宣 meaning and stroke order
To proclaim, to declare, to announce; surname
How to write 宣, stroke by stroke
9 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 宣
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to declare (publicly)
- to announce
How 宣 is built
Pictographic character. A palace, where proclamations are made.
Radical: 宀 (roof), shared by 67 characters on this site.
How to remember 宣
The roof 宀 sits over 亘 (gèn), which looks like a wide platform stretching across. Picture a palace hall under a great roof where officials step up to proclaim news to everyone.
宣 (xuān) rarely stands alone in modern Chinese. It appears in formal words about making things public, such as 宣布 (xuānbù, to announce) and 宣传 (xuānchuán, to publicize). Example: 公司宣布了新计划。(Gōngsī xuānbù le xīn jìhuà.) The company announced a new plan.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse the bottom part 亘 with 旦 (dàn) or write 宜 (yí) by mistake, since both sit under 宀. Count the lines: 亘 has a horizontal stroke on top and bottom with 日 in the middle.
Common words with 宣
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 宣布 | xuānbù | to declare; to announce | HSK 3 |
| 宣传 | xuānchuán | to disseminate; to give publicity to | HSK 3 |
| 宣誓 | xuānshì | to swear an oath (of office); to make a vow | HSK 7-9 |
| 宣称 | xuānchēng | to assert; to claim | HSK 7-9 |
| 宣告 | xuāngào | to declare; to proclaim | HSK 7-9 |
| 宣言 | xuānyán | declaration; manifesto | HSK 7-9 |
| 宣扬 | xuānyáng | to publicize; to advertise; to spread far and wide | HSK 7-9 |
| 宣读 | xuāndú | to read out loud to an audience; a prepared speech (e.g. to a party conference) | HSK 7-9 |
| 宣泄 | xuānxiè | to drain (by leading off water); to unburden oneself | HSK 7-9 |
| 宣战 | xuānzhàn | to declare war | |
| 宣判 | xuānpàn | to deliver one's judgement; to give one's verdict | |
| 独立宣言 | dúlìxuānyán | Declaration of Independence |
宣 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 宣
Learning 宣 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 宣
How many strokes are in 宣?
宣 is written with 9 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 宣 mean?
宣 (xuān) means to proclaim, to declare, to announce; surname. A common word with it is 宣布 (xuānbù), meaning "to declare; to announce".
How do you pronounce 宣?
宣 is pronounced xuān, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 宣?
The radical of 宣 is 宀, which carries the idea of "roof". Dictionaries list 宣 under this radical.
Is 宣 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 宣 is part of the HSK 3 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 3.
What is the difference between 宣布 and 宣传?
宣布 (xuānbù) means to announce a decision or fact once, like results or a policy. 宣传 (xuānchuán) means to promote or spread information over time, like advertising or propaganda.
Is 宣 used as a surname?
Yes, 宣 (Xuān) is a Chinese surname, though it is not very common. It is pronounced the same, in the first tone.