干部

• Pinyin: gàn bù
• Hanzi breakdown: 干 (work, handle); 部 = 咅 + 阝 (unit, section)

Meaning

Cadre; official; a Party member or government functionary holding an administrative or leadership position within an organisation.

A key term in Chinese political vocabulary. Refers to members of the Communist Party or government who hold administrative responsibilities at any level. Also used in state enterprises and institutions. Levels range from 基层干部 (grassroots cadres) to senior leadership.

Examples

1. 新一批基层干部被派往农村地区，协助推进扶贫开发工作。 A new group of grassroots cadres was sent to rural areas to help advance poverty-alleviation efforts.
2. 组织部门对这批年轻干部进行了为期两周的专项培训，重点强化法治意识。 The organization department put these young cadres through two weeks of specialized training, with a focus on strengthening awareness of the rule of law.
3. 作为一名党的干部，他始终将群众利益置于个人利益之上。 As a Party cadre, he has always put the people’s interests above his own.

Usage Guide

Context: politics, government, institutional

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 选拔优秀干部是党组织建设的核心任务之一。(Selecting outstanding cadres is one of the core tasks of Party organisational building.)
• 这名年轻干部工作扎实，已被列为重点培养对象。(This young cadre is hardworking and has been designated as a key candidate for development.)

Don't Say

• 他是一个干部的朋友 — 干部 describes the person themselves; the phrase should be 他是一名干部 or 他朋友是干部

Origin & History

干 (do/work) + 部 (section/department)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal