shìjiè hépíng: 世界和平 - World Peace

• Keywords: shijie heping, 世界和平, world peace in Chinese, how to say world peace in Mandarin, Chinese word for peace, harmony, 和平, heping, Chinese culture, Chinese philosophy
• Summary: “世界和平” (shìjiè hépíng) is the direct and powerful Chinese term for “world peace.” Composed of the characters for “world” (世界) and “peace” (和平), this phrase is more than a simple translation; it's a profound cultural and political ideal. From sincere wishes in political speeches to its cliché use in beauty pageants, understanding “世界和平” offers a glimpse into Chinese concepts of global harmony and stability. This guide will break down its meaning, cultural significance, and practical use for learners of Mandarin Chinese.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): shìjiè hépíng
• Part of Speech: Noun Phrase
• HSK Level: HSK 5 (based on the component word 和平)
• Concise Definition: A state of peace, harmony, and absence of war throughout the entire world.
• In a Nutshell: “世界和平” is a grand, idealistic concept. It's not used for a quiet afternoon or personal tranquility; it refers to the ultimate global aspiration. Think of it as the big-picture dream of all nations coexisting without conflict. It carries a formal, sincere, and sometimes even humorously cliché weight, depending on the context.

• 世 (shì): This character originally depicted three “tens” (十), representing a generation or an era (30 years). It has since expanded to mean the world or the public sphere of human existence.
• 界 (jiè): This character shows a field (田) bounded by lines, representing a boundary, border, or realm.
  • Together, 世界 (shìjiè) literally means “generations and boundaries,” which beautifully combines to form the modern Chinese word for “the world.”
• 和 (hé): This character signifies harmony, peace, and togetherness. It is a cornerstone of Chinese philosophy. Think of it as things fitting together perfectly.
• 平 (píng): This character originally depicted duckweed floating on water, giving it the meaning of “flat,” “level,” or “calm.” It implies a state of stability and equilibrium.
  • Together, 和平 (hépíng) means “harmonious stability” or “peace.” It's not just the absence of war, but the presence of harmony.

Combining these, 世界 (shìjiè) + 和平 (hépíng) creates a very literal and potent phrase: World Peace.

The concept of “世界和平” is deeply rooted in Chinese culture, which has long valued collective harmony over individual ambitions.

• Harmony (和) as a Core Value: Unlike the Western concept of peace, which often focuses on legal treaties and the cessation of conflict, the Chinese concept of `和平 (hépíng)` is more proactive. It's built on the philosophical ideal of `和 (hé)`, or harmony. This comes from Confucianism and Taoism, which teach that society functions best when all parts are in balance and work together smoothly. Therefore, “世界和平” isn't just about stopping wars; it's about creating a world where all nations and peoples exist in a state of mutual respect and harmonious balance.
• Contrast with Western “Peace”: An American might view “world peace” as an outcome achieved through diplomacy, human rights advocacy, and international law—a system to prevent conflict. The traditional Chinese perspective often frames it as an outcome of moral cultivation and achieving social and cosmic harmony (`天下太平 - tiānxià tàipíng`, “peace across all under heaven”). In modern political discourse, it's tied to the ideal of `稳定 (wěndìng)`, or stability, which is seen as the foundation for prosperity and peace.
• Political Significance: The phrase is frequently used by Chinese leaders in international forums to project an image of China as a peaceful global power. It's often linked to concepts like the “Community with a Shared Future for Mankind” (`人类命运共同体`), reinforcing a narrative of cooperative, non-hegemonic development.

The use of “世界和平” varies greatly depending on formality and intent.

• Formal and Sincere Usage: This is its primary use. You will hear it in:
  • Political Speeches: “我们致力于维护世界和平。” (We are committed to maintaining world peace.)
  • Formal Wishes: Often expressed during New Year or other major events as a grand wish for humanity.
  • Religious or Spiritual Contexts: In prayers, blessings, or philosophical discussions.
• Informal and Cliché Usage: Among younger generations, the phrase has become a famous cliché, largely thanks to beauty pageants where contestants famously state their greatest wish is “world peace.”
  • The “Beauty Pageant Answer”: If you ask someone, “你最大的愿望是什么？” (What is your biggest wish?), they might jokingly reply, “世界和平!” to give a funny, generic, and idealistic answer. It's used ironically to poke fun at such a grand, unattainable goal in everyday life.
  • On Social Media: It can be used as a hashtag, sometimes sincerely in response to tragic global events, and other times humorously on a post about a minor personal problem, creating an ironic contrast.

