yǎnjiǎng: 演讲 - Speech, Lecture, Presentation

• Keywords: 演讲, yanjiang, Chinese for speech, public speaking in Chinese, give a presentation in Chinese, lecture in Chinese, Chinese business presentation, HSK 4 vocabulary
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 演讲 (yǎnjiǎng), which means speech, lecture, or presentation. This comprehensive guide covers its meaning, cultural context, and practical usage in business and academic settings. Discover how to use 演讲 (yǎnjiǎng) correctly in sentences, understand its nuances compared to similar words, and explore related terms to master public speaking in Mandarin Chinese.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yǎnjiǎng
• Part of Speech: Verb / Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To give a speech or lecture; a formal speech, lecture, or presentation.
• In a Nutshell: 演讲 (yǎnjiǎng) is the standard word for any structured, prepared talk delivered to an audience. Think of a university lecture, a business presentation, a TED Talk, or a formal address at an event. It carries a sense of formality and performance, implying that the speaker has prepared their content with the goal of informing, persuading, or entertaining a group.

• 演 (yǎn): This character means “to perform,” “to act,” or “to demonstrate.” It's the same character used in 演员 (yǎnyuán), meaning “actor.” It suggests a public, demonstrative action.
• 讲 (jiǎng): This character means “to speak,” “to explain,” or “to tell.” It's found in words like 讲话 (jiǎnghuà), “to talk,” and 讲故事 (jiǎng gùshi), “to tell a story.” It refers to the act of verbal communication.

These two characters combine perfectly: 演 (yǎn) + 讲 (jiǎng) = A “performed speech” or a “demonstrative talk.” This captures the essence of a formal presentation where one is not just talking, but actively performing and demonstrating ideas to an audience.

While traditional Chinese culture often valued humility and listening over speaking out, the skill of public speaking (演讲能力, yǎnjiǎng nénglì) has become highly prized in modern China. Economic reforms and globalization have made effective communication a key to success in business, academia, and even social life. A key cultural difference compared to a Western presentation lies in the structure and tone. A Chinese 演讲 might:

• Begin with more extensive formalities: This includes acknowledging all high-ranking guests, organizers, and supporters in a specific order of importance. This shows respect and acknowledges the group context.
• Emphasize consensus and established facts: While Western presentations often encourage challenging the status quo or presenting a radical new idea, a Chinese 演讲 may focus more on expertly summarizing existing knowledge, showing deep research, or reinforcing a group's shared goals.
• Value a steady, authoritative delivery: A calm, well-reasoned, and confident tone is often more respected than an overly passionate or theatrical style, which might be perceived as less professional or stable.

The rise of popular Chinese TV shows centered on debate and public speaking highlights this cultural shift, making 演讲 a skill that many young people actively seek to cultivate.

演讲 (yǎnjiǎng) is a formal term used in specific contexts. You would not use it to describe a casual chat with a friend.

• As a Noun (a speech/lecture):
  • “His speech was very inspiring.” (他的演讲很精彩。)
  • “I have to attend a lecture this afternoon.” (我下午要去听一个演讲。)
• As a Verb (to give a speech):
  • The most common way to say “give a speech” is to use a verb-object phrase like 做演讲 (zuò yǎnjiǎng) or the more formal 发表演讲 (fābiǎo yǎnjiǎng).
  • “She will give a presentation at the conference tomorrow.” (她明天要在会议上做演讲。)
  • “The CEO delivered an important speech.” (总裁发表了重要演讲。)

It's used across various domains:

• Business: 商业演讲 (shāngyè yǎnjiǎng) - a business presentation
• Academia: 学术演讲 (xuéshù yǎnjiǎng) - an academic lecture
• Politics: 政治演讲 (zhèngzhì yǎnjiǎng) - a political speech
• Motivational: 励志演讲 (lìzhì yǎnjiǎng) - a motivational speech

• Example 1:
  • 我下周要给全公司做一个演讲，现在有点紧张。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xiàzhōu yào gěi quán gōngsī zuò yí ge yǎnjiǎng, xiànzài yǒudiǎn jǐnzhāng.
  • English: I have to give a presentation to the whole company next week, and I'm a little nervous now.
  • Analysis: This shows the common structure 做演讲 (zuò yǎnjiǎng), which literally means “to do a speech,” and is a very common way to say “give a speech/presentation.”
• Example 2:
  • 那位教授的演讲非常深刻，启发了很多人。
  • Pinyin: Nà wèi jiàoshòu de yǎnjiǎng fēicháng shēnkè, qǐfā le hěn duō rén.
  • English: That professor's lecture was very profound and inspired many people.
  • Analysis: Here, 演讲 is used as a noun to refer to the lecture itself. 深刻 (shēnkè) is a great adjective to use for an impactful speech.
• Example 3:
  • 你准备好明天的演讲稿了吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ zhǔnbèi hǎo míngtiān de yǎnjiǎng gǎo le ma?
  • English: Have you prepared the script for tomorrow's speech?
  • Analysis: This introduces a related term, 演讲稿 (yǎnjiǎng gǎo), which means “speech draft” or “script.”
• Example 4:
  • 马丁·路德·金的《我有一个梦想》是历史上最著名的演讲之一。
  • Pinyin: Mǎdīng·Lùdé·Jīn de “Wǒ Yǒu Yí Ge Mèngxiǎng” shì lìshǐ shàng zuì zhùmíng de yǎnjiǎng zhīyī.
  • English: Martin Luther King's “I Have a Dream” is one of the most famous speeches in history.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates that 演讲 is the appropriate term for famous historical orations.
• Example 5:
  • 这次演讲比赛的冠军是谁？
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì yǎnjiǎng bǐsài de guànjūn shì shéi?
  • English: Who is the champion of this speech competition?
  • Analysis: This shows how 演讲 can be combined with 比赛 (bǐsài) to mean “speech contest,” a popular activity in Chinese schools and companies.
• Example 6:
  • 市长将就城市发展问题发表演讲。
  • Pinyin: Shìzhǎng jiāng jiù chéngshì fāzhǎn wèntí fābiǎo yǎnjiǎng.
  • English: The mayor will deliver a speech on the issue of urban development.
  • Analysis: 发表演讲 (fābiǎo yǎnjiǎng) is a more formal way to say “to deliver a speech,” often used in news or official contexts. 就…发表演讲 means “to give a speech on the topic of…”.
• Example 7:
  • 他的演讲技巧需要提高，内容很好，但表达得不太清楚。
  • Pinyin: Tā de yǎnjiǎng jìqiǎo xūyào tígāo, nèiróng hěn hǎo, dàn biǎodá de bú tài qīngchǔ.
  • English: His presentation skills need improvement; the content was good, but the delivery wasn't very clear.
  • Analysis: This introduces 演讲技巧 (yǎnjiǎng jìqiǎo), or “speech/presentation skills,” a key concept for anyone wanting to improve their public speaking.
• Example 8:
  • 演讲的主题是关于环境保护。
  • Pinyin: Yǎnjiǎng de zhǔtí shì guānyú huánjìng bǎohù.
  • English: The theme of the speech is about environmental protection.
  • Analysis: This is a simple but very useful sentence pattern for describing what a speech is about. 主题 (zhǔtí) means “theme” or “topic.”
• Example 9:
  • 整个演讲持续了两个小时，听众们都听得很认真。
  • Pinyin: Zhěnggè yǎnjiǎng chíxù le liǎng ge xiǎoshí, tīngzhòngmen dōu tīng de hěn rènzhēn.
  • English: The entire lecture lasted for two hours, and the audience listened very attentively.
  • Analysis: This example uses 演讲 as a noun and introduces the word for audience, 听众 (tīngzhòng).
• Example 10:
  • 我们邀请了一位著名企业家来给我们做一场演讲。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen yāoqǐng le yí wèi zhùmíng qǐyèjiā lái gěi wǒmen zuò yì chǎng yǎnjiǎng.
  • English: We invited a famous entrepreneur to give us a speech.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the measure word for events, 场 (chǎng), which is commonly used with 演讲. 一场演讲 (yì chǎng yǎnjiǎng) means “a speech/presentation.”

A common point of confusion for learners is distinguishing 演讲 from similar-sounding words.

• 演讲 (yǎnjiǎng) vs. 讲话 (jiǎnghuà)
  • 演讲 (yǎnjiǎng): Formal, prepared, structured. A presentation to an audience.
  • 讲话 (jiǎnghuà): General term for “to speak” or “a talk.” It can be formal (like a leader's address, 领导讲话), but it can also be informal. It lacks the “performance” (演) aspect of 演讲.
  • Mistake: Saying “我们的老板明天要演讲” (Wǒmen de lǎobǎn míngtiān yào yǎnjiǎng). This is usually incorrect if the boss is just giving a regular talk to the team.
  • Correct: “我们的老板明天要讲话” (Wǒmen de lǎobǎn míngtiān yào jiǎnghuà). This is more natural for a non-ceremonial address. Use 演讲 only if it's a very formal, conference-style presentation.
• 演讲 (yǎnjiǎng) vs. 报告 (bàogào)
  • 演讲 (yǎnjiǎng): Can be persuasive, inspirational, or educational. The focus is on the delivery and the message.
  • 报告 (bàogào): Means “report.” While it can be delivered as a presentation, its primary focus is on conveying information, data, or findings objectively. Think “research report” or “financial report.”
  • Example: You give a 报告 on last quarter's sales figures, but you give a 演讲 to motivate the sales team for the next quarter.
• Don't use 演讲 for “to talk” in conversation.
  • Incorrect: 我昨天和他演讲了很久。 (I gave a speech to him for a long time yesterday.)
  • Correct: 我昨天和他聊了很久。 (Wǒ zuótiān hé tā liáo le hěn jiǔ.) or 我昨天和他谈了很久。(Wǒ zuótiān hé tā tán le hěn jiǔ.)

• 讲话 (jiǎnghuà) - A more general term for a talk or address; can be less formal than a 演讲.
• 报告 (bàogào) - A report; a presentation focused on conveying data and findings.
• 发言 (fāyán) - To make a statement or speak up, typically in a meeting. It's usually a short contribution, not a full speech.
• 致辞 (zhìcí) - A highly formal address or toast given on a ceremonial occasion (e.g., a wedding, an opening ceremony).
• 演说 (yǎnshuō) - Very similar to 演讲, but often implies a more passionate, persuasive, or political oration. Think “Gettysburg Address.”
• 口才 (kǒucái) - Eloquence; the art of speaking well. Having good 口才 is essential for giving a good 演讲.
• 听众 (tīngzhòng) - The audience; the people who listen to a speech.
• 发表 (fābiǎo) - A formal verb meaning “to deliver” (a speech) or “to publish” (an article).
• 主持人 (zhǔchírén) - The host, MC, or moderator of an event where a 演讲 might take place.