kāndēng: 刊登 - To Publish, To Carry (in a publication)
Quick Summary
Keywords: kandeng meaning, 刊登 meaning, how to use kandeng in Chinese, Chinese word for publish, publish in a newspaper Chinese, publish an article Chinese, 刊登 vs 发表, Chinese verb, HSK 5 vocabulary
Summary: Learn the precise meaning of 刊登 (kāndēng), a key Chinese verb for “to publish” or “to carry” a story. This guide breaks down how to use 刊登 specifically for publishing articles, ads, or notices in newspapers, magazines, and official websites. Understand its formal tone and how it differs from similar words like 发表 (fābiǎo) and 出版 (chūbǎn), with clear examples and cultural context for HSK 5 learners and beyond.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): kāndēng
Part of Speech: Verb
HSK Level: 5
Concise Definition: To publish or carry an article, advertisement, or notice in a printed or online publication.
In a Nutshell: Think of 刊登 (kāndēng) as the action a publication (like a newspaper or magazine) takes when it decides to include a piece of writing or an image. It's less about the author's act of creating and more about the formal process of an item appearing on the pages of a periodical. It carries a formal and official tone.
Character Breakdown
刊 (kān): This character is associated with publications and periodicals. The radical 刂 (dāo) on the right means “knife,” hinting at the ancient process of carving characters for printing or editing. It signifies the act of preparing something for a formal publication.
登 (dēng): This character means “to ascend,” “to climb,” or “to register.” It often conveys the idea of moving up to a higher or more public position.
Together, 刊登 (kāndēng) creates a vivid image of an article “ascending into a publication” or being officially “registered on the printed page” for everyone to see.
Cultural Context and Significance
In Chinese culture, traditional media like major newspapers and official journals have long been seen as authoritative and prestigious platforms. The verb 刊登 (kāndēng) reflects this formality. Having one's work 刊登ed is not just about sharing information; it implies that the content has been vetted, approved, and deemed worthy of public attention by an official editorial body.
Comparison to Western Concepts: While “to publish” is a good translation, 刊登 (kāndēng) is closer to the specific journalistic phrases “to run a story” or “to carry an article.” In English, you can “publish” your own blog or “publish” a book. In Chinese, 刊登 is reserved for when a third-party publication accepts and prints your work. This distinction highlights the value placed on formal, recognized channels of communication over purely individual expression. Self-publishing a book would use a different verb entirely: `出版 (chūbǎn)`.
Practical Usage in Modern China
刊登 (kāndēng) is a formal term used primarily in written Chinese and formal speech. You will frequently encounter it in news reports, business contracts, and academic contexts.
Common Contexts:
News Media: Reporting that a newspaper or news website has published a story.
Advertising: Describing the placement of an advertisement in a magazine or paper.
Official Announcements: Public notices, legal declarations, or government statements being published for public record.
Academic Journals: An academic paper being accepted and published in a scholarly journal.
Formality: Highly formal. You would not use 刊登 to talk about posting on your social media feed. For that, you would use the more general and informal verb `发 (fā)`. For a blog post or expressing an opinion, you would use `发表 (fābiǎo)`.
Example Sentences
Example 1:
今天的报纸刊登了一篇关于环境保护的文章。
Pinyin: Jīntiān de bàozhǐ kāndēng le yī piān guānyú huánjìng bǎohù de wénzhāng.
English: Today's newspaper carried an article about environmental protection.
Analysis: This is a classic, straightforward use. The newspaper (报纸) is the subject performing the action of publishing.
Example 2:
我们的结婚启事刊登在了当地的报纸上。
Pinyin: Wǒmen de jiéhūn qǐshì kāndēng zài le dāngdì de bàozhǐ shàng.
English: Our wedding announcement was published in the local newspaper.
Analysis: This shows how 刊登 is used for official notices (启事). The structure `…刊登在…上` (…kāndēng zài…shàng) is very common, meaning “published in/on…”.
English: This company plans to place advertisements for its new product in several mainstream magazines.
Analysis: Here, the object of 刊登 is an advertisement (广告). The context is formal and business-oriented.
Example 4:
他的研究论文终于被一家著名的学术期刊刊登了。
Pinyin: Tā de yánjiū lùnwén zhōngyú bèi yī jiā zhùmíng de xuéshù qīkān kāndēng le.
English: His research paper was finally published by a famous academic journal.
Analysis: This example uses the passive voice with `被 (bèi)`. This structure is very common with 刊登, as it emphasizes the article or person whose work was published, rather than the publication itself.
English: When will I be able to see my photo published in the magazine?
Analysis: A question using the passive `被 (bèi)` structure, a common scenario for someone waiting for their work to appear.
Example 9:
报社拒绝刊登任何未经证实的消息。
Pinyin: Bàoshè jùjué kāndēng rènhé wèi jīng zhèngshí de xiāoxī.
English: The newspaper office refuses to publish any unverified news.
Analysis: This highlights the role of the publication (报社 - newspaper office) as the agent making the decision to publish or not.
Example 10:
他们在报纸上刊登了一则寻人启事。
Pinyin: Tāmen zài bàozhǐ shàng kāndēng le yī zé xúnrénqǐshì.
English: They published a missing person notice in the newspaper.
Analysis: `寻人启事 (xúnrénqǐshì)` is a specific type of public notice, perfectly suited for the verb 刊登.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
刊登 (kāndēng) vs. 发表 (fābiǎo): This is the most common point of confusion for learners.
刊登 (kāndēng): Focuses on the publication/medium. It means a newspaper, magazine, or journal has accepted and included something. It's often used in the passive voice (e.g., “My article was published”).
发表 (fābiǎo): Focuses on the author/creator. It means “to issue,” “to present,” or “to make public.” It's a broader term for releasing one's own work, like giving a speech, publishing a blog post, or submitting an academic paper.
Correct: 我发表了一篇关于经济学的文章。(Wǒ fābiǎo le yī piān guānyú jīngjìxué de wénzhāng.) - I published (made public) an article about economics. Focus is on the author's action.
* Correct: 我的文章被《经济日报》刊登了。(Wǒ de wénzhāng bèi “Jīngjì Rìbào” kāndēng le.) - My article was published by the “Economic Daily”. Focus is on the newspaper's action.
Incorrect: 我刊登了一篇文章。 (Wǒ kāndēng le yī piān wénzhāng.) Grammatically awkward. An individual doesn't usually “kāndēng”; a publication does. The subject should be the publication or the sentence should be passive.
* 刊登 (kāndēng) vs. 出版 (chūbǎn):
* Use 刊登 for items within a periodical (articles, ads, photos).
* Use 出版 (chūbǎn) for standalone works like books, albums, or software. You 出版 a book, but you 刊登 an article *in* a journal.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
* 发表 (fābiǎo) - To publish, to issue, to express. Broader and author-focused.
* 出版 (chūbǎn) - To publish standalone media like books, magazines, or CDs.
* 发布 (fābù) - To release, to announce (e.g., news, a product, a directive).
* 报纸 (bàozhǐ) - Newspaper. A common medium where things are 刊登ed.
* 杂志 (zázhì) - Magazine. Another common medium.
* 期刊 (qīkān) - Periodical, journal. A more formal term for a publication.
* 文章 (wénzhāng) - Article. A common object of the verb 刊登.
* 广告 (guǎnggào) - Advertisement. Another common object.
* 报道 (bàodào) - A news report; to report. A report is what gets 刊登ed.
* 媒体 (méitǐ) - Media. The general category of organizations that 刊登 content.