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民主主义 (mín zhǔ zhǔ yì) — democracy (as a political ideology or doctrine)

Definition

A formal, political term meaning 'democracy as an ideology' (e.g. 新民主主义 'New Democracy'). It names the doctrine itself, not a specific government — for everyday 'democracy' (the system), use 民主.

noun
democracy (as a political ideology or doctrine)

Examples

  • 民主主义。
    Tā yì shēng dōu zài wèi mín zhǔ zhǔ yì fèn dòu.
    He struggled for democracy his whole life.
  • 民主主义。
    Xīn mín zhǔ zhǔ yì shì zhōng guó gé mìng de zhòng yào lǐ lùn.
    New Democracy is an important theory of the Chinese revolution.
  • 民主主义。
    mín zhǔ zhǔ yì Yǔ shè huì zhǔ yì yǒu běn zhì qū bié.
    Democracy and socialism have essential differences.

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.

民主democracy
民mínpeople主zhǔmaster
主谓Subject + predicate
主义doctrine
主zhǔmaster义yìmeaning
偏正Modifier + head

民主 (people as masters) is joined with 主义 (doctrine) to mean a political doctrine of democracy.

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 →

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 →

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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