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B1 verb #4,000 most common 10 min read

颁布

banbu Top 4,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 颁布 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 颁布 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you don't need to use '颁布' in your daily conversation. It is a big, formal word. You can think of it as a special way to say 'The government says a new rule.' Imagine a king reading a scroll to his people—that is the feeling of '颁布'. If you see this word in a simple sentence, just know it means someone in charge has made a new law or a big rule for everyone to follow. You will likely see it in very simple news headers or basic history lessons about China. Don't worry about using it yourself yet; just recognize that it is about official rules.

For A2 learners, '颁布' is a word you might see when reading about Chinese culture or history. It means 'to officially announce a law.' At this level, you should start to distinguish it from '说' (to say) or '告诉' (to tell). When a whole country has to follow a rule, we use '颁布'. For example, '政府颁布了新法律' (The government issued a new law). You can remember that the '布' in '颁布' is the same '布' in '宣布' (to announce). It is a formal 'announcement' from the people at the top to the people at the bottom.

At the B1 level, you should be able to recognize '颁布' in news articles and understand its specific context. You are moving beyond basic communication and starting to encounter formal vocabulary. You should know that '颁布' is used for things like '法律' (laws), '条例' (regulations), and '政策' (policies). A key point for B1 learners is not to confuse it with '颁发' (bānfā). Remember: you '颁布' a law for everyone, but you '颁发' a certificate or a medal to one person. You might use this word in a formal essay about society or government rules.

B2 learners are expected to use '颁布' correctly in formal writing and understand its nuances. You should be comfortable with common collocations like '颁布实施' (promulgate and implement) and '正式颁布' (officially promulgate). At this level, you should understand that '颁布' carries a sense of legal authority. You should be able to explain the difference between '颁布' and '发布'—where '颁布' is specifically for legal statutes and '发布' is for general information or products. You will encounter this word frequently in HSK 5 materials and should be able to use it to describe legislative processes.

At the C1 level, you should have a deep understanding of the historical and stylistic weight of '颁布'. You should recognize it in classical-style modern prose and high-level political discourse. You should be able to discuss the implications of when a law is '颁布' versus when it is '生效' (takes effect). You should also be familiar with related formal terms like '颁旨' (issuing an imperial edict) in historical contexts. Your usage should be precise, ensuring that '颁布' is never used for non-authoritative announcements. You can use it to analyze legal history or discuss the legislative actions of international organizations.

For C2 learners, '颁布' is a tool for precise legal and political expression. You should understand its etymological roots and how it fits into the broader system of Chinese administrative language. You can use it to discuss the 'promulgation' of constitutional amendments or the complexities of international law. You should be able to appreciate the stylistic choice of using '颁布' in a text to evoke a sense of institutional gravity. You should also be able to identify and correct subtle misuses of the word in professional or academic manuscripts, ensuring that the register remains consistently high and appropriate for the subject matter.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

颁布 in 30 Seconds

颁布 (bānbù) is a formal verb used to announce laws or official decrees to the public.
It is strictly used for authoritative documents like constitutions, statutes, and regulations issued by governments.
Commonly confused with 颁发 (bānfā), which is for giving medals or certificates to specific people.
It typically appears in formal news, legal texts, and historical accounts of government actions.

The Chinese verb 颁布 (bānbù) is a highly formal and specific term used primarily in the context of government, law, and official administration. It refers to the formal act of promulgating or issuing a law, decree, regulation, or statute so that it becomes public knowledge and carries the force of authority. In English, it is most closely translated as 'to promulgate,' 'to issue,' or 'to enact' in a formal capacity. The word is composed of two characters: 颁 (bān), which historically meant to bestow or grant from a high authority, and 布 (bù), which means to spread, distribute, or make known. Together, they describe the top-down flow of information from a governing body to the general populace.

Scope of Authority: The term 颁布 is exclusively used for official documents that have legal or quasi-legal standing. You would use it for a national constitution, a new tax law, or a municipal traffic regulation. You would never use it for a company's internal memo about a lunch break, nor for a personal announcement between friends.

政府正式颁布了新的环境保护法，旨在减少工业污染。(The government officially promulgated the new environmental protection law, aiming to reduce industrial pollution.)

