4 · 40 words

News and the media

Reports, interviews, headlines and the papers that print them.

News vocabulary is a step up in register: where conversation says 说(shuō), a report says 报道(bàodào), 发布(fābù) or 公布(gōngbù). The last two are easily mixed up — 发布(fābù) is releasing news or a product to the world, 公布(gōngbù) making figures, results or names public. And 消息(xiāoxi) is both a piece of news and a message from a friend.

The words

Verb (11)

报道(bàodào)to report; reportVerb4

今天(jīntiān)的(de)报纸(bàozhǐ)报道(bàodào)了(le)那(nà)场(cháng)大(dà)雪(xuě)。Today’s paper reported on that heavy snowfall.

采访(cǎifǎng)to interview (as a journalist)Verb4

记者(jìzhě)在(zài)火车站(huǒchēzhàn)采访(cǎifǎng)了(le)几(jǐ)位(wèi)乘客(chéngkè)。The reporter interviewed several passengers at the station.

A job interview is 面试(miànshì), not 采访(cǎifǎng).

发布(fābù)to release, to issue (news, a product)Verb4

这(zhè)条(tiáo)消息(xiāoxi)是(shì)昨天(zuótiān)晚上(wǎnshang)发布(fābù)的(de)。This news was released last night.

透露(tòulù)to reveal, to discloseVerb4

他(tā)不(bú)愿意(yuànyì)透露(tòulù)自己(zìjǐ)的(de)名字(míngzi)。He did not want to give his name.

播出(bōchū)to broadcast, to airVerb4

这(zhè)个(ge)节目(jiémù)每(měi)周六(zhōuliù)晚上(wǎnshang)八(bā)点(diǎn)播出(bōchū)。This programme airs every Saturday at eight in the evening.

刊登(kāndēng)to publish (in a paper or magazine)Verb4

他(tā)的(de)信(xìn)刊登(kāndēng)在(zài)今天(jīntiān)的(de)报纸(bàozhǐ)上(shàng)。His letter appeared in today’s paper.

公布(gōngbù)to make public (results, figures, names)Verb4

考试(kǎoshì)成绩(chéngjì)下(xià)周一(zhōuyī)公布(gōngbù)。The exam results will be published next Monday.

关注(guānzhù)to pay close attention to, to followVerb4

很(hěn)多(duō)人(rén)都(dōu)在(zài)关注(guānzhù)这(zhè)件(jiàn)事(shì)的(de)结果(jiéguǒ)。Many people are following how this turns out.

订阅(dìngyuè)to subscribe toVerb4

我(wǒ)父母(fùmǔ)订阅(dìngyuè)了(le)一(yí)份(fèn)日报(rìbào)。My parents take a daily paper.

发生(fāshēng)to happen, to occurVerb3

昨天(zuótiān)晚上(wǎnshang)这(zhè)条(tiáo)路(lù)上(shàng)发生(fāshēng)了(le)什么(shénme)事(shì)？What happened on this road last night?

转播(zhuǎnbō)to relay, to broadcast (an event)Verb4

今天(jīntiān)晚上(wǎnshang)电视(diànshì)上(shàng)转播(zhuǎnbō)足球(zúqiú)比赛(bǐsài)。The football match is being broadcast on television tonight.

Noun (23)

媒体(méitǐ)the mediaNoun4

这(zhè)件(jiàn)事(shì)很(hěn)快(kuài)就(jiù)引起(yǐnqǐ)了(le)媒体(méitǐ)的(de)注意(zhùyì)。This soon caught the attention of the media.

发言人(fāyánrén)spokespersonNoun4

公司(gōngsī)发言人(fāyánrén)说(shuō)，新(xīn)产品(chǎnpǐn)下(xià)个(ge)月(yuè)上市(shàngshì)。The company spokesperson said the new product will go on sale next month.

消息(xiāoxi)news; messageNoun3

听到(tīngdào)这(zhè)个(ge)好(hǎo)消息(xiāoxi)，大家(dàjiā)都(dōu)很(hěn)高兴(gāoxìng)。Everyone was delighted to hear the good news.

事件(shìjiàn)incident, eventNoun4

警察(jǐngchá)正在(zhèngzài)调查(diàochá)这(zhè)次(cì)事件(shìjiàn)的(de)原因(yuányīn)。The police are investigating the cause of the incident.

Something that happened and drew attention; an ordinary matter is 事情(shìqing).

头条(tóutiáo)headline, lead storyNoun4

这(zhè)条(tiáo)新闻(xīnwén)上(shàng)了(le)今天(jīntiān)的(de)头条(tóutiáo)。This story made the headlines today.

标题(biāotí)title, headlineNoun4

有些(yǒuxiē)文章(wénzhāng)标题(biāotí)很(hěn)吸引(xīyǐn)人(rén)，内容(nèiróng)却(què)没(méi)什么(shénme)意思(yìsi)。Some articles have very catchy headlines but dull content.

电台(diàntái)radio stationNoun4

我(wǒ)开车(kāichē)的(de)时候(shíhou)喜欢(xǐhuan)听(tīng)音乐(yīnyuè)电台(diàntái)。I like listening to a music station while I drive.

现场(xiànchǎng)the scene; on the spot, liveNoun4

记者(jìzhě)从(cóng)现场(xiànchǎng)发回(fāhuí)了(le)报道(bàodào)。The reporter sent back a report from the scene.

报社(bàoshè)newspaper officeNoun4

她(tā)大学(dàxué)毕业(bìyè)后(hòu)在(zài)一(yì)家(jiā)报社(bàoshè)工作(gōngzuò)。After university she worked at a newspaper.

编辑(biānjí)editor; to editNoun4

编辑(biānjí)把(bǎ)我(wǒ)的(de)文章(wénzhāng)改短(gǎiduǎn)了(le)一半(yíbàn)。The editor cut my article by half.

文章(wénzhāng)article, essayNoun3

这(zhè)篇(piān)文章(wénzhāng)写(xiě)得(de)很(hěn)清楚(qīngchu)。This article is very clearly written.

Measure word: 篇(piān).

读者(dúzhě)readerNoun4

很(hěn)多(duō)读者(dúzhě)给(gěi)报社(bàoshè)写(xiě)信(xìn)提(tí)意见(yìjiàn)。Many readers wrote to the paper with comments.

热点(rèdiǎn)hot topicNoun4

房价(fángjià)一直(yìzhí)是(shì)大家(dàjiā)讨论(tǎolùn)的(de)热点(rèdiǎn)。House prices have always been a hot topic.

话题(huàtí)topic (of conversation)Noun4

我们(wǒmen)换(huàn)个(ge)话题(huàtí)吧(ba)。Let’s change the subject.

内容(nèiróng)contentNoun3

这(zhè)本(běn)杂志(zázhì)的(de)内容(nèiróng)很(hěn)丰富(fēngfù)。This magazine has a wide range of content.

专栏(zhuānlán)column (in a paper)Noun4

他(tā)每(měi)周(zhōu)给(gěi)晚报(wǎnbào)写(xiě)一(yì)篇(piān)专栏(zhuānlán)文章(wénzhāng)。Every week he writes a column for an evening paper.

版(bǎn)page (of a newspaper); editionNoun4

体育(tǐyù)新闻(xīnwén)在(zài)报纸(bàozhǐ)的(de)第八(dìbā)版(bǎn)。The sports news is on page eight of the paper.

日报(rìbào)daily (newspaper)Noun4

这(zhè)份(fèn)日报(rìbào)每天(měitiān)早上(zǎoshang)六(liù)点(diǎn)送(sòng)到(dào)。This daily paper is delivered at six every morning.

Measure word for a newspaper: 份(fèn).

时事(shíshì)current affairsNoun4

我(wǒ)爷爷(yéye)每天(měitiān)都(dōu)看(kàn)时事(shíshì)新闻(xīnwén)。My grandfather watches the current affairs news every day.

焦点(jiāodiǎn)focus, centre of attentionNoun4

她(tā)一(yí)进门(jìnmén)就(jiù)成(chéng)了(le)大家(dàjiā)的(de)焦点(jiāodiǎn)。The moment she walked in, she became the centre of attention.

事故(shìgù)accidentNoun4

这(zhè)起(qǐ)事故(shìgù)中(zhōng)没有(méiyǒu)人(rén)受伤(shòushāng)。No one was injured in the accident.

Measure word for an incident: 起(qǐ).

镜头(jìngtóu)camera lens; shot (in a film)Noun4

他(tā)第一(dìyī)次(cì)面对(miànduì)镜头(jìngtóu)，有点儿(yǒudiǎnr)紧张(jǐnzhāng)。Facing the camera for the first time, he was a bit nervous.

评论员(pínglùnyuán)commentatorNoun4

这(zhè)位(wèi)体育(tǐyù)评论员(pínglùnyuán)说话(shuōhuà)又(yòu)快(kuài)又(yòu)准(zhǔn)。This sports commentator speaks quickly and to the point.

Adjective (4)

突发(tūfā)sudden; breaking (of news)Adjective4

有(yǒu)突发(tūfā)新闻(xīnwén)的(de)时候(shíhou)，记者(jìzhě)要(yào)马上(mǎshàng)出发(chūfā)。When there is breaking news, reporters have to set off at once.

公开(gōngkāi)public, open; to make publicAdjective4

会议(huìyì)的(de)内容(nèiróng)还(hái)没有(méiyǒu)公开(gōngkāi)。What was said at the meeting has not been made public yet.

及时(jíshí)timely; promptlyAdjective4

这(zhè)条(tiáo)消息(xiāoxi)来(lái)得(de)很(hěn)及时(jíshí)。This news came just at the right time.

客观(kèguān)objectiveAdjective4

好(hǎo)的(de)报道(bàodào)应该(yīnggāi)客观(kèguān)，不(bù)能(néng)只(zhǐ)听(tīng)一(yì)方(fāng)的(de)话(huà)。A good report should be objective and not listen to only one side.

Phrase (1)

据说(jùshuō)it is said; reportedlyPhrase4

据说(jùshuō)那(nà)家(jiā)新(xīn)饭馆(fànguǎn)的(de)菜(cài)很(hěn)好吃(hǎochī)。Apparently the food at that new restaurant is very good.

Measure word (1)

期(qī)issue (of a magazine)Measure word4

这(zhè)本(běn)杂志(zázhì)我(wǒ)每(měi)期(qī)都(dōu)买(mǎi)。I buy every issue of this magazine.

This list belongs to Society and the news — four lists and 160 words that can also be practised as a whole.

Practise this list

Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 40 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.