表示 meaning in English

biǎoshì

(of sb) to express; to state; to show; (of sth) to indicate; to signify; to show

HSK 2verbnoun13 strokes

Meaning of 表示

Definitions from CC-CEDICT.

biǎoshì

(of sb) to express; to state; to show
(of sth) to indicate; to signify; to show
expression; manifestation

How to use 表示

表示 is common in news and formal speech for stating a position, attitude, or thanks, and also for saying what a sign or number indicates. Example: 他表示同意。(Tā biǎoshì tóngyì.) He expressed agreement.

表 (biǎo) means the outside or surface, as in a watch face 手表 (shǒubiǎo), and 示 (shì) means to show. Put them together: you bring something to the surface and show it, so 表示 means to express or indicate.

Common mistake: Learners often use 表示 where 表达 (biǎodá) fits better. 表示 states an attitude or meaning, like 表示感谢 (to express thanks), while 表达 is about conveying feelings or ideas in words, like 表达自己的想法 (to express your own thoughts).

表示 in example sentences

Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.

我wǒ要yào明míng确què表biǎo示shì我wǒ不bú会huì再zài来lái了le。

I will make it clear that I won't come again.

他tā们men表biǎo示shì喜xǐ欢huān那nà样yàng做zuò。

They say they like to do that.

微wēi笑xiào并bìng不bù一yí定dìng表biǎo示shì高gāo兴xìng。

Smiles do not always indicate pleasure.

他tā表biǎo示shì他tā非fēi常cháng高gāo兴xìng。

He said he was very happy.

玛mǎ莉lì表biǎo示shì，包bāo包bāo是shì丈zhàng夫fū送sòng的de礼lǐ物wù。

Mary claimed the bag was a gift from her husband.

Stroke order for each character

Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.

表 biǎo · exterior surface · 8 strokes

示 shì · altar · 5 strokes

Related words

Words that share a character with 表示.

手表	shǒubiǎo	wristwatch
代表	dàibiǎo	representative; delegate
表演	biǎoyǎn	play; show
表现	biǎoxiàn	to show; to show off
显示	xiǎnshì	to show; to illustrate
表达	biǎodá	to express; to convey
表明	biǎomíng	to make clear; to make known
发表	fābiǎo	to issue; to publish
表面	biǎomiàn	surface; face
表格	biǎogé	form; table
代表团	dàibiǎotuán	delegation
表情	biǎoqíng	(facial) expression; to express one's feelings

Questions about 表示

What does 表示 mean?

表示 (biǎoshì) means "(of sb) to express; to state; to show; (of sth) to indicate; to signify; to show" and is used as a verb and noun.

How do you write 表示?

表示 is made of 2 characters: 表 (8 strokes), 示 (5 strokes). That is 13 strokes in total.

Is 表示 an HSK word?

Yes. 表示 is on the HSK 2 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.

Can 表示 be used for things, not just people?

Yes. Signs, colors, or data can 表示 something. For example, 红灯表示停 (hóngdēng biǎoshì tíng) means a red light indicates stop.

What is the difference between 表示 and 显示 (xiǎnshì)?

显示 means to display or make visible, often for screens or results, as in 屏幕显示时间 (the screen shows the time). 表示 is about meaning or attitude, so a person 表示 an opinion but a phone 显示 a message.