In a modern legislative context, 颁布 represents the final step in the legal process. After a bill has been drafted, debated, and voted upon by a legislative body like the National People's Congress, it must be '颁布' to officially take effect or to set a future date for its implementation. This act is often accompanied by a signature from a head of state, such as a Presidential Decree. Historically, this term evokes the image of imperial edicts being read aloud in city squares to ensure that even the furthest reaches of the empire were aware of the Emperor's will. It carries a sense of gravity and finality that simpler words like 宣布 (xuānbù - to announce) or 发布 (fābù - to release) do not possess.

Common Objects: The most common objects following 颁布 include 法律 (fǎlǜ - law), 法令 (fǎlìng - decree), 条例 (tiáolì - regulations), and 宪法 (xiànfǎ - constitution).

这部宪法是于一九八二年颁布的。(This constitution was promulgated in 1982.)

When using this word, the subject is almost always a formal entity—a government, a ministry, a legislative council, or an international body like the United Nations. If an individual is the subject, they must be acting in their official capacity as a leader (e.g., 'The President promulgated the decree'). Because of its high register, 颁布 is frequently encountered in news broadcasts, legal textbooks, historical documents, and formal political speeches. It helps establish a tone of seriousness and institutional power.

Using 颁布 (bānbù) correctly requires an understanding of its syntactic constraints and its high-register formality. It functions primarily as a transitive verb, meaning it needs an object—specifically, an official document or set of rules. The most basic sentence structure is: [Authority] + 颁布 + [Official Document]. For example, '国务院颁布了新条例' (The State Council issued new regulations). Note the use of the aspect particle '了' (le) to indicate the completion of the act, which is common since the 'promulgation' is usually a discrete event in time.

Passive Construction: In formal writing, 颁布 is often used in passive or 'Shi...de' constructions to emphasize the time or the nature of the document. For instance, '这项法律是去年颁布的' (This law was promulgated last year). Here, the focus is on the timing of the official act rather than the act itself.

新政策颁布后，引起了社会的广泛关注。(After the new policy was promulgated, it attracted widespread social attention.)

Another important grammatical feature of 颁布 is its inability to be modified by casual adverbs. You wouldn't say '慢慢地颁布' (slowly promulgate) or '经常颁布' (often promulgate) in a casual sense. Instead, it is often paired with formal adverbs like 正式 (zhèngshì - officially), 依法 (yīfǎ - according to law), or 联合 (liánhé - jointly). For example, '多部门联合颁布了禁令' (Multiple departments jointly issued the ban). This reinforces the institutional and collaborative nature of the action.

Distinction from '颁发' (bānfā): A common point of confusion for learners is the difference between 颁布 and 颁发. While both involve a high authority 'issuing' something, 颁布 is for abstract rules and laws (to the public), whereas 颁发 is for physical items like medals, certificates, or licenses (to specific individuals). You 颁布 a law, but you 颁发 a trophy.

联合国教科文组织颁布了关于文化多样性的宣言。(UNESCO issued the declaration on cultural diversity.)

Finally, 颁布 is frequently used in the '颁布实施' (bānbù shíshī) combination, which means 'to promulgate and implement.' This compound verb phrase describes the entire lifecycle of a new regulation from its announcement to its enforcement. For example, '新标准的颁布实施将提高产品质量' (The promulgation and implementation of the new standards will improve product quality). This usage is very common in economic and industrial reports.

You will encounter 颁布 (bānbù) in specific, high-stakes environments. It is not a word of the streets, but rather a word of the state. The most common place to hear it is on national news programs like CCTV's Xinwen Lianbo. When the broadcaster says '国家主席签署主席令，颁布了...', you know a significant legal change has occurred. It is the language of the 'Official Gazette' and government websites where new policies are listed for public review.

In Legal and Academic Settings: In law schools and courtrooms, 颁布 is used to discuss the history and validity of statutes. A lawyer might argue that a certain action was legal because it occurred before a specific restrictive law was 颁布. Academic papers on political science or sociology use the word to analyze the impact of state-issued mandates on society.

在法律系，学生们正在研究上世纪颁布的民法典。(In the law department, students are studying the civil code promulgated in the last century.)

Historical documentaries and history textbooks are also rich with this word. When discussing the reforms of the Qing Dynasty or the establishment of the early Republic, historians use 颁布 to describe the moments when revolutionary ideas were codified into law. For instance, the '颁布' of the 'Edict of Abdication' by the last emperor is a pivotal moment in Chinese history. In this context, the word carries the weight of changing eras.

In Business and Industry: Corporate compliance officers and HR managers use this word when referring to state-mandated industry standards or labor laws. A company might hold a meeting to discuss how to adapt to the 'recently 颁布' data privacy regulations. It signals that the change is mandatory and non-negotiable.

由于新税法的颁布，公司必须调整其年度财务计划。(Due to the promulgation of the new tax law, the company must adjust its annual financial plan.)

Lastly, international diplomacy is another sphere where 颁布 is prevalent. When the United Nations or the World Health Organization issues a new international treaty or health regulation, Chinese media will use 颁布 to describe the global dissemination of these rules. It highlights the authority of the international body and the expectation of compliance by member states.

The most frequent mistake learners make with 颁布 (bānbù) is using it in contexts that are too informal or personal. Because its English equivalent 'issue' or 'announce' can be used broadly, students often over-apply the Chinese term. For example, saying '我颁布了一个秘密' (I promulgated a secret) is incorrect and sounds quite comical to native speakers. 颁布 requires an official, public, and authoritative context. For personal announcements, use 宣布 (xuānbù) or 告诉 (gàosù).

Confusion with '发布' (fābù): Another common error is confusing 颁布 with 发布. While both mean 'to release,' 发布 is much broader. You can '发布' a weather forecast, a news article, or a new video game. 颁布 is strictly for laws and decrees. You would not '颁布' a new iPhone; you would '发布' it. Using 颁布 for a commercial product makes it sound like the product is a mandatory government law.

错误：公司颁布了新款手机。(Wrong: The company promulgated a new phone.)
正确：公司发布了新款手机。(Right: The company released a new phone.)

The third major pitfall is the confusion between 颁布 and 颁发 (bānfā). As mentioned earlier, 颁发 is for physical objects given to individuals. If you say '政府颁布了奖牌' (The government promulgated a medal), it implies the government made a law called 'Medal,' which is nonsense. You should say '政府颁发了奖牌' (The government awarded the medal). Conversely, you don't '颁发' a law to a specific person; laws are '颁布' to the whole society.

Subject-Verb Mismatch: Learners sometimes use a low-level authority as the subject of 颁布. For example, '老师颁布了作业' (The teacher promulgated the homework) is inappropriate. A teacher '布置' (bùzhì - assigns) homework. 颁布 requires a 'high level' of authority, usually at the institutional or state level.

错误：我妈妈颁布了家规。(Incorrect: My mom promulgated house rules - too formal.)
正确：我妈妈定了家规。(Correct: My mom set house rules.)

Lastly, be careful with the word order in passive sentences. Because 颁布 is a formal verb, it often appears in '被' (bèi) or '由' (yóu) structures. A common mistake is forgetting the '了' at the end or using the wrong preposition. Ensure the authority comes after '由' if you want to specify who issued the law: '该法令由总统颁布' (This decree was promulgated by the President).

To truly master 颁布 (bānbù), one must understand its place within a cluster of related verbs. While they all share the general sense of making something known or giving something out, their registers and specific usages differ significantly. Choosing the wrong one can change the tone of your sentence from professional to awkward.

颁布 vs. 颁发 (bānfā): 颁布: Used for laws, decrees, and regulations. It is about the announcement of rules to the public.
颁发: Used for medals, certificates, licenses, and awards. It is about the physical distribution of honors to specific recipients.

颁布 vs. 发布 (fābù): 颁布: Highly formal, limited to legal/governmental documents.
发布: General purpose. Used for news, press releases, product launches, and weather alerts. If you aren't sure, '发布' is the safer, more common choice, but '颁布' is more accurate for laws.

气象台发布了台风预警。(The weather station issued a typhoon warning - NOT 颁布.)

颁布 vs. 宣布 (xuānbù): 颁布: Focuses on the official document itself becoming law.
宣布: Focuses on the act of speaking or declaring something. You can 宣布 a winner, 宣布 a meeting open, or 宣布 your retirement. 宣布 is more about the verbal declaration than the written statute.

公布 (gōngbù): 公布: Means 'to make public.' It is often used for lists, results, or data. For example, '公布考试成绩' (make exam results public). It lacks the 'enacting a law' nuance of 颁布.

