表白 biǎobái to explain oneself
to explain oneself; to express; to reveal one's thoughts or feelings; declaration; confession
How to remember 表白: 表 indicator + 白 white = to explain oneself.
Characters
How it is used
- Most commonly: to confess romantic feelings - 向她表白 (xiàng tā biǎobái) confess my love to her.
- Also the broader 'to state/explain oneself openly' - 表白心迹 (biǎobái xīnjì) lay bare one's true feelings.
- The romantic sense dominates in modern colloquial use, especially among young people.