4 · 40 words

The state and public life in Chinese

Government and policy, elections, offices of state and relations between countries.

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From these 40 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.

More about this list

The vocabulary of public life is formal, and much of it is built on 国(guó), “country”: 国家(guójiā), 国际(guójì), 国籍(guójí), 国歌(guógē). Titles do not map neatly onto English ones: 主席(zhǔxí) is above all the chair of a body or a meeting — a student union has one too. The words here describe institutions and procedures; the sentences take no side.

The words

Verb (12)

制定(zhìdìng)to draw up; to formulateVerb4

学校(xuéxiào)制定(zhìdìng)了(le)新(xīn)的(de)考试(kǎoshì)规定(guīdìng)。The school has drawn up new exam regulations.

批准(pīzhǔn)to approve; to ratifyVerb4

我(wǒ)的(de)申请(shēnqǐng)已经(yǐjīng)批准(pīzhǔn)了(le)。My application has been approved.

通过(tōngguò)to pass (a vote, a law, an exam); by means ofVerb4

这(zhè)个(ge)计划(jìhuà)在(zài)会(huì)上(shàng)通过(tōngguò)了(le)。The plan was passed at the meeting.

Also “through, by means of”: 通过(tōngguò)朋友(péngyou)认识(rènshi), to meet through a friend.

选举(xuǎnjǔ)to elect; electionVerb4

我们(wǒmen)班(bān)下(xià)周(zhōu)选举(xuǎnjǔ)新(xīn)的(de)班长(bānzhǎng)。Our class is electing a new class monitor next week.

上台(shàngtái)to come to power; to go on stageVerb4

新(xīn)政府(zhèngfǔ)上台(shàngtái)以后(yǐhòu)改(gǎi)了(le)不少(bùshǎo)规定(guīdìng)。After the new government took office, it changed quite a few rules.

Literally “to go up onto the stage”, and still used in that sense.

下台(xiàtái)to step down; to leave officeVerb4

那(nà)位(wèi)部长(bùzhǎng)去年(qùnián)下台(xiàtái)了(le)。That minister stepped down last year.

代表(dàibiǎo)to represent; representativeVerb4

他(tā)代表(dàibiǎo)全(quán)班(bān)同学(tóngxué)向(xiàng)老师(lǎoshī)表示(biǎoshì)感谢(gǎnxiè)。He thanked the teacher on behalf of the whole class.

发言(fāyán)to speak (at a meeting); statementVerb4

开会(kāihuì)的(de)时候(shíhou)他(tā)第一(dìyī)个(ge)发言(fāyán)。He was the first to speak at the meeting.

召开(zhàokāi)to convene; to hold (a meeting)Verb4

公司(gōngsī)明天(míngtiān)上午(shàngwǔ)召开(zhàokāi)全体(quántǐ)员工(yuángōng)大会(dàhuì)。Tomorrow morning the company is holding a meeting of all its staff.

Formal; in conversation say 开会(kāihuì).

主张(zhǔzhāng)to advocate; to hold that; positionVerb4

他(tā)主张(zhǔzhāng)让(ràng)孩子(háizi)多(duō)去(qù)户外(hùwài)活动(huódòng)。He believes children should spend more time outdoors.

联合(liánhé)to unite; to join together; jointVerb4

几(jǐ)所(suǒ)大学(dàxué)联合(liánhé)举办(jǔbàn)了(le)这(zhè)次(cì)活动(huódòng)。Several universities organised this event jointly.

访问(fǎngwèn)to visit (officially); to accessVerb4

一(yí)个(ge)代表团(dàibiǎotuán)下(xià)周(zhōu)来(lái)我们(wǒmen)城市(chéngshì)访问(fǎngwèn)。A delegation is visiting our city next week.

Also to visit a website: 访问(fǎngwèn)网站(wǎngzhàn).

Noun (27)

政府(zhèngfǔ)governmentNoun4

市(shì)政府(zhèngfǔ)决定(juédìng)在(zài)这里(zhèlǐ)修(xiū)一(yí)座(zuò)新(xīn)图书馆(túshūguǎn)。The city government has decided to build a new library here.

国家(guójiā)country; stateNoun3

你(nǐ)去(qù)过(guo)几(jǐ)个(ge)国家(guójiā)？How many countries have you been to?

全国(quánguó)the whole country; nationwideNoun4

春节(Chūnjié)的(de)时候(shíhou)全国(quánguó)都(dōu)放假(fàngjià)。The whole country has a holiday at Spring Festival.

国内(guónèi)domestic; within the countryNoun4

这(zhè)次(cì)我们(wǒmen)不(bù)出国(chūguó)，就(jiù)在(zài)国内(guónèi)旅游(lǚyóu)。We’re not going abroad this time — we’ll travel in our own country.

各国(gèguó)every country; countries everywhereNoun4

各国(gèguó)运动员(yùndòngyuán)都(dōu)来(lái)参加(cānjiā)这(zhè)次(cì)比赛(bǐsài)。Athletes from every country are coming to take part in this competition.

邻国(línguó)neighbouring countryNoun4

这(zhè)两(liǎng)个(ge)邻国(línguó)之间(zhījiān)来往(láiwǎng)很(hěn)多(duō)。There is a lot of contact between these two neighbouring countries.

大国(dàguó)major country; big powerNoun4

这(zhè)个(ge)国家(guójiā)人口(rénkǒu)不(bù)多(duō)，却(què)是(shì)一(yí)个(ge)体育(tǐyù)大国(dàguó)。This country has a small population, but it is a major sporting nation.

国旗(guóqí)national flagNoun4

运动员(yùndòngyuán)拿(ná)着(zhe)国旗(guóqí)走进(zǒujìn)了(le)体育场(tǐyùchǎng)。The athlete walked into the stadium carrying the national flag.

Measure word: 面(miàn).

国歌(guógē)national anthemNoun4

比赛(bǐsài)开始(kāishǐ)前(qián)，大家(dàjiā)站(zhàn)起来(qǐlai)听(tīng)国歌(guógē)。Before the match, everyone stood up for the national anthem.

国庆(Guóqìng)National DayNoun4

国庆(Guóqìng)放假(fàngjià)的(de)时候(shíhou)，景点(jǐngdiǎn)人(rén)特别(tèbié)多(duō)。The tourist sights are extremely crowded during the National Day holiday.

In China, 1 October; the holiday usually lasts several days.

国籍(guójí)nationalityNoun4

他(tā)父母(fùmǔ)的(de)国籍(guójí)不(bù)一样(yíyàng)。His parents have different nationalities.

人民(rénmín)the peopleNoun3

这(zhè)条(tiáo)法律(fǎlǜ)保护(bǎohù)人民(rénmín)的(de)利益(lìyì)。This law protects the interests of the people.

Collective, the people of a country; also in 人民币(rénmínbì), the currency.

群众(qúnzhòng)the public; ordinary peopleNoun4

很(hěn)多(duō)群众(qúnzhòng)在(zài)路边(lùbiān)看(kàn)比赛(bǐsài)。Lots of people were watching the race from the roadside.

Ordinary people, as opposed to officials.

政策(zhèngcè)policyNoun4

这(zhè)项(xiàng)政策(zhèngcè)从(cóng)下(xià)个(ge)月(yuè)开始(kāishǐ)实行(shíxíng)。This policy comes into effect next month.

Measure word: 项(xiàng).

总统(zǒngtǒng)president (of a country)Noun4

总统(zǒngtǒng)明天(míngtiān)会(huì)在(zài)电视(diànshì)上(shàng)讲话(jiǎnghuà)。The president will speak on television tomorrow.

主席(zhǔxí)chairman; chairNoun4

会议(huìyì)由(yóu)学生会(xuéshēnghuì)主席(zhǔxí)主持(zhǔchí)。The meeting is chaired by the president of the student union.

省长(shěngzhǎng)provincial governorNoun4

省长(shěngzhǎng)今天(jīntiān)参观(cānguān)了(le)我们(wǒmen)学校(xuéxiào)。The provincial governor visited our school today.

Note zhǎng, “head”, as in 校长(xiàozhǎng).

女王(nǚwáng)queen (who reigns)Noun4

这(zhè)部(bù)电视剧(diànshìjù)讲(jiǎng)的(de)是(shì)一(yí)位(wèi)年轻(niánqīng)女王(nǚwáng)的(de)故事(gùshi)。This TV series tells the story of a young queen.

A king is 国王(guówáng).

成员(chéngyuán)memberNoun4

我们(wǒmen)小组(xiǎozǔ)一共(yígòng)有(yǒu)五(wǔ)个(ge)成员(chéngyuán)。Our group has five members in all.

双方(shuāngfāng)both sides; the two partiesNoun4

经过(jīngguò)讨论(tǎolùn)，双方(shuāngfāng)终于(zhōngyú)同意(tóngyì)了(le)。After some discussion, both sides finally agreed.

讲话(jiǎnghuà)speech; to give a speechNoun4

校长(xiàozhǎng)的(de)讲话(jiǎnghuà)只有(zhǐyǒu)五(wǔ)分钟(fēnzhōng)。The head teacher’s speech lasted only five minutes.

全球(quánqiú)the whole world; globalNoun4

这(zhè)个(ge)游戏(yóuxì)在(zài)全球(quánqiú)都(dōu)很(hěn)受(shòu)欢迎(huānyíng)。This game is popular all over the world.

外交(wàijiāo)diplomacy; foreign affairsNoun4

她(tā)父亲(fùqīn)是(shì)做(zuò)外交(wàijiāo)工作(gōngzuò)的(de)。Her father works in diplomacy.

外交部(wàijiāobù)ministry of foreign affairsNoun4

他(tā)大学(dàxué)毕业(bìyè)后(hòu)在(zài)外交部(wàijiāobù)工作(gōngzuò)。After graduating he worked at the foreign ministry.

The ending 部(bù) names a ministry: 教育部(jiàoyùbù), ministry of education.

大使(dàshǐ)ambassadorNoun4

新(xīn)大使(dàshǐ)的(de)汉语(Hànyǔ)说(shuō)得(de)非常(fēicháng)流利(liúlì)。The new ambassador speaks very fluent Chinese.

大使馆(dàshǐguǎn)embassyNoun4

我(wǒ)的(de)护照(hùzhào)丢(diū)了(le)，得(děi)去(qù)大使馆(dàshǐguǎn)办(bàn)新(xīn)的(de)。I’ve lost my passport and have to go to the embassy for a new one.

军队(jūnduì)army; armed forcesNoun4

洪水(hóngshuǐ)来(lái)了(le)以后(yǐhòu)，军队(jūnduì)也(yě)来(lái)帮助(bāngzhù)救人(jiùrén)。After the flood, the army came to help rescue people too.

Adjective (1)

国际(guójì)internationalAdjective4

这(zhè)个(ge)城市(chéngshì)每(měi)年(nián)都(dōu)举办(jǔbàn)国际(guójì)电影节(diànyǐngjié)。This city holds an international film festival every year.

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