In summary, choose 颁布 when you are dealing with the 'Top-Level' of society—the state, the law, and the formal structures of power. For everything else, there is usually a more specific or less formal word available. Understanding these nuances will help you navigate formal Chinese documents and news with much greater clarity.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

In ancient times, laws were often carved into bronze vessels or written on silk (cloth/布) to be displayed in public, which is why '布' is used in the word for announcing laws.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /bæn buː/

US /bæn buː/

In Mandarin, both 'bān' and 'bù' are stressed, but 'bù' (4th tone) has a sharper falling emphasis.

Rhymes With

安 (ān) 班 (bān) 三 (sān) 布 (bù) 路 (lù) 度 (dù) 物 (wù) 库 (kù)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'bān' as 'pān' (confusing b/p).
Using the 2nd tone for 'bù' (bú) instead of the 4th tone.
Mistaking 'bù' for 'fù' (confusing b/f).
Incorrectly stressing the first syllable and swallowing the second.
Mixing up the tones, making it sound like 'half step' (bànbù).

Difficulty Rating

Reading 4/5

Requires knowledge of formal legal and political characters.

Writing 5/5

Easy to confuse with '发布' or '颁发'; requires precise context.

Speaking 4/5

Rarely used in daily speech; sounds very stiff if used incorrectly.

Listening 3/5

Common in news; easy to recognize once the 'bān' sound is learned.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

法律 (law) 政府 (government) 宣布 (announce) 规则 (rule) 布 (cloth/spread)

Learn Next

实施 (implement) 生效 (take effect) 废除 (abolish) 草案 (draft) 修订 (revise)

Advanced

昭告 (proclaim) 敕令 (imperial order) 宪章 (charter) 规章 (statute) 通告 (public notice)

Grammar to Know

The 'Shi...de' construction for past emphasis.

法律是去年颁布的。

Using '由' to indicate the agent in formal passive sentences.

该令由总统颁布。

Prepositional phrases with '关于' as objects.

颁布了关于教育的条例。

Using '自...之日起' to denote the starting point of a law.

自颁布之日起施行。

Nominalization of verb phrases.

新法的颁布引起了讨论。

Examples by Level

政府颁布了新规则。

The government issued new rules.

Subject + 颁布 + Object.

这个法律是颁布给每个人的。

This law is issued to everyone.

Passive meaning: the law is for the public.

他们颁布了一个决定。

They issued a decision.

Standard formal structure.

学校颁布了新校规。

The school issued new school rules.

Using 'school' as the authority.

国王颁布了命令。

The king issued an order.

Historical use of authority.

法律颁布了，我们要遵守。

The law is issued, we must obey.

Topic-comment structure.

什么时候颁布新法律？

When will the new law be issued?

Interrogative sentence.

政府今天颁布了禁令。

The government issued a ban today.

Time adverb '今天' before the verb.

那个国家颁布了新的移民法。

That country promulgated a new immigration law.

Focus on national authority.

为了保护环境，政府颁布了这项法令。

To protect the environment, the government issued this decree.

Purpose clause + main clause.

这些规则是去年颁布的。

These rules were issued last year.

Shi...de construction for past events.

他正在读政府颁布的公告。

He is reading the announcement issued by the government.

Attributive clause modifying '公告'.

新政策颁布后，生活变好了。

After the new policy was issued, life became better.

Time phrase using '...后'.

教育部颁布了新的考试大纲。

The Ministry of Education issued a new exam syllabus.

Specific government department as subject.

法律不能随便颁布。

Laws cannot be issued casually.

Modal verb '不能' + adverb '随便'.

历史书上说，皇帝颁布了这条法律。

The history book says the emperor issued this law.

Reporting what a source says.

国务院颁布了关于加强安全生产的条例。

The State Council promulgated regulations on strengthening production safety.

Complex object with prepositional phrase '关于...'.

自法律颁布之日起，所有人都必须执行。

From the date the law is promulgated, everyone must implement it.

Formal '自...之日起' structure.

该宪法是经过多年讨论后才颁布的。

The constitution was promulgated only after years of discussion.

Emphasis on the process using '才'.

政府颁布禁令，禁止在公共场所吸烟。

The government issued a ban prohibiting smoking in public places.

Serial verb construction.

新劳动法的颁布保护了工人的权益。

The promulgation of the new labor law protected workers' rights.

The verb phrase '颁布' acts as the head of the subject.

有关部门正在研究即将颁布的新规定。

Relevant departments are studying the new regulations that are about to be issued.

Present continuous + future participle '即将'.

为了应对危机，总统颁布了紧急状态令。

To deal with the crisis, the president issued a state of emergency decree.

Formal political context.

这项法规是由市人大常委会颁布的。

This regulation was promulgated by the Standing Committee of the Municipal People's Congress.

Passive structure using '由' to indicate the agent.

随着新税法的颁布，企业需要重新评估财务风险。

With the promulgation of the new tax law, companies need to re-evaluate financial risks.

Using '随着' to show cause and effect.

该条例的颁布实施，标志着我国法治建设迈出了新步伐。

The promulgation and implementation of this regulation marks a new step in our country's rule of law construction.

Formal political idiom '标志着...迈出了新步伐'.

尽管政策已经颁布，但具体执行还需要时间。

Although the policy has been promulgated, specific implementation still takes time.

Concessive clause '尽管...但...'.

联合国安理会颁布了针对该地区的制裁决议。

The UN Security Council issued a sanctions resolution against the region.

International diplomatic context.

由于缺乏透明度，该法令在颁布之初就遭到了质疑。

Due to a lack of transparency, the decree was questioned from the very beginning of its promulgation.

Cause '由于' and time point '...之初'.

颁布这项法律的初衷是为了促进教育公平。

The original intention of promulgating this law was to promote educational equity.

Nominalized verb phrase as a modifier for '初衷'.

在正式颁布之前，草案通常会向社会公开征求意见。

Before being officially promulgated, the draft is usually open to the public for comments.

Prepositional phrase '在...之前'.

新法规颁布后，相关行业协会立即组织了学习活动。

After the new regulations were issued, relevant industry associations immediately organized learning activities.

Sequence of events with '立即'.

法典的颁布不仅是法律体系的完善，更是社会文明进步的体现。

The promulgation of the code is not only the perfection of the legal system but also a manifestation of the progress of social civilization.

Correlative conjunction '不仅是...更是...'.

在那个动荡的年代，政府匆忙颁布的一系列法令并未能挽救危局。

In those turbulent years, the series of decrees hastily promulgated by the government failed to save the precarious situation.

Complex noun phrase with multiple modifiers.

该宪法修正案的颁布，引发了法学界关于权力制衡的热烈讨论。

The promulgation of the constitutional amendment triggered a heated discussion in the legal community about checks and balances.

Causative verb '引发' (triggered).

每一项重大政策的颁布，都应经过严谨的科学论证和民主决策过程。

The promulgation of every major policy should undergo a rigorous process of scientific demonstration and democratic decision-making.

Modal verb '应' (should) and parallel adjectives.

法律的生命力在于执行，而不在于仅仅将其颁布在纸面上。

The vitality of law lies in its implementation, not in merely promulgating it on paper.

Contrastive structure '在于...而不在于...'.

从汉代颁布‘推恩令’到现代法律体系的建立，中国法治源远流长。

From the promulgation of the 'Order of Expanding Favors' in the Han Dynasty to the establishment of the modern legal system, China's rule of law has a long history.

Historical reference '从...到...'.

为了确保新规的权威性，必须由最高权力机关统一颁布。

To ensure the authority of the new regulations, they must be uniformly promulgated by the highest organ of power.

Passive construction with '由' and purpose clause '为了...'.

该项国际公约的颁布，旨在协调各国在打击跨国犯罪方面的行动。

The issuance of this international convention aims to coordinate the actions of various countries in combating transnational crime.

Formal term '公约' (convention) and '旨在' (aimed at).

法律颁布的庄严性，在于其对社会契约的重申与法治精神的弘扬。

The solemnity of the promulgation of laws lies in its reaffirmation of the social contract and the promotion of the spirit of the rule of law.

Philosophical and abstract terminology.

纵观历史，任何一部划时代法典的颁布，无不伴随着激烈的思想交锋与利益博弈。

Throughout history, the promulgation of any epoch-making code has invariably been accompanied by fierce ideological clashes and interest games.

Double negative '无不' for emphasis.

该禁令的颁布虽属权宜之计，但在客观上起到了稳定市场情绪的作用。

Although the issuance of the ban was a matter of expediency, it objectively played a role in stabilizing market sentiment.

Concessive '虽...但...' and formal '权宜之计' (expediency).

在法律全球化的背景下，主权国家颁布法律时愈发需要考量国际准则的兼容性。

In the context of legal globalization, sovereign states increasingly need to consider the compatibility of international norms when promulgating laws.

Complex adverbial '在...背景下' and '愈发' (increasingly).

行政机关若未经法定程序便擅自颁布带有强制性的规定，往往会引发法律诉讼。

If an administrative organ arbitrarily issues mandatory regulations without following legal procedures, it often triggers legal litigation.

Hypothetical '若...便...' structure.

该学术著作详尽地考证了《唐律疏议》颁布前后的社会背景与法律变迁。

This academic work provides a detailed textual research on the social background and legal changes before and after the promulgation of the 'Tang Code'.

Academic terms like '考证' and '变迁'.

新宪法颁布的意义，不仅在于确立了国家的根本制度，更在于为公民权利提供了坚实的法律保障。

The significance of the promulgation of the new constitution lies not only in establishing the fundamental system of the state, but also in providing solid legal protection for civil rights.

Balanced structure with '不仅在于...更在于...'.

尽管该法令在颁布之初备受争议，但其在后续的社会治理中展现出了惊人的前瞻性。

Despite being highly controversial at the time of its promulgation, the decree demonstrated surprising foresight in subsequent social governance.

Contrast between '之初' (beginning) and '后续' (follow-up).

Synonyms

发布公布宣读

Antonyms

废除撤销

Common Collocations

颁布法律

颁布条例

正式颁布

颁布实施

依法颁布

颁布法令

联合颁布

颁布禁令

即将颁布

重新颁布

Common Phrases

颁布之日

— The day of promulgation. Often used to specify when a law becomes active.

自颁布之日起施行。

颁布程序

— The legal procedure for issuing a law.

颁布程序必须合法。

颁布机构

— The organization or body that issues the decree.

请确认颁布机构的名称。

颁布权限

— The legal authority/power to issue a law.

这超出了该部门的颁布权限。

颁布背景

— The historical or social background of a law's issuance.

我们需要了解法律颁布的背景。

颁布对象

— The intended audience or subjects of the law.

该法令的颁布对象是全体公民。

颁布仪式

— A formal ceremony for issuing an important document.

宪法颁布仪式在礼堂举行。

颁布全文

— The full text of the issued document.

报纸刊登了法令的颁布全文。

颁布日期

— The date on which a law was officially issued.

请在表格中填写颁布日期。

颁布意图

— The intention behind issuing a specific rule.

政府解释了这项禁令的颁布意图。

Often Confused With

颁布 vs 颁发

颁发 is for certificates/medals to individuals; 颁布 is for laws to the public.

颁布 vs 发布

发布 is general (news, products); 颁布 is specific to legal statutes.

颁布 vs 宣布

宣布 is the act of speaking/announcing; 颁布 is the official issuance of a document.

Idioms & Expressions

"颁布施行"

— To promulgate and implement. A standard four-character phrase in legal Chinese.

新法典已正式颁布施行。

Formal

"昭告天下"

— To proclaim to all under heaven. Used for very major announcements.

这一喜讯应昭告天下。

Literary

"明文规定"

— Stipulated in writing. Often used to refer to laws that have been '颁布'.

法律对此有明文规定。

Formal

"令行禁止"

— Orders are carried out and prohibitions are obeyed. The ideal result of '颁布'.

一个好的政府应该令行禁止。

Formal

"金科玉律"

— Golden rules and jade laws; invaluable precepts. Often refers to highly respected '颁布' laws.

这被奉为金科玉律。

Literary

"奉天承运"

— By the grace of heaven. The opening phrase of imperial edicts that were '颁布'.

奉天承运，皇帝诏曰。

Historical

"约法三章"

— To agree on three simple laws. A famous historical '颁布' of rules.

我们先约法三章。

Idiomatic

"言出法随"

— Laws are followed as soon as they are spoken. Describes strict legal enforcement.

政令要做到言出法随。

Formal

"朝令夕改"

— To issue an order in the morning and change it in the evening. Inconsistent '颁布'.

政策不能朝令夕改。

Negative/Formal

"大张旗鼓"

— On a grand scale. Often how major laws are '颁布'.

政府大张旗鼓地颁布了新规。

Common

Easily Confused

颁布 vs 颁发

Both start with '颁' and involve authority.

頒发 (bānfā) is for physical items (awards, licenses) given to specific recipients. 颁布 (bānbù) is for abstract rules (laws, decrees) given to the general public. You cannot '颁发' a law.

他获得了颁发的奖章。(He received the awarded medal.)

颁布 vs 发布

Both mean 'to issue' or 'to release'.

发布 (fābù) has a much wider scope, used for news, weather, games, and advertisements. 颁布 (bānbù) is reserved for high-level legal and governmental documents. You '发布' a movie, but you '颁布' a constitution.

气象局发布了预警。(The weather bureau issued a warning.)

颁布 vs 公布

Both involve making something public.

公布 (gōngbù) is used for lists, scores, or information that was previously private. It doesn't necessarily involve authority making a rule. 颁布 (bānbù) specifically involves enacting a rule with legal force.

考试成绩已经公布。(The exam results have been made public.)

颁布 vs 宣读

Both are formal acts involving official documents.

宣读 (xuāndú) is the physical act of reading a document out loud. 颁布 (bānbù) is the legal act of making it a law. You can '宣读' a document that was '颁布' yesterday.

秘书长宣读了决议草案。(The Secretary-General read out the draft resolution.)

颁布 vs 下达

Both involve a top-down instruction.

下达 (xiàdá) is used for specific orders, missions, or targets sent from a higher office to a lower office. 颁布 (bānbù) is for general laws applied to society. You '下达' a production target to a factory.

司令部下达了作战命令。(Headquarters issued the battle order.)

Sentence Patterns

政府 + 颁布 + 了 + [Law].

政府颁布了新法律。

[Law] + 是 + [Time] + 颁布的。

这项规则是昨天颁布的。

由于 + [Law] + 的颁布， + [Result]。

由于新法的颁布，环境变好了。

[Authority] + 正式颁布了 + 关于 + [Topic] + 的条例。

国务院正式颁布了关于安全生产的条例。

自 + [Law] + 颁布之日起， + [Action]。

自禁令颁布之日起，禁止吸烟。

[Law] + 的颁布，标志着 + [Abstract Concept]。

新宪法的颁布，标志着法治建设的新纪元。

由 + [Authority] + 颁布的 + [Law]。

由市长颁布的命令。

[Authority] + 联合颁布 + [Document]。

两部门联合颁布了新规。

Word Family

Nouns

颁布者 (promulgator)

颁布令 (issuance order)

Verbs

发布 (release)

宣布 (announce)

颁发 (award/issue)

法律 (law)

法令 (decree)

宪法 (constitution)

条例 (regulation)

政策 (policy)

How to Use It

frequency

High in news/legal; Low in daily life.

Common Mistakes

我颁布了一个新规定给我的朋友。 → 我给我的朋友定了一个新规矩。
You cannot '颁布' to a friend. It is too formal. Use '定' (set) or '说' (say) for personal rules.
公司颁布了新款电脑。 → 公司发布了新款电脑。
颁布 is for laws, not commercial products. Use '发布' for product launches.
政府颁布了奖学金给学生。 → 政府颁发了奖学金给学生。
Scholarships and physical awards use '颁发', not '颁布'.
他在会上颁布了他的退休计划。 → 他在会上宣布了他的退休计划。
Personal career news is '宣布' (announced), not '颁布' (promulgated like a law).
法律颁布在电视上。 → 法律在电视上公布了。
颁布 is the act of making it law, not the medium (TV). You can say 'the government promulgated the law via a TV announcement,' but you don't 'promulgate on TV' in this phrasing.

Tips

Use for Laws Only

Stick to laws, regulations, and decrees. If you use it for anything else, you will sound like you are trying to be a king or a president.

Pair with '了'

Since the act of issuing a law is usually a completed event, you will almost always see it as '颁布了'.

Look for '布'

Remember that '布' means to spread. This helps you remember that 颁布 is about spreading the word to the public.

Formal Adverbs

Boost your formal writing by adding '正式' (officially) before 颁布. It is a very common and natural pairing.

News Trigger

When you hear '颁布' on the news, pay attention to the next few words; they will tell you what new rule is going to change in society.

