教条

• Pinyin: jiào tiáo
• Hanzi breakdown: 教 = 孝 + 攵 (filial piety + strike — to teach/instruct); 条 = 夂 + 木 (go slow + wood — a strip/article)

Meaning

Dogma; rigid doctrine; doctrinaire beliefs. As an adjective, describes a rigid, inflexible adherence to rules or ideology without regard for practical circumstances.

Often carries a negative connotation, implying blind adherence to theory or rules at the expense of practical reality. 教条主义 (dogmatism) is a formal criticism in political and philosophical discourse. Can describe both religious dogma and any inflexible ideological position.

Examples

1. 他批评某些官员存在严重的教条主义倾向，不能根据实际情况灵活调整政策。 He criticized some officials for a serious tendency toward dogmatism, saying they can’t adjust policies flexibly to fit real conditions.
2. 科学研究最忌讳的就是教条思维，必须敢于质疑权威、挑战传统观念。 The biggest taboo in scientific research is rigid, dogmatic thinking—you have to dare to question authority and challenge traditional ideas.
3. 这种教条的管理方式已经严重脱离了市场实际，亟需进行改革创新。 This rigid management style has become seriously disconnected from market realities and urgently needs reform and innovation.

Usage Guide

Context: philosophy, politics, criticism, academia

Tone: critical

Do Say

• 我们要坚决反对教条主义，一切工作都应该从实际出发，实事求是地解决问题。(We must firmly oppose dogmatism; all work should proceed from reality and solve problems in a practical and realistic manner.)
• 他的论述过于教条化，完全没有考虑到不同地区的具体情况和发展差异。(His argumentation is too dogmatic, completely failing to consider the specific circumstances and developmental differences of different regions.)

Don't Say

• 按照教条做 — sounds unnatural; use 教条地执行 or 死板地按照规定做 instead

Origin & History

教 (teach/doctrine) + 条 (strip/article/rule)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal