chuándá: 传达 - To Convey, Transmit, Pass On

• Keywords: chuanda, 传达, chuándá, convey meaning, transmit information Chinese, pass on a message Chinese, relay instructions, Chinese for formal communication, what does chuanda mean, learn Chinese, HSK 4 word.
• Summary: Learn the meaning and usage of the Chinese word 传达 (chuándá), a key HSK 4 verb for “to convey,” “transmit,” or “pass on.” This guide explains how 传达 (chuándá) is used in formal contexts like business and government to relay information, orders, or feelings, contrasting it with simpler words like “tell” (告诉). Master its use with practical examples, cultural insights, and common mistakes to avoid.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): chuán dá
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: 4
• Concise Definition: To pass on or relay information, instructions, or feelings, typically from a source to a recipient.
• In a Nutshell: 传达 (chuándá) is the go-to word for formally transmitting a message. Think of a manager passing down a new company policy, a government spokesperson relaying an official decision, or even a piece of art conveying a specific mood. It implies a channel of communication, where the message travels from one point to another, and the focus is on the faithful and accurate transmission of that message.

• 传 (chuán): This character means “to pass on,” “to transmit,” or “to hand down.” It's composed of the person radical (亻) on the left and 专 (zhuān), which contributes the sound and a sense of specialty. Imagine a person (亻) passing on a specific (专) piece of information or tradition.
• 达 (dá): This character means “to reach,” “to arrive at,” or “to attain.” The “walk” radical (辶) suggests movement, and the main component (大) originally depicted a person. So, it pictures a person walking until they reach their destination.
• Combined Meaning: The characters together create a vivid image: “to pass something on” (传) so that it “reaches” its intended recipient (达). This captures the full process of successful communication or transmission.

传达 (chuándá) carries a weight of formality and hierarchy that is more pronounced than its English equivalents like “pass on” or “relay.” In Chinese culture, where social structures and chains of command are often more clearly defined (in business, government, and even family), 传达 is the appropriate term for communication that flows through these structures. For example, a directive from a CEO isn't just “told” to employees; it is formally 传达 (chuándá) down through layers of management. This ensures the message is treated as an official instruction, not just a casual comment. Comparison to a Western Concept: Compare 传达 (chuándá) to the English term “to disseminate information.” While “disseminate” is also formal, it often implies broadcasting to a wide, general audience. 传达 (chuándá) is more specific; it's about a message moving from Point A to Point B along a defined path. You 传达 a message *to* someone. This reflects the importance of clear, hierarchical communication channels in many aspects of Chinese society. Using this word shows respect for the source of the information and the formal process of communication itself.

传达 (chuándá) is frequently used in professional, official, and even artistic contexts. Its formality makes it unsuitable for very casual requests between friends.

• In the Workplace: This is one of the most common environments for 传达. A manager 传达s the boss's instructions (老板的指示) or the “spirit of the meeting” (会议精神) to their team.
  • “Please pass this decision on to every department.”
  • 请把这个决定传达给每个部门。
• In Government and Official Settings: This term is standard for any official communication from a higher authority to a lower one.
  • “The new policy has been conveyed to the local governments.”
  • 新政策已经传达到地方政府了。
• Conveying Abstract Ideas or Feelings: While often used for concrete instructions, 传达 can also describe how art, music, or even a simple glance can transmit a feeling or idea.
  • “This painting successfully conveys a sense of loneliness.”
  • 这幅画成功地传达出一种孤独感。

• Example 1:
  • 经理把老板的最新指示传达给了我们。
  • Pinyin: Jīnglǐ bǎ lǎobǎn de zuìxīn zhǐshì chuándá gěi le wǒmen.
  • English: The manager conveyed the boss's latest instructions to us.
  • Analysis: A classic workplace example. The information (指示) comes from a higher source (老板) and is formally relayed by an intermediary (经理).
• Example 2:
  • 请帮我把这个消息传达给她。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng bāng wǒ bǎ zhège xiāoxi chuándá gěi tā.
  • English: Please help me pass this message on to her.
  • Analysis: This is a polite and slightly formal request. Using 传达 here instead of 告诉 (gàosu) implies the message is important and should be relayed accurately.
• Example 3:
  • 他的眼神传达出复杂的情感。
  • Pinyin: Tā de yǎnshén chuándá chū fùzá de qínggǎn.
  • English: His gaze conveyed complex emotions.
  • Analysis: This shows how 传达 can be used for non-verbal and abstract communication. The “gaze” is the medium transmitting the “emotions.”
• Example 4:
  • 这次会议的精神需要被准确地传达下去。
  • Pinyin: Zhècì huìyì de jīngshén xūyào bèi zhǔnquè de chuándá xiàqù.
  • English: The spirit of this meeting needs to be accurately passed down.
  • Analysis: “会议精神” (huìyì jīngshén), or the “spirit/essence of the meeting,” is a very common concept in Chinese business and politics. 传达 is the standard verb used for this.
• Example 5:
  • 政府通过新闻发布会向公众传达了新政策。
  • Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ tōngguò xīnwén fābùhuì xiàng gōngzhòng chuándá le xīn zhèngcè.
  • English: The government conveyed the new policy to the public through a press conference.
  • Analysis: This highlights a formal, one-to-many communication channel.
• Example 6:
  • 音乐是传达感情的有力工具。
  • Pinyin: Yīnyuè shì chuándá gǎnqíng de yǒulì gōngjù.
  • English: Music is a powerful tool for conveying emotion.
  • Analysis: A general statement about the function of an art form. 表达 (biǎodá), to express, could also be used here, but 传达 emphasizes the transmission of emotion from the music *to the listener*.
• Example 7:
  • 我已经收到你传达的信息了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ yǐjīng shōudào nǐ chuándá de xìnxī le.
  • English: I have already received the information you passed on.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows the receiving end of the communication. It acknowledges that the information was relayed by the other person.
• Example 8:
  • 老师让我们把放假通知传达给没来上课的同学。
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī ràng wǒmen bǎ fàngjià tōngzhī chuándá gěi méi lái shàngkè de tóngxué.
  • English: The teacher asked us to pass on the holiday notice to the students who weren't in class.
  • Analysis: A common scenario in a school setting, which also operates as a hierarchy. The teacher's notice is the official message.
• Example 9:
  • 只有清晰的沟通才能有效地传达你的想法。
  • Pinyin: Zhǐyǒu qīngxī de gōutōng cái néng yǒuxiào de chuándá nǐ de xiǎngfǎ.
  • English: Only through clear communication can you effectively convey your ideas.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses 传达 in a more general sense of making one's thoughts understood by others, but it still retains a slightly formal, instructional tone.
• Example 10:
  • 他试图用一个微笑传达他的善意。
  • Pinyin: Tā shìtú yòng yíge wēixiào chuándá tā de shànyì.
  • English: He tried to convey his goodwill with a smile.
  • Analysis: Similar to the “gaze” example, this shows how an action can be the vehicle for 传达-ing an abstract concept like goodwill (善意).

The most common mistake for English speakers is using 传达 (chuándá) when the simple, direct word 告诉 (gàosu - to tell) is more appropriate.

• 传达 (chuándá) vs. 告诉 (gàosu):
  • 告诉 (gàosu) is for direct, person-to-person telling. It's the information's origin. “He told me his name.” (他告诉我他的名字。)
  • 传达 (chuándá) is for relaying information from a third party or higher source. It's about transmitting, not originating. “Please pass on the message to him.” (请把消息传达给他。)
• Incorrect Usage Example:
  • Incorrect: `他传达我他饿了。` (Tā chuándá wǒ tā è le.)
  • Why it's wrong: This sounds overly formal and strange, as if “he” is a high-level authority issuing a formal decree about his hunger. This is direct information from him to you.
  • Correct: `他告诉我他饿了。` (Tā gàosu wǒ tā è le.) - “He told me he was hungry.”
• 传达 (chuándá) vs. 表达 (biǎodá):
  • Don't confuse conveying a message with expressing an opinion.
  • 表达 (biǎodá) is “to express” one's *own* feelings or thoughts. It comes from the inside out. (我要表达我的看法。 - I want to express my opinion.)
  • 传达 (chuándá) is to transmit *someone else's* message or a formal piece of information. It comes from the outside, through you, to someone else.

• 告诉 (gàosu) - To tell. The most common and direct word for telling someone something. Much less formal than 传达.
• 转告 (zhuǎngào) - To pass on a message (for someone else). Very similar to 传达 but often used for more casual, verbal messages. It's like “tell him that…”
• 通知 (tōngzhī) - To notify, to inform. Focuses on the act of making someone aware of a piece of information (like a meeting time or event cancellation).
• 表达 (biǎodá) - To express. Used for one's own internal thoughts, feelings, and opinions.
• 传递 (chuándì) - To transmit, to deliver, to pass on. A broader term that can be used for information, feelings, and even physical objects.
• 宣布 (xuānbù) - To announce, to declare. A very formal, public act of revealing important information or a decision to a group.
• 指示 (zhǐshì) - Instruction, directive. This is often the *content* that gets 传达ed in a formal setting.
• 命令 (mìnglìng) - An order, a command. A very strong type of instruction that is 传达ed down a chain of command.