syun1 zin3宣戰宣战
Jyutpingsyun1 zin3
Yalesyūn jin
Definition
To declare war; for a nation to officially state that it is in a state of war with another nation.
neutralother
How it's used
Beyond international relations, this term is frequently used metaphorically in daily life to describe someone initiating a direct, aggressive confrontation. It often implies a shift from passive tension to an open, hostile conflict between two parties. Using it in this way adds a dramatic flair to descriptions of arguments or competitive rivalries.
Examples
The two countries have officially declared war.
Why did he suddenly declare war on you?
Related words
Common phrases
formally declare war
declare war on someone
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply starting a fight or argument, which is more naturally expressed as 嘈交 or 打交. 宣戰 carries a formal and serious weight that makes it sound overly intense if used for minor disagreements.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
