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社会主义 (shè huì zhǔ yì) — socialism

Definition

An economic and political system where the means of production are owned collectively or by the state. Pair it with 资本主义 to describe the opposing system of private ownership.

phrase
socialism

Examples

  • 社会主义。
    shè huì zhǔ yì Shì zhōng guó tè sè shè huì zhǔ yì de zhǔ tí.
    Socialism is the theme of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
  • 社会主义。
    Hěn duō guó jiā zài tàn suǒ zì jǐ de shè huì zhǔ yì dào lù.
    Many countries are exploring their own path of socialism.
  • 社会主义。
    Tā xiě le yì piān guān yú shè huì zhǔ yì lǐ lùn de lùn wén.
    He wrote a thesis on socialist theory.

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.

社会society
社shècommunity会huìassociation
联合Coordinate
主义doctrine
主zhǔprincipal义yìprinciple
联合Coordinate

社会 gives society and 主义 gives doctrine, together naming socialism.

Characters in this word

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

社 joins 示 (god; deity) and 土 (soil), so its shape is about the god of the land.

Open 社 →

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 會; 会 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
合合héto meet
Sound part声符shēngfú
𡆧
𡆧𡆧會huì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

Traditional 會 pairs 合 (to meet) with 𡆧, an original form for ironware, to give the sound. The simplified 会 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the original parts.

Open 会 →

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
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Government & Politics

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