guǎngbō: 广播 - Broadcast, Radio

Keywords: guangbo, guǎngbō, 广播, Chinese for broadcast, Chinese for radio, listen to the radio in Chinese, public announcement in Chinese, Chinese media terms, HSK 4 vocabulary

Summary: 广播 (guǎngbō) is a fundamental Chinese word meaning “broadcast” or “radio.” It refers to the one-to-many transmission of information, from traditional radio programs and public announcements in schools or train stations to modern internet radio. As both a noun and a verb, understanding 广播 is key to discussing media, news, and public communication in China.

Pinyin (with tone marks): guǎngbō

Part of Speech: Noun / Verb

HSK Level: HSK 4

Concise Definition: To broadcast; a broadcast or radio transmission.

In a Nutshell: Think of 广播 as the act of sending information out to a wide audience. As a verb, it means “to broadcast.” As a noun, it refers to the broadcast itself (“a news broadcast”) or the medium of radio in general (“listening to the radio”). While it can feel slightly formal, it's used every day for everything from public service announcements on the subway to tuning into a music station in the car.

广 (guǎng): This character means “wide,” “broad,” or “extensive.” It originally depicted a large shelter or hall, giving a sense of vastness and open space.

播 (bō): This character means “to sow,” “to scatter,” or “to spread.” The left part is the hand radical (扌), indicating an action done with the hands. The right part provides the sound and a sense of spreading out. Think of a farmer scattering seeds by hand.

