官僚主义

• Pinyin: guān liáo zhǔ yì
• Hanzi breakdown: 官僚 (bureaucrat) + 主 = 丶 + 王 (master/principal) + 义 = 羊 + 我 (righteousness/principle)

Meaning

Bureaucratism; the practice of rigid, inefficient bureaucratic behaviour that prioritises procedures and self-interest over serving the people.

A major target of political campaigns in China since the Mao era. Characterised by excessive formalism, buck-passing, detachment from grassroots reality, and resistance to change. Frequently cited in official speeches and Party documents as a problem to be eradicated.

Examples

1. 官僚主义作风严重脱离群众，是影响政府公信力的顽疾。 Bureaucratic behavior is seriously disconnected from ordinary people and is a chronic problem that undermines the government’s credibility.
2. 领导层多次强调，要坚决反对形式主义和官僚主义。 The leadership has repeatedly emphasized the need to resolutely oppose formalism and bureaucratic behavior.
3. 推进数字化政务的初衷之一，就是从制度上减少官僚主义滋生的空间。 One of the original goals of advancing digital government services is to reduce, at the institutional level, the space for bureaucratic behavior to take root.

Usage Guide

Context: politics, governance, reform

Tone: critical

Do Say

• 整治官僚主义需要从制度和文化两方面同时入手。(Addressing bureaucratism requires simultaneous efforts on both institutional and cultural fronts.)
• 基层干部反映，官僚主义作风让很多惠民政策难以落地。(Grassroots officials report that bureaucratic work styles make it difficult for many pro-people policies to be implemented.)

Don't Say

• 他的官僚主义让我很烦 — in casual speech, use 官僚作风 or 繁文缛节 (red tape); 官僚主义 is a formal political term

Origin & History

官僚 (bureaucrat) + 主义 (-ism). A calque drawing from Western political terminology, widely adopted in Chinese political discourse during the 20th century.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern China

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal