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共产主义 (gòng chǎn zhǔ yì) — communism

Definition

The political and economic ideology aiming for a classless, stateless society where the means of production are held in common. In Mainland Chinese discourse it is the official state ideology.

noun
communism

Examples

  • 共产主义。
    Shí xiàn gòng chǎn zhǔ yì shì wǒ men de chóng gāo lǐ xiǎng.
    Realizing communism is our lofty ideal.
  • 共产主义，。
    Tā yì shēng dōu xìn yǎng gòng chǎn zhǔ yì, cóng wèi dòng yáo.
    He believed in communism all his life and never wavered.
  • 共产主义。
    Zhè běn shū xiáng xì jiè shào le gòng chǎn zhǔ yì de jī běn yuán lǐ.
    This book introduces the basic principles of communism in detail.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

共产shared property
共gòngshared产chǎnproperty
偏正Modifier + head
主义-ism
主zhǔ义yì

共产 is shared property, and 主义 adds the idea of a system or doctrine.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 廾廾gǒngtwo hands
  • 口口kǒuan object

共 shows 廾, two hands, holding up an object. That object was written 口 and later became the 廿-like top.

Open 共 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 產; 产 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
生生shēngto be born
Sound part声符shēngfú
彥
彥yàn產chǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 產 pairs 生, "to be born," with 彥 as a sound part; the simplified 产 is a shorthand.

Open 产 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The old forms that became 主 showed a lamp or torch with a flame at the top; other forms showed wood on fire or a spirit tablet.

Open 主 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 義; 义 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
羊羊yáng
Sound part声符shēngfú
我
我wǒ義yì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 義 has 我 giving the sound and 羊 meaning good or auspicious; the simplified 义 is a later abbreviation.

Open 义 →
Appears in
Government & Politics

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