发言 fāyán to make a speech
to make a speech; statement; utterance
How to remember 发言: 发 send out + 言 words = to make a speech.
Characters
How it is used
- Verb-object used intransitively: 他在会上发言 (tā zài huì shang fāyán) - he spoke at the meeting; you can't attach an object directly (avoid 发言一个观点).
- 发言人 (fāyánrén), spokesperson, is the everyday noun built from this verb - seen constantly in news.
- Different from 说话 (shuōhuà), plain "to talk" - 发言 is specifically a formal statement or speech given in a meeting or public setting.
Example sentences
- 他的发言很清楚。 Tā de fāyán hěn qīngchu.His presentation is very clear.
- 主任总结了发言。 Zhǔrèn zǒngjiéle fāyán.The director summarized the presentations.
- 我在会上首先发言。 Wǒ zài huì shang shǒuxiān fāyán.I spoke first at the meeting.