民族主义 (mín zú zhǔ yì) — nationalism

Definition

In political context, 'nationalism' — the ideology prioritizing one's nation's interests, often contrasted with 爱国主义 (patriotism), which emphasizes love of country without the same political edge.

noun
nationalism

Examples

  • ，民族主义。
    Jìn dài yǐ lái, mín zú zhǔ yì sī cháo zài shì jiè gè dì xīng qǐ.
    Since modern times, the trend of nationalism has emerged in various parts of the world.
  • 民族主义。
    Jí duān mín zú zhǔ yì kě néng dǎo zhì guó jiā jiān de chōng tū.
    Extreme nationalism can lead to conflicts between nations.
  • 民族主义。
    Wǒ men yīng dāng qū fēn ài guó zhǔ yì hé mín zú zhǔ yì.
    We should distinguish between patriotism and nationalism.

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.

民族nation
民mínpeople族zúethnic group
联合Side by side
主义ism
主zhǔprincipal义yìprinciple
联合Side by side

民族 names a people or nation, and 主义 contributes the sense of a doctrine or movement associated with it.

Characters in this word

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

The early form of 民 shows an eye pierced by a sharp cross-shaped implement, possibly linked to an injured or unclear eye.

Open 民 →

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

族 combines 㫃, a flag, and 矢, an arrow.

Open 族 →

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 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.