政治

• Pinyin: zhèng zhì
• Hanzi breakdown: 政 = 正 (upright) + 攴 (act), to administer; 治 = 氵(water) + 台, to govern/regulate

Meaning

Politics; political affairs. The activities associated with governance, power, and public policy.

Used as a noun referring to the discipline or the practice of politics. 政治家 means politician; 政治观点 means political viewpoint. In daily speech, many Chinese people prefer to avoid discussing 政治 openly in public. Also used as an adjective: 政治问题 (political issue).

Examples

1. 她从小就对政治感兴趣，大学选择了政治学专业。 She has been interested in politics since childhood and chose to study political science at university.
2. 这件事不仅仅是经济问题，背后有很复杂的政治因素。 This matter is not just an economic issue — there are very complex political factors behind it.
3. 他认为，了解政治是每一个公民应尽的责任。 He believes that understanding politics is a responsibility every citizen should fulfil.

Usage Guide

Context: academic, news, social

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 学习政治有助于理解社会运作的基本规律。(Studying politics helps one understand the fundamental workings of society.)
• 两国关系受到当前政治形势的很大影响。(Relations between the two countries are heavily influenced by the current political situation.)

Don't Say

• 用'政治'来特指某一个政党或政府 (Don't use 政治 to specifically refer to a single party or government — it is a broader term covering all political activity and governance)

Origin & History

From 政 (governance) and 治 (to regulate/manage), a classical compound. The modern meaning of 'politics' was reinforced through Japanese influence (政治 seiji) in the early twentieth century.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal