'Chéng bào' is a formal, written verb meaning 'to report (something) officially to a superior or authority.' The character 呈 (chéng) conveys the idea of 'presenting respectfully'—often with humility and deference—while 报 (bào) means 'to report' or 'to inform.' Together, they emphasize both the act of conveying information and the respectful, hierarchical relationship between reporter and recipient. This word is rarely used in casual speech; it appears mainly in official documents, government communications, corporate memos, or historical narratives involving bureaucracy.

It typically follows a subject (e.g., an official, department, or subordinate), takes a direct object (the matter being reported), and often appears with formal time markers like 'upon completion' or 'immediately.' Unlike neutral verbs like 汇报 (huìbào) or 报告 (bàogào), 呈报 carries strong connotations of protocol, rank, and institutional formality—especially in contexts echoing imperial or modern administrative traditions.