半边天

• Pinyin: bàn biān tiān
• Hanzi breakdown: 半 = half; 边 = side; 天 = sky

Meaning

Half the sky; women (figuratively); a major force or contributor.

Famously used in Mao's slogan 'Women hold up half the sky,' this term metaphorically represents women as equal contributors to society. Also used more generally to describe any major supporting force.

Examples

1. 在这家公司，女性员工撑起了半边天。 At this company, female employees hold up half the sky.
2. 妇女能顶半边天，这个道理早就被证明了。 Women can hold up half the sky — this truth was proven long ago.
3. 中小企业是国民经济的半边天。 Small and medium enterprises are half the sky of the national economy.

Usage Guide

Context: social commentary, business

Tone: empowering

Do Say

• 女性在职场撑起半边天。(Women hold up half the sky in the workplace.)
• 这个行业的半边天是年轻人。(Young people are a major force in this industry.)

Don't Say

• 用'半边天'贬低女性的贡献 (Don't use 半边天 sarcastically to diminish women's contributions — it's meant to be empowering)

Origin & History

Popularized by Mao Zedong's statement '妇女能顶半边天' (Women can hold up half the sky).

Cultural Context

Era: Mao era origin, still current

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal