崛起

• Pinyin: jué qǐ
• Hanzi breakdown: 崛 = 山 (mountain) + 屈 (bend, phonetic) — to rise abruptly, towering; 起 = 走 (walk) + 己 (self) — to rise

Meaning

To rise; to emerge; to rise to prominence; the rise of.

Describes a sudden or dramatic rise in power, status, or prominence — often used for nations, economies, companies, or individuals. Carries connotations of previously being unnoticed or weak before achieving prominence. Frequently appears in political and economic discourse, especially regarding China's rise as a global power.

Examples

1. 二十世纪末，亚洲四小龙的崛起引起了全球经济学家的广泛关注。 At the end of the twentieth century, the rise of the Four Asian Tigers attracted widespread attention from economists around the world.
2. 这家科技公司在短短五年内迅速崛起，成为行业巨头。 This tech company rose rapidly in just five years to become an industry giant.
3. 新兴市场的崛起正在重塑全球供应链的格局。 The rise of emerging markets is reshaping the global supply chain landscape.

Usage Guide

Context: politics, economics, history, business

Tone: neutral to positive

Do Say

• 中国的和平崛起改变了国际政治经济格局。(China's peaceful rise has changed the international political and economic landscape.)
• 这位年轻导演的崛起让影坛耳目一新。(The rise of this young director has brought a breath of fresh air to the film industry.)

Don't Say

• 我今天早上崛起了。(崛起 is for dramatic rises to prominence, not for getting out of bed — use 起床 for waking up)

Origin & History

崛 (to rise abruptly, towering — 山 mountain + 屈 phonetic) + 起 (to rise, to get up). The image of a mountain rising suddenly from flat ground.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal