讲话

Etymology & Components

The Chinese word 讲话 (jiǎnghuà) is composed of two characters: 讲 (jiǎng) and 话 (huà). The character 讲 originally meant "to offer" or "to present," and it was often used in the context of religious ceremonies or rituals. Over time, its meaning evolved to include "to speak" or "to give a speech." The character 话, on the other hand, originally meant "to say" or "to speak." When combined, the two characters 讲话 form a compound word that means "to give a speech" or "to make a statement." In modern Chinese, 讲话 is commonly used in both formal and informal settings to refer to the act of speaking or giving a speech.