小康

• Pinyin: xiǎo kāng
• Hanzi breakdown: 小 = modest/small; 康 = 庚 + 米 (grain + health — having enough grain for comfort)

Meaning

Moderately well-off; a standard of living that is comfortable and free from poverty, though not wealthy.

A classical concept revived as a key policy goal of the Chinese government. 全面建成小康社会 (building a comprehensively moderately prosperous society) was a central national objective. The term describes modest sufficiency — enough for a secure and dignified life — without excess.

Examples

1. 经过数十年的艰苦奋斗，这个国家终于实现了全面建成小康社会的历史性目标。 After decades of hard struggle, the country finally achieved the historic goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects.
2. 他家如今日子过得小康，虽不富裕，但也衣食无忧。 His family is now fairly comfortable; they’re not rich, but they have food and clothing and don’t have to worry.
3. 小康水平的实现，是数亿人口告别贫困的重要里程碑。 Reaching a moderately well-off standard of living is an important milestone in helping hundreds of millions of people leave poverty behind.

Usage Guide

Context: politics, economics, society

Tone: positive

Do Say

• 全面建成小康社会是党和国家在新世纪初提出的重要战略目标之一。(Building a comprehensively moderately prosperous society was one of the important strategic goals put forward by the Party and state in the early years of the new century.)
• 他们一家四口过着小康生活，孩子们受到良好教育，父母的晚年也有所保障。(The family of four lives a moderately prosperous life — the children receive a good education and their parents' later years are secure.)

Don't Say

• 我们公司现在小康了 — 小康 describes individual or societal living standards, not a company's financial health; use 盈利 or 效益良好 for business performance

Origin & History

小 (small/modest) + 康 (health/prosperity) — modest prosperity; classical term from the Book of Rites (礼记)

Cultural Context

Era: Classical–Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal