Definition
宣战 (xuān zhàn) is a separable verb (离合词) meaning 'to declare war'. The first character 宣 (xuān) carries the verb meaning 'declare', and 战 (zhàn) is a noun meaning 'war'. When used with a duration, frequency, or object, the parts can split: e.g. 宣过战 ('declared war before'), 宣了三次战 ('declared war three times'). It is also used metaphorically for launching a campaign against a problem (e.g. 向贫困宣战 'declare war on poverty').
v.o.
to declare war
Examples
- 宣战。Liǎng guó zhèngshì xuān zhàn le.The two countries officially declared war.
- 。Zhège guójiā yǐjīng duì lín guó xuān guò yí cì zhàn.This country has already declared war on a neighboring country once.
- 宣战，。Zhèngfǔ xiàng huánjìng wūrǎn xuān zhàn, juéxīn chèdǐ zhěngzhì.The government declared war on environmental pollution, determined to thoroughly clean it up.
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