) in the footer of the page.
Not usually in casual talk. You wouldn't '声明' to your mom that you're hungry. You'd just say it.
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Summary
声明 (shēngmíng) is the go-to word for 'official statements'. Whether it's a privacy policy, a celebrity's denial of rumors, or a government's diplomatic stance, this word denotes a formal, public record of intent.
- A formal public announcement used to clarify a position or state facts.
- Commonly paired with the verb '发表' (fābiǎo - to issue).
- Essential for business, legal, and diplomatic communication in Chinese.
- Distinguished from '说明' (explanation) by its level of formality and authority.
Verb Pairing
Always use '发表' (fābiǎo) when you want to say 'issue a statement'. It makes you sound much more natural.
Measure Words
Use '一份' for a full document and '一则' for a short announcement on social media.
The Red Seal
In China, a formal 声明 often needs a 'gōngzhāng' (official seal) to be taken seriously by the public.
Internet Usage
When you see '声明' on a website, it's usually the legal stuff. Don't ignore it if you're signing a contract!
Exemple
大学发表声明，否认了学费上涨的传闻。