• Example 1:
  • 我们每个人的小小努力，都是为了世界和平。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen měi ge rén de xiǎoxiǎo nǔlì, dōu shì wèile shìjiè hépíng.
  • English: The small efforts of each and every one of us are for the sake of world peace.
  • Analysis: This is a sincere and slightly philosophical sentence, suggesting that individual actions contribute to a greater good.
• Example 2:
  • 记者的愿望是世界和平，没有战争。
  • Pinyin: Jìzhě de yuànwàng shì shìjiè hépíng, méiyǒu zhànzhēng.
  • English: The journalist's wish is world peace, without any war.
  • Analysis: A very direct and formal statement, common in contexts discussing conflict and the ideals of journalism.
• Example 3:
  • A: 你今年的生日愿望是什么？ (Nǐ jīnnián de shēngrì yuànwàng shì shénme?)
  • B: 世界和平！…开玩笑啦，我希望我能加薪。 (Shìjiè hépíng!… Kāiwánxiào la, wǒ xīwàng wǒ néng jiāxīn.)
  • English: A: What's your birthday wish this year? B: World peace! …Just kidding, I hope I get a raise.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the classic humorous and cliché usage. The speaker uses the grand phrase ironically before stating their real, more mundane wish.
• Example 4:
  • 维护世界和平与促进共同发展是中国外交政策的宗旨。
  • Pinyin: Wéihù shìjiè hépíng yǔ cùjìn gòngtóng fāzhǎn shì Zhōngguó wàijiāo zhèngcè de zōngzhǐ.
  • English: Maintaining world peace and promoting common development is the purpose of China's foreign policy.
  • Analysis: A very formal sentence typical of official government statements or academic texts on international relations.
• Example 5:
  • 很多歌曲的主题都是呼吁世界和平。
  • Pinyin: Hěn duō gēqǔ de zhǔtí dōu shì hūyù shìjiè hépíng.
  • English: The theme of many songs is to call for world peace.
  • Analysis: Used here to describe the subject matter of art or music, like John Lennon's “Imagine.”
• Example 6:
  • 实现真正的世界和平还有很长的路要走。
  • Pinyin: Shíxiàn zhēnzhèng de shìjiè hépíng hái yǒu hěn cháng de lù yào zǒu.
  • English: There is still a long way to go to achieve true world peace.
  • Analysis: A common way to express the difficulty and long-term nature of this goal.
• Example 7:
  • 孩子们在画里描绘了他们心中的世界和平。
  • Pinyin: Háizi men zài huà lǐ miáohuì le tāmen xīnzhōng de shìjiè hépíng.
  • English: The children depicted the world peace in their hearts in the paintings.
  • Analysis: This sentence has a very pure and innocent connotation, linking the concept to the hopeful vision of children.
• Example 8:
  • 他认为教育是实现世界和平的关键。
  • Pinyin: Tā rènwéi jiàoyù shì shíxiàn shìjiè hépíng de guānjiàn.
  • English: He believes that education is the key to achieving world peace.
  • Analysis: A standard, formal sentence structure for expressing an opinion on how to achieve this goal.
• Example 9:
  • 如果没有相互理解，世界和平就只是一个空想。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ méiyǒu xiānghù lǐjiě, shìjiè hépíng jiù zhǐshì yí ge kōngxiǎng.
  • English: Without mutual understanding, world peace is just an empty dream.
  • Analysis: A conditional sentence that sets up a prerequisite for world peace, often used in arguments or discussions.
• Example 10:
  • 他在寺庙里祈祷世界和平，家人安康。
  • Pinyin: Tā zài sìmiào lǐ qídǎo shìjiè hépíng, jiārén ānkāng.
  • English: He prayed in the temple for world peace and the health and safety of his family.
  • Analysis: Shows how the grand wish for world peace can be paired with personal wishes in a spiritual or religious context.

• Mistake 1: Using it for personal peace and quiet.
  • “世界和平” exclusively refers to the global, political state of peace. You cannot use it to ask for quiet in a room or to describe a feeling of personal calm.
  • `*` Incorrect: 图书馆里很吵，我需要世界和平。(Túshūguǎn lǐ hěn chǎo, wǒ xūyào shìjiè hépíng.)
  • `*` Why it's wrong: This sounds absurd, like you're asking for the entire world to stop fighting just so you can study.
  • `*` Correct: 图书馆里很吵，我需要安静。(Túshūguǎn lǐ hěn chǎo, wǒ xūyào ānjìng.) - “It's noisy in the library, I need some quiet.”
• Mistake 2: Confusing it with the general term for “peace.”
  • While “世界和平” means “world peace,” if you just want to say “peace” in a more general sense (e.g., “a peace treaty”), you should use the word `和平 (hépíng)` on its own. “世界和平” specifies the scope to the *entire world*.
  • `*` Example: 他们签署了和平协议。(Tāmen qiānshǔ le hépíng xiéyì.) - “They signed a peace agreement.” Using `世界和平` here would be incorrect.

• 和平 (hépíng) - Peace. The core component of the term, referring to peace in general, not just on a global scale.
• 战争 (zhànzhēng) - War. The direct antonym of `和平`.
• 和谐 (héxié) - Harmony; harmonious. A key cultural and political value in China, describing a state of balanced and cooperative existence. It is the philosophical goal that underpins `和平`.
• 稳定 (wěndìng) - Stable; stability. A primary goal of Chinese governance, seen as a necessary foundation for peace and prosperity.
• 天下太平 (tiānxià tàipíng) - A more classical and literary phrase meaning “peace across all under heaven.” It carries a strong historical and philosophical weight.
• 安宁 (ānníng) - Tranquility; peacefulness. Often used to describe a calm and safe society, environment, or a peaceful life. More descriptive of a state than `和平`.
• 天下 (tiānxià) - “All under heaven.” The traditional Chinese concept for the (civilized) world, often with the Chinese emperor at its center. It's the historical precursor to the modern concept of “世界”.
• 人类命运共同体 (rénlèi mìngyùn gòngtóngtǐ) - “Community with a Shared Future for Mankind.” A major political concept in modern China's foreign policy, often mentioned alongside calls for `世界和平`.