纲领

• Pinyin: gāng lǐng
• Hanzi breakdown: 纲 = 纟 + 冈 (main rope, guiding thread); 领 = 令 + 页 (lead, guide — collar of a garment as metaphor)

Meaning

Programme; guiding principles; a fundamental policy document outlining the core goals and direction of a political party, government, or organisation.

Used primarily in political and organisational contexts. 纲领 serves as a high-level policy framework or political platform, such as a party's founding programme or governing manifesto. More comprehensive and authoritative than 纲要.

Examples

1. 党的建国纲领明确提出了改善民生、推进工业化和维护国家主权的三大目标。 The party’s founding platform clearly set out three major goals: improving people’s livelihoods, advancing industrialization, and safeguarding national sovereignty.
2. 这份纲领性文件将成为未来五年城市规划与发展的核心指导依据。 This programmatic document will serve as the core guiding basis for urban planning and development over the next five years.
3. 各参选政党在大选前纷纷发布竞选纲领，向选民阐明其施政理念与优先事项。 Ahead of the election, each party released its campaign platform to explain its governing philosophy and top priorities to voters.

Usage Guide

Context: politics, government, organisational

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 新政府公布了一份以实现共同富裕为核心目标的经济纲领。(The new government published an economic programme centred on the goal of achieving common prosperity.)
• 这篇宣言被视为整个运动的思想纲领，奠定了其理论基础。(This manifesto is regarded as the ideological programme of the entire movement, laying its theoretical foundation.)

Don't Say

• 学习纲领 — 纲领 refers to high-level political or organisational programmes; use 大纲 or 纲要 for academic outlines or study plans

Origin & History

纲 (key strand/guiding line) + 领 (lead/guide)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal