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| 澄清 [2025/08/12 02:01] – created xiaoer | 澄清 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1 |
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| ====== chéngqīng: 澄清 - To Clarify, To Clear Up ====== | |
| ===== Quick Summary ===== | |
| * **Keywords:** chengqing, chengqing meaning, clarify in Chinese, clear up in Chinese, how to use chengqing, 澄清, 澄清意思, 中文澄清, formal Chinese, refute rumors, public statement, chengqing vs jieshi, chengqing vs shuoming. | |
| * **Summary:** Learn the meaning and use of **澄清 (chéngqīng)**, a crucial Chinese verb for "to clarify" or "to clear up." This page explains how **澄清** is used in formal situations, such as official statements and refuting rumors, distinguishing it from simpler words like "explain." Discover its cultural significance related to saving face and restoring reputation, and master its usage with 10 practical example sentences. | |
| ===== Core Meaning ===== | |
| * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** chéngqīng | |
| * **Part of Speech:** Verb | |
| * **HSK Level:** HSK 6 | |
| * **Concise Definition:** To clarify a matter, clear up a misunderstanding, or refute a false accusation, often in a formal context. | |
| * **In a Nutshell:** Think of **澄清 (chéngqīng)** as the act of making "muddy water" clear again. It’s not for simple explanations. It’s used when a situation has become confused by rumors, lies, or misunderstandings, and a formal, definitive action is needed to restore the truth and clarity. It carries a sense of seriousness and the need to set the record straight. | |
| ===== Character Breakdown ===== | |
| * **澄 (chéng):** This character means "clear" or "limpid," specifically referring to water. The left side is the water radical (氵), and the right side (登 dēng) provides the sound. Imagine sediment in water (the "mud") settling down, allowing the water to become clear. | |
| * **清 (qīng):** This character also means "clear," "clean," or "pure." It too contains the water radical (氵). The right side (青 qīng) means blue/green, evoking the image of pristine, clear water or a clear sky. | |
| When combined, **澄清 (chéngqīng)** literally means "clear and clean." Metaphorically, it means to take a "muddy" situation (a rumor, a falsehood) and make it "clear" and "pure" with the truth. | |
| ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== | |
| In Western cultures, "to clarify" can be a casual request in a conversation. In China, **澄清 (chéngqīng)** holds a much heavier weight and is deeply connected to the concepts of **[[面子 (miànzi) - Face]]** and social harmony. | |
| When a person, company, or government body is a victim of rumors (谣言 yáoyán) or false accusations, their reputation and public "face" are damaged. The situation becomes "muddy." Issuing a public **澄清** is a formal act to reclaim one's good name and restore one's **[[清白 (qīngbái) - Innocence]]**. It is a direct, serious response to a threat to one's integrity. | |
| Unlike a simple "explanation" (解释 jiěshì), which can sometimes sound like an excuse, a **澄清** is a confident declaration of fact aimed at dispelling falsehoods entirely. It's not a negotiation of truth; it's a presentation of it. Therefore, it is most often seen in news reports, official company press releases, and legal statements. | |
| ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== | |
| **澄清 (chéngqīng)** is almost exclusively used in formal or serious situations. You will rarely hear it in casual, everyday chat. | |
| //In Formal and Official Contexts// | |
| This is the most common usage. It's the standard term for when an organization or public figure needs to address the public. | |
| * **Companies:** A company might issue a statement to **澄清** rumors about a faulty product. | |
| * **Government:** A spokesperson will hold a press conference to **澄清** the government's position on an international issue. | |
| * **Celebrities:** A celebrity's agent might post on Weibo to **澄清** gossip reported by tabloids. | |
| //In Serious Personal Situations// | |
| While less common, it can be used between individuals if the misunderstanding (误会 wùhuì) is severe and has damaged a relationship or reputation. | |
| * Example: "We need to have a serious talk. I must **澄清** what you heard about me." (我必须**澄清**你听到的关于我的事。) | |
| ===== Example Sentences ===== | |
| * **Example 1:** | |
| * 公司迅速发表声明，**澄清**了有关产品安全的谣言。 | |
| * Pinyin: Gōngsī xùnsù fābiǎo shēngmíng, **chéngqīng** le yǒuguān chǎnpǐn ānquán de yáoyán. | |
| * English: The company quickly issued a statement to **clarify** the rumors about product safety. | |
| * Analysis: A classic example of corporate communication. A "statement" (声明 shēngmíng) is the vehicle for the "clarification" (澄清). | |
| * **Example 2:** | |
| * 在记者会上，外交部发言人**澄清**了政府的官方立场。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zài jìzhěhuì shàng, wàijiāobù fāyánrén **chéngqīng** le zhèngfǔ de guānfāng lìchǎng. | |
| * English: At the press conference, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson **clarified** the government's official position. | |
| * Analysis: This shows its use in a very formal, official government setting. | |
| * **Example 3:** | |
| * 他花了很长时间才**澄清**他们之间的误会。 | |
| * Pinyin: Tā huāle hěn cháng shíjiān cái **chéngqīng** le tāmen zhījiān de wùhuì. | |
| * English: It took him a long time to **clear up** the misunderstanding between them. | |
| * Analysis: Here, **澄清** is used in a personal but serious context. The "misunderstanding" (误会 wùhuì) was significant enough to require a formal act of clarification. | |
| * **Example 4:** | |
| * 面对指控，他决定站出来**澄清**事实。 | |
| * Pinyin: Miànduì zhǐkòng, tā juédìng zhàn chūlái **chéngqīng** shìshí. | |
| * English: Facing the accusations, he decided to step forward and **clarify** the facts. | |
| * Analysis: This emphasizes the goal of **澄清**: to establish the "facts" (事实 shìshí). | |
| * **Example 5:** | |
| * 这篇报道有助于**澄清**公众的一些疑虑。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhè piān bàodào yǒuzhùyú **chéngqīng** gōngzhòng de yīxiē yílǜ. | |
| * English: This report helps to **allay** (lit: clarify) some of the public's doubts. | |
| * Analysis: Here, the object being clarified is "doubts" or "concerns" (疑虑 yílǜ). | |
| * **Example 6:** | |
| * 在**澄清**真相之前，请不要下结论。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zài **chéngqīng** zhēnxiàng zhīqián, qǐng bùyào xià jiélùn. | |
| * English: Please do not jump to conclusions before the truth has been **clarified**. | |
| * Analysis: This sentence highlights the role of **澄清** in revealing the "truth" (真相 zhēnxiàng). | |
| * **Example 7:** | |
| * 这位科学家写了一篇文章，**澄清**了他理论中的几个关键点。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhè wèi kēxuéjiā xiěle yī piān wénzhāng, **chéngqīng** le tā lǐlùn zhōng de jǐ gè guānjiàn diǎn. | |
| * English: The scientist wrote an article to **clarify** several key points in his theory. | |
| * Analysis: This shows **澄清** can also be used in an academic context to clear up complex ideas that might be misunderstood. | |
| * **Example 8:** | |
| * 警方发布公告**澄清**，网上流传的视频是经过恶意剪辑的。 | |
| * Pinyin: Jǐngfāng fābù gōnggào **chéngqīng**, wǎngshàng liúchuán de shìpín shì jīngguò èyì jiǎnjí de. | |
| * English: The police issued a notice **clarifying** that the video circulating online was maliciously edited. | |
| * Analysis: This is a common use case in the modern digital age, refuting fake news or manipulated content. | |
| * **Example 9:** | |
| * 有些事情需要时间来**澄清**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Yǒuxiē shìqíng xūyào shíjiān lái **chéngqīng**. | |
| * English: Some matters need time to be **cleared up**. | |
| * Analysis: A more philosophical use. Here, **澄清** is something that happens passively over time, as the truth naturally emerges. | |
| * **Example 10:** | |
| * 谢谢你的解释，但这并不能完全**澄清**我的疑惑。 | |
| * Pinyin: Xièxiè nǐ de jiěshì, dàn zhè bìng bùnéng wánquán **chéngqīng** wǒ de yíhuò. | |
| * English: Thank you for your explanation, but it doesn't completely **clear up** my doubts. | |
| * Analysis: This sentence directly contrasts a simple "explanation" (解释 jiěshì) with the more thorough act of **澄清**. The explanation wasn't enough to resolve the deep-seated "doubt" (疑惑 yíhuò). | |
| ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== | |
| The most common mistake for English speakers is using **澄清 (chéngqīng)** in casual situations where "clarify" would be fine in English. | |
| * **Mistake:** Using **澄清** for a simple request. | |
| * **Incorrect:** 你能**澄清**一下你的意思吗？(Nǐ néng **chéngqīng** yíxià nǐ de yìsi ma?) - //This sounds overly dramatic and formal, as if you're accusing them of deception.// | |
| * **Correct:** 你能**说明**一下你的意思吗？(Nǐ néng **shuōmíng** yíxià nǐ de yìsi ma?) - "Can you **explain** what you mean?" | |
| * **Correct:** 你是说周三，不是周二，对吗？我**确认**一下。(Nǐ shì shuō zhōusān, bùshì zhōu'èr, duì ma? Wǒ **quèrèn** yíxià.) - "You mean Wednesday, not Tuesday, right? Let me just **confirm**." | |
| * **澄清 (chéngqīng) vs. 解释 (jiěshì) vs. 说明 (shuōmíng)** | |
| * **澄清 (chéngqīng):** To clear up serious falsehoods or misunderstandings. The focus is on refuting wrong information and establishing the truth. It is corrective. | |
| * **[[解释 (jiěshì) - To Explain]]:** To explain //why// something happened or what something means. It can often carry a slight connotation of giving an excuse. | |
| * **[[说明 (shuōmíng) - To Explain, To Illustrate]]:** To explain //how// something works or to state facts clearly. It is neutral and informative. | |
| Rule of thumb: If you're not a company spokesperson, a government official, or trying to undo serious damage to your reputation, you probably want to use **说明 (shuōmíng)** or simply ask a question. | |
| ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== | |
| * [[说明 (shuōmíng)]] - (shuōmíng) To explain, to illustrate. A more neutral and common word for making something clear. | |
| * [[解释 (jiěshì)]] - (jiěshì) To explain, to interpret. Often used when giving a reason or an excuse for something. | |
| * [[辟谣 (pìyáo)]] - (pìyáo) To refute a rumor. A very specific action, and a public **澄清** is often the method used to **辟谣**. | |
| * [[声明 (shēngmíng)]] - (shēngmíng) A statement, a declaration. A formal **澄清** is usually delivered via an official **声明**. | |
| * [[误会 (wùhuì)]] - (wùhuì) A misunderstanding. This is the "muddy water" that needs to be **澄清**-ed. | |
| * [[事实 (shìshí)]] - (shìshí) Fact, reality. The goal of a **澄清** is to establish the **事实**. | |
| * [[清白 (qīngbái)]] - (qīngbái) Innocent, clean (of reputation). To **澄清** a false accusation is to prove one's **清白**. | |
| * [[真相 (zhēnxiàng)]] - (zhēnxiàng) The real truth, the actual facts. A **澄清** aims to reveal the **真相**. | |