Together, 广播 (guǎngbō) literally means “to scatter widely,” a perfect and vivid description of broadcasting information out to the public. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== Historically, 广播 played a monumental role in modern Chinese society. After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, radio became the primary tool for the state to communicate with its vast and diverse population. It was instrumental in promoting national policies, spreading propaganda, and standardizing the national language, Putonghua (Mandarin). Village squares and workplaces would often have loudspeakers broadcasting news, music, and morning exercises, creating a shared, collective listening experience. This contrasts with the development of radio in the West, which was driven more by commercial interests and entertainment from its inception, leading to a wider variety of independent stations. In China, the legacy of 广播 is one of a top-down, unifying force. While the media landscape is now much more diverse, this history informs the slightly official and authoritative connotation the word can still carry, especially when used for public announcements. It reflects a cultural value of unified messaging from a central source to the collective. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== In modern China, 广播 is used in several key contexts: * Listening to the Radio: The most common use is in the phrase 听广播 (tīng guǎngbō), which means “to listen to the radio.” This is something you'd do in a car or at home. * Public Announcements: This is a huge part of daily life. Any announcement over a loudspeaker system in a public space is a 广播. * 学校广播 (xuéxiào guǎngbō): School announcements (e.g., for morning assemblies or telling students it's time for eye exercises). * 地铁广播 (dìtiě guǎngbō): Subway announcements (e.g., “The next station is…”). * As a Verb: It can be used as a verb meaning “to broadcast” a specific program. For example, “This station broadcasts news 24 hours a day.” * Digital Media: The term is adapting to new technology. 网络广播 (wǎngluò guǎngbō) means “internet radio.” However, for live video streaming, the more specific term 直播 (zhíbō) is far more common. ===== Example Sentences ===== * Example 1: * 我爸爸开车时喜欢听广播。 * Pinyin: Wǒ bàba kāichē shí xǐhuān tīng guǎngbō. * English: My dad likes to listen to the radio when he drives. * Analysis: This is the most common, everyday use of 广播, referring to the medium of radio. * Example 2: * 车站广播说，我们乘坐的火车晚点了。 * Pinyin: Chēzhàn guǎngbō shuō, wǒmen chéngzuò de huǒchē wǎndiǎn le. * English: The station broadcast announced that our train is delayed. * Analysis: Here, 广播 functions as a noun for a public announcement. This is extremely common in transportation hubs. * Example 3: * 中央人民广播电台正在广播新闻。 * Pinyin: Zhōngyāng Rénmín Guǎngbō Diàntái zhèngzài guǎngbō xīnwén. * English: China National Radio is currently broadcasting the news. * Analysis: This sentence shows 广播 in two forms. First, as part of a proper name (广播电台 - Radio Station), and second, as a verb (广播新闻 - to broadcast news). * Example 4: * 每天下午，学校都会广播通知。 * Pinyin: Měi tiān xiàwǔ, xuéxiào dōu huì guǎngbō tōngzhī. * English: Every afternoon, the school will broadcast announcements. * Analysis: Here, 广播 is used as a verb for making a public announcement. * Example 5: * 请注意听广播，下一站是天安门西。 * Pinyin: Qǐng zhùyì tīng guǎngbō, xià yí zhàn shì Tiān'ānmén Xī. * English: Please pay attention to the announcement, the next station is Tian'anmen West. * Analysis: A classic sentence you will hear on the Beijing subway. * Example 6: * 这个广播节目专门讨论国际关系。 * Pinyin: Zhège guǎngbō jiémù zhuānmén tǎolùn guójì guānxì. * English: This radio program specializes in discussing international relations. * Analysis: 广播 acts as an adjective here, modifying 节目 (jiémù - program). * Example 7: * 在紧急情况下，政府会通过广播发布重要信息。 * Pinyin: Zài jǐnjí qíngkuàng xià, zhèngfǔ huì tōngguò guǎngbō fābù zhòngyào xìnxī. * English: In an emergency, the government will release important information via broadcast. * Analysis: This highlights the official and authoritative use of 广播 for mass communication. * Example 8: * 现在很多人用手机App听网络广播。 * Pinyin: Xiànzài hěn duō rén yòng shǒujī App tīng wǎngluò guǎngbō. * English: Nowadays, many people use phone apps to listen to internet radio. * Analysis: Shows how the term has been adapted for new technology with 网络 (wǎngluò - internet). * Example 9: * 这件事你可别到处广播啊！ * Pinyin: Zhè jiàn shì nǐ kě bié dàochù guǎngbō a! * English: Don't you go broadcasting this matter to everyone! * Analysis: A great example of the metaphorical use of 广播, meaning “to tell everyone” or “to spread a rumor.” It's informal and slightly humorous. * Example 10: * 他们正在向全国广播总统的演讲。 * Pinyin: Tāmen zhèngzài xiàng quánguó guǎngbō zǒngtǒng de yǎnjiǎng. * English: They are broadcasting the president's speech to the entire country. * Analysis: A formal use of 广播 as a verb, emphasizing the wide reach of the transmission (“to the entire country” - 向全国). ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * 广播 (guǎngbō) vs. 直播 (zhíbō): This is the most important distinction for learners today. * 广播 (guǎngbō): General broadcast. It is often audio-only (radio) and can be pre-recorded. Think of a traditional radio show or a subway announcement. * 直播 (zhíbō): Live stream / live broadcast. This specifically means the event is happening right now. It is almost always used for video streaming on platforms like Douyin (TikTok) or for live TV sports. * *Incorrect:* “I'm watching a gaming 广播 on my phone.” (Wrong, this should be 直播). * *Correct:* “I'm watching a gaming 直播 on my phone.” * 广播 (guǎngbō) vs. 收音机 (shōuyīnjī): * 广播 (guǎngbō): The broadcast signal, the program, the medium. * 收音机 (shōuyīnjī): The physical device, the radio set. (Literally: “receive-sound-machine”). * *Incorrect:* “I bought a new 广播.” (You bought the broadcast signal? No.) * *Correct:* “I bought a new 收音机 to listen to the 广播.” * 广播 (guǎngbō) vs. 电视 (diànshì): * 广播 defaults to audio/radio. While television is technically a “television broadcast” (电视广播), no one says that. If you mean TV, just say 电视 (diànshì)**.

直播 (zhíbō) - Live stream. The modern, often video-based equivalent for real-time broadcasting.

收音机 (shōuyīnjī) - Radio set. The physical device used to listen to a 广播.

电台 (diàntái) - Radio station / broadcasting station. The place that produces and sends out the 广播.

电视台 (diànshìtái) - Television station. The TV equivalent of a 电台.

播客 (bōkè) - Podcast. A phonetic loanword from English, it's a type of on-demand digital audio program, similar to a 广播节目.

节目 (jiémù) - Program. A TV or radio show that is broadcast.

新闻 (xīnwén) - News. A major type of content delivered via 广播.

传播 (chuánbō) - To disseminate, to spread. A more general and academic term for the spreading of information, ideas, or even diseases. 广播 is a specific type of 传播.

宣传 (xuānchuán) - To publicize, propaganda. Refers to broadcasting or spreading information with a specific agenda, often political or commercial.