Meaning
新闻 refers to news or news reports, encompassing information about current events reported through various media. It combines 新 (new) and 闻 (to hear), literally meaning 'newly heard information.' This is the standard term used across all Chinese-speaking regions for news in general.
Usage
新闻 is used in both formal and informal contexts. It can refer to a single news story (一条新闻) or news in general. Commonly appears in compounds like 新闻报道 (news report), 新闻界 (press/journalism world), and 看新闻 (to watch/read the news). Native speakers often use 看新闻 to mean consuming news through any medium—TV, newspaper, or online.
Examples
- 01我每天早上都看新闻。.I watch the news every morning.
- 02这条新闻在网上引起了热烈讨论。.This news story sparked heated discussion online.
Characters
Measure words
- 条一条新闻
- 则两则新闻
Common collocations
- 看新闻to watch/read the news
- 新闻报道news report
- 一条新闻a piece of news
- 新闻联播news broadcast (esp. CCTV's main evening news)
Origin
The word combines 新 (new) with 闻 (to hear), creating the meaning of 'newly heard information.' This compound has been used in Chinese for centuries to refer to information about recent events.