声明
shēngmíng · HSK 3
statement
📢 声 (sound/voice) + 明 (bright/clear) = a clear public voice = statement
声 means sound or voice; 明 means bright or clear (sun 日 + moon 月). Together: making one's voice clear and public — a formal statement or pronouncement. Often used for official declarations.
声 — 士 scholar/warrior on top + 尸-like form + components (simplified from 聲)
声 is the simplified form of 聲, which originally depicted a hanging stone chime (殸) being struck, with 耳 'ear' below to show hearing. The full form combined the sound-making instrument and the act of listening, meaning 'sound' or 'voice'. The modern simplified 声 keeps only the upper portion.