消息 (xiāo xī) means news, information, or a message about something that has happened. It tends to refer to news or tidings (好消息, good news; 坏消息, bad news) rather than digital messages (those are 短信, duǎn xìn, or 信息, xìn xī). 消 relates to fading or passing and 息 means breath or rest, combining to suggest something arriving from afar like a breath of news. Common in phrases: 听到消息 (hear news), 传消息 (spread news).