chūbǎn: 出版 - To Publish, Come Out

• Keywords: chūbǎn, 出版, publish in Chinese, Chinese publishing, book publishing, magazine publishing, come out (book), publisher, publication, HSK 4 vocabulary, how to say publish in Chinese.
• Summary: Learn how to use 出版 (chūbǎn), the essential Chinese verb for “to publish”. This guide covers everything from publishing books and magazines to its role in the digital age. Understand the cultural significance of publishing in China, see practical examples, and learn related terms like “publisher” (出版社) and “publication” (出版物) to master this key vocabulary for any student of Chinese.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): chūbǎn
• Part of Speech: Verb / Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To formally produce and distribute a book, magazine, or other printed/digital material for public sale or access.
• In a Nutshell: Think of 出版 (chūbǎn) as the official act of bringing a complete work, like a book or software, to the public. It's not just about printing; it encompasses the entire professional process from editing and design to distribution and sale. The word itself combines “to go out” (出) with “printing plate” (版), vividly painting a picture of a finished product leaving the workshop and entering the world.

• 出 (chū): This character means “to go out,” “to exit,” or “to emerge.” Pictorially, it can be imagined as a plant sprouting from the ground or a foot stepping out of a doorway. It signifies movement from inside to outside.
• 版 (bǎn): This character means “printing plate,” “edition,” or “version.” The left part (片 piàn) means “a slice” or “plank,” and the right part (反 fǎn) means “to turn over,” suggesting the old process of inking a carved wooden block and pressing it onto paper.

When combined, 出版 (chūbǎn) literally means “to go out from the printing plate.” This etymology perfectly captures the essence of taking a finalized manuscript or work and mass-producing it for the public.

In China, the act of 出版 (chūbǎn) carries a significant weight, rooted in a long and proud history of printing innovation, from woodblock printing to movable type. Being a published author (作者 zuòzhě) is a mark of considerable prestige. A key difference from Western publishing is the role of the state. In the US or UK, publishing is largely a commercial enterprise driven by market demand. In China, while the commercial market is massive, the industry operates under the supervision of state bodies like the National Press and Publication Administration (国家新闻出版署). This means that all publications require an official book number (书号 shūhào) and are subject to review. This adds a layer of officiality and state-sanctioned approval to the concept of 出版 that is less pronounced in the West. It's not just about commerce; it's about contributing to the formal, recognized body of national literature and knowledge.

出版 (chūbǎn) is a formal term used in specific contexts. You'll hear it frequently in discussions about media, literature, academia, and software.

• As a Verb (to publish): This is its most common usage. It refers to the entire process of bringing a complete work to market.
• e.g., “This publishing house publishes many children's books.” (这家出版社出版了很多儿童读物。)
• As a Noun (publishing/publication): It can refer to the publishing industry itself or the act of publication.
• e.g., “He works in publishing.” (他在出版界工作。)
• e.g., “Digital publication is now very common.” (数字出版现在很普遍。)

The term is mostly neutral but implies a professional, high-quality, and complete product. You would not use it for informal posts on social media. For that, you would use 发表 (fābiǎo).

• Example 1:
  • 这本书什么时候出版？
  • Pinyin: Zhè běn shū shénme shíhou chūbǎn?
  • English: When will this book be published?
  • Analysis: A very common and direct question about a book's release date.
• Example 2:
  • 他的梦想是出版一本自己的小说。
  • Pinyin: Tā de mèngxiǎng shì chūbǎn yī běn zìjǐ de xiǎoshuō.
  • English: His dream is to publish a novel of his own.
  • Analysis: Here, 出版 represents a major life goal, highlighting the prestige associated with being a published author.
• Example 3:
  • 我们正在找一家好的出版社来出版我们的漫画。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen zhèngzài zhǎo yī jiā hǎo de chūbǎnshè lái chūbǎn wǒmen de mànhuà.
  • English: We are looking for a good publisher to publish our comic book.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows the practical business side of 出版, involving a creator and a 出版社 (publishing house).
• Example 4:
  • 这本杂志每个月出版一期。
  • Pinyin: Zhè běn zázhì měi ge yuè chūbǎn yī qī.
  • English: This magazine publishes one issue every month.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates that 出版 applies not just to books but also to periodicals like magazines.
• Example 5:
  • 由于内容敏感，这本书最终没能出版。
  • Pinyin: Yóuyú nèiróng mǐngǎn, zhè běn shū zuìzhōng méi néng chūbǎn.
  • English: Due to sensitive content, this book ultimately could not be published.
  • Analysis: This hints at the cultural context of state oversight and censorship in the Chinese publishing industry.
• Example 6:
  • 恭喜！你的第一本书终于出版了！
  • Pinyin: Gōngxǐ! Nǐ de dì yī běn shū zhōngyú chūbǎn le!
  • English: Congratulations! Your first book has finally been published!
  • Analysis: The use of “终于 (zhōngyú) - finally” emphasizes that publishing is often a long and difficult process.
• Example 7:
  • 这家公司主要出版教育软件和电子词典。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī zhǔyào chūbǎn jiàoyù ruǎnjiàn hé diànzǐ cídiǎn.
  • English: This company mainly publishes educational software and electronic dictionaries.
  • Analysis: Shows the modern application of 出版 to digital products, not just printed materials.
• Example 8:
  • 自费出版的成本很高。
  • Pinyin: Zìfèi chūbǎn de chéngběn hěn gāo.
  • English: The cost of self-publishing is very high.
  • Analysis: 自费出版 (zìfèi chūbǎn) is the specific term for “self-publishing.”
• Example 9:
  • 这本书已经出版了三个不同的版本。
  • Pinyin: Zhè běn shū yǐjīng chūbǎn le sān ge bùtóng de bǎnběn.
  • English: This book has already been published in three different editions.
  • Analysis: Connects 出版 with the concept of 版本 (bǎnběn), or “edition.”
• Example 10:
  • 这本书的全球出版权被一家美国公司买走了。
  • Pinyin: Zhè běn shū de quánqiú chūbǎnquán bèi yī jiā Měiguó gōngsī mǎi zǒu le.
  • English: The global publishing rights for this book were bought by an American company.
  • Analysis: 出版权 (chūbǎnquán) means “publishing rights,” a key term in the business of literature.

The most common mistake for English speakers is confusing 出版 (chūbǎn) with 发表 (fābiǎo). They can both be translated as “to publish,” but they are not interchangeable.

• 出版 (chūbǎn): Use for formal, complete, commercially or institutionally released works.
  • Think: Books, magazines, academic journals, software, albums. It implies an entire process and a final product.
• 发表 (fābiǎo): Use for “making something public” or “issuing” a piece of information.
  • Think: Publishing an article in a newspaper, posting an opinion online, giving a speech, releasing a statement. It's about the act of releasing, not the commercial production.

Incorrect Usage:

• `我昨天在我的博客上出版了一篇文章。` (Wǒ zuótiān zài wǒ de bókè shàng chūbǎn le yī piān wénzhāng.)
• Why it's wrong: Publishing a single blog post is an informal act of “making public.” It doesn't involve a publishing house or the formal process 出版 implies.
• Correct Version: `我昨天在我的博客上发表了一篇文章。` (Wǒ zuótiān zài wǒ de bókè shàng fābiǎo le yī piān wénzhāng.)

• 发表 (fābiǎo) - To issue, to announce, to publish (an article, post, or opinion). The act of making information public, less formal than 出版.
• 出版社 (chūbǎnshè) - Publishing house, publisher. The organization that carries out the act of 出版.
• 出版物 (chūbǎnwù) - A publication; published material. The tangible or digital product of the 出版 process.
• 发行 (fāxíng) - To distribute, to issue. This term focuses on the distribution and circulation of a product (books, films, currency) after it has been produced. It's the step after 出版.
• 版本 (bǎnběn) - Version, edition. The '版' from 出版. Refers to a specific iteration of a published work (e.g., first edition, revised edition).
• 作者 (zuòzhě) - Author. The creator of the work being published.
• 印刷 (yìnshuā) - To print. The physical manufacturing process of putting ink on paper, which is a key component of traditional 出版.
• 刊物 (kānwù) - Periodical, publication (e.g., a journal, magazine). A specific type of 出版物 that is published in regular issues.