Historical Context

In period dramas, listen for the Emperor saying he will '颁布' a decree. It adds to the historical flavor.

頒布 vs 发布

If it's a law, use 颁布. If it's a press release or a weather report, use 发布.

Legal Exams

If you are studying for a Chinese legal exam, 颁布 is a keyword for the legislative process section.

The 'Ban' Law

Associate 'Ban' in 颁布 with 'Banning' something. Governments 颁布 laws to 'ban' bad behavior.

Authority Check

Before using this word, ask yourself: 'Does the subject have the power to make a law?' If not, choose a different word.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine a giant piece of CLOTH (布) being unrolled from a PALACE (颁) to show a new law to the whole city.

Visual Association

A king standing on a balcony holding a long scroll that reaches the ground.

Word Web

Laws Government Official Public Authority Promulgate Statute Announcement

Challenge

Try to find three news headlines from a Chinese news site like Xinhua that use the word '颁布'. Write down the objects of the verb.

Word Origin

The term 颁布 comes from two ancient concepts. '颁' (bān) originally referred to the 'big head' of a fish, but evolved to mean 'to bestow' or 'to distribute' from a superior to an inferior. '布' (bù) originally meant cloth, which was spread out, leading to the extended meaning of 'spreading' news or information.

Original meaning: To distribute and spread official word throughout the kingdom.

Sino-Tibetan (Chinese)

Cultural Context

Be careful not to use '颁布' for religious or cult-like commands in a way that mocks the state, as it is a serious term of government authority.

English speakers might use 'pass a law' or 'sign a bill,' but 'promulgate' (the direct equivalent of 颁布) is rarely used outside of legal circles. 颁布 is more common in Chinese news than 'promulgate' is in English news.

The '颁布' of the 1982 Constitution of the PRC. The '颁布' of the Abolition of the Examination System (1905). The '颁布' of the Edict of Abdication by Empress Dowager Longyu.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Legislative News

正式颁布
颁布实施
法律颁布
草案颁布

Historical Accounts

皇帝颁布
颁布诏书
法令颁布
历史上颁布

Administrative Management

部门颁布
颁布条例
颁布细则
依法颁布

International Relations

联合国颁布
公约颁布
联合颁布
全球颁布

Corporate Compliance

新法颁布
政策颁布
颁布日期
因颁布而调整

Conversation Starters

"你知道政府最近颁布了什么新法律吗？"

"你觉得这项新条例在颁布后会有什么影响？"

"在你们国家，法律通常是由谁颁布的？"

"这部宪法是什么时候颁布的？"

"政府颁布这项禁令的初衷是什么？"

Journal Prompts

如果我可以颁布一项全球法律，那会是什么？为什么？

讨论最近颁布的一项政策如何影响了你的日常生活。

你认为法律在颁布之前应该征求大众的意见吗？

描述一个历史上著名的法律颁布事件及其后果。

为什么有些法律虽然颁布了，但人们却不遵守？

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Generally, no. For company policies, use '发布' (fābù) or '规定' (guīdìng). 颁布 is too formal and usually implies state-level authority. However, in very large, semi-governmental corporations, you might occasionally see it, but it's safer to avoid it in business unless referring to government laws.

This is the most common question. Remember: 颁布 = Law/Rule (Public). 颁发 = Medal/Certificate (Individual). You 颁布 a decree to everyone, but you 颁发 a driver's license to one person.

Yes, it has historical roots. In ancient times, it referred to the Emperor bestowing items or spreading edicts. Today, it has been modernized to fit the legal legislative process.

Not necessarily. A law is 颁布 (promulgated) first, but the text usually specifies a '生效日期' (effective date), which might be months later. The act of 颁布 is the official announcement, not the start of enforcement.

No. The object must be a document like a law or regulation. You cannot '颁布' a person.

Yes, it is typically found in HSK 5 and HSK 6. It is essential for understanding news and formal essays.

Usually, '颁布' is for secular law. For religious commandments, words like '降示' (revealed) or '传达' (conveyed) are more common, though '颁布' could be used in a historical/political analysis of religious law.

The closest opposite is '废除' (fèichú), which means to abolish or repeal a law that was previously 颁布.

It is transitive. It almost always requires an object (the law or regulation being issued).

No. It implies a written document or a formal decree. For purely verbal announcements, use '宣布'.