提倡

• Pinyin: tí chàng
• Hanzi breakdown: 提 = 扌(hand) + 是 (phonetic); 倡 = 亻(person) + 昌 (prosperous, phonetic)

Meaning

To advocate; to promote; to encourage or call for something.

Used when officially or publicly encouraging a certain behavior, practice, or idea. Often appears in government policies, organizational guidelines, or public campaigns. Implies a top-down or authoritative promotion rather than casual personal suggestion.

Examples

1. 政府提倡节约用水，减少浪费。 The government advocates for conserving water and reducing waste.
2. 我们公司提倡员工保持工作与生活的平衡。 Our company promotes work-life balance for employees.
3. 现在社会普遍提倡绿色环保的生活方式。 Society now generally advocates for an environmentally friendly lifestyle.

Usage Guide

Context: government, organizational, public discourse

Tone: authoritative

Do Say

• 学校提倡学生多参加课外活动。(The school advocates for students to participate more in extracurricular activities.)
• 我们提倡诚实守信。(We advocate honesty and trustworthiness.)

Don't Say

• 我提倡你去看医生 — too formal for personal advice; use 建议 or 劝 instead

Origin & History

Compound of 提 (raise/bring up) + 倡 (advocate/initiate), together meaning to raise up and advocate for something.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal