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| 依法治国 [2025/08/10 03:47] – created xiaoer | 依法治国 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1 |
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| ====== yifazhiguo: 依法治国 - To Govern a Country According to Law; Rule of Law ====== | |
| ===== Quick Summary ===== | |
| * **Keywords:** 依法治国, yi fa zhi guo, rule of law in China, Chinese legal system, govern according to law, Chinese politics, Chinese government slogan, what does yifazhiguo mean, rule by law, Xi Jinping thought | |
| * **Summary:** "依法治国 (yī fǎ zhì guó)" is a cornerstone of modern Chinese political philosophy, translating to "governing the country according to law." This term signifies the Chinese government's commitment to using a formal legal framework to manage the state and society, moving away from arbitrary rule. For learners, understanding 依法治国 is key to grasping the principles of the contemporary Chinese legal system and its distinction from the Western concept of "rule of law," particularly regarding the role of the Communist Party. | |
| ===== Core Meaning ===== | |
| * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** yī fǎ zhì guó | |
| * **Part of Speech:** Idiom (Chengyu) / Verb Phrase | |
| * **HSK Level:** N/A | |
| * **Concise Definition:** To govern a country and its affairs in accordance with the law. | |
| * **In a Nutshell:** Imagine a national slogan you see on official banners and hear in leaders' speeches. That's `依法治国`. It literally breaks down to "according to (依) law (法), govern (治) the country (国)." It represents the official principle that China should be ruled through a predictable system of laws, not the personal whims of individual leaders. It's a formal, serious term that embodies the government's goal of creating a stable, orderly, and modern society. | |
| ===== Character Breakdown ===== | |
| * **依 (yī):** This character means "to rely on," "to depend on," or "according to." Think of it as providing a basis or foundation for an action. | |
| * **法 (fǎ):** This means "law," "method," or "standard." The character originally depicted the removal of something "unjust" (去) by "water" (氵), symbolizing fairness and a standard level. | |
| * **治 (zhì):** This means "to govern," "to rule," or "to manage." It's the same character used in words like "politics" (政治, zhèngzhì). | |
| * **国 (guó):** This means "country," "nation," or "state." The modern character shows a "jade" (玉) or "king" (王) within a boundary (囗), representing a defined territory. | |
| The characters combine seamlessly to mean: **[To] govern the country according to the law.** | |
| ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== | |
| `依法治国` is a relatively modern concept in China's long history. For millennia, the dominant philosophy was **人治 (rénzhì)**, or "rule by man." This system prioritized the moral virtue, wisdom, and authority of the emperor and his officials over any written legal code. The law was often seen as a tool for punishment rather than a guiding principle for governance. | |
| The shift towards `依法治国` gained momentum in the post-Mao era, particularly under Deng Xiaoping. After the chaos and lawlessness of the Cultural Revolution, leaders saw the need for a stable, institutionalized system to ensure economic development and social order. `依法治国` became the official policy to achieve this. | |
| **Comparison to Western "Rule of Law":** | |
| This is the most critical distinction for a learner. In Western liberal democracies, "rule of law" generally implies that **no one is above the law**, including the government or the ruling party. The law acts as a fundamental check on power. | |
| In the context of `依法治国`, the concept is better understood as **"rule //by// law."** The law is the primary instrument that the **Communist Party of China (CPC) uses to govern the country effectively**. The Party leads the legislative process and directs the state. Therefore, the law serves the Party's objectives and leadership; it is not seen as a force that constrains the Party itself. While it provides predictability for citizens and businesses, the ultimate authority remains with the Party, not an independent legal principle. | |
| ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== | |
| `依法治国` is a high-level, formal term used almost exclusively in political and official contexts. | |
| * **Government Slogans:** You will see it on large red banners (横幅, héngfú) in cities, on government websites, and in public service announcements. | |
| * **Official Speeches:** Top leaders, especially President Xi Jinping, frequently use this phrase to outline national strategy. It is a key component of his political thought. | |
| * **News Media:** State-controlled media like CCTV and People's Daily use it constantly when reporting on legal reforms, anti-corruption campaigns, and government work. | |
| * **Academic and Legal Discussions:** It is a central topic in Chinese law schools and political science departments. | |
| You would **never** use this term in casual, everyday conversation. It is strictly for formal discussions about national governance. Its connotation is overwhelmingly positive and aspirational, signaling progress, stability, and modernity. | |
| ===== Example Sentences ===== | |
| * **Example 1:** | |
| * 我们必须坚持**依法治国**，保障人民的合法权益。 | |
| * Pinyin: Wǒmen bìxū jiānchí **yī fǎ zhì guó**, bǎozhàng rénmín de héfǎ quányì. | |
| * English: We must insist on governing the country according to law to protect the people's legal rights and interests. | |
| * Analysis: This is a classic example of official rhetoric, linking `依法治国` directly to the welfare of the citizens. | |
| * **Example 2:** | |
| * **依法治国**是实现国家长治久安的重要保障。 | |
| * Pinyin: **Yī fǎ zhì guó** shì shíxiàn guójiā chángzhìjiǔ'ān de zhòngyào bǎozhàng. | |
| * English: Ruling by law is an important guarantee for achieving long-term national stability. | |
| * Analysis: This sentence highlights the core purpose of the policy: ensuring stability (长治久安, chángzhìjiǔ'ān). | |
| * **Example 3:** | |
| * 党的领导是全面推进**依法治国**的根本保证。 | |
| * Pinyin: Dǎng de lǐngdǎo shì quánmiàn tuījìn **yī fǎ zhì guó** de gēnběn bǎozhèng. | |
| * English: The Party's leadership is the fundamental guarantee for comprehensively advancing the governance of the country according to law. | |
| * Analysis: This sentence is crucial for understanding the political context. It explicitly states that the Party's leadership is essential to the process, reinforcing the concept of "rule by law." | |
| * **Example 4:** | |
| * 政府报告强调了**依法治国**和依法行政的重要性。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ bàogào qiángdiào le **yī fǎ zhì guó** hé yī fǎ xíngzhèng de zhòngyàoxìng. | |
| * English: The government report emphasized the importance of governing the country by law and administering by law. | |
| * Analysis: Here, the term is used in a summary of an official document. `依法行政 (yī fǎ xíngzhèng)` means "to carry out administration according to law," a more specific application of the broader principle. | |
| * **Example 5:** | |
| * 建设法治政府是**依法治国**的关键环节。 | |
| * Pinyin: Jiànshè fǎzhì zhèngfǔ shì **yī fǎ zhì guó** de guānjiàn huánjié. | |
| * English: Building a law-based government is a key link in governing the country according to law. | |
| * Analysis: This shows how `依法治国` serves as an umbrella concept for more specific goals, like creating a "law-based government" (法治政府). | |
| * **Example 6:** | |
| * 没有规矩，不成方圆，国家也需要**依法治国**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Méiyǒu guījǔ, bù chéng fāngyuán, guójiā yě xūyào **yī fǎ zhì guó**. | |
| * English: Without rules, nothing can be accomplished; the country also needs to be governed according to law. | |
| * Analysis: This sentence connects the high-level concept to a common idiom (没有规矩，不成方圆), making the idea more relatable, though still in a formal context. | |
| * **Example 7:** | |
| * **依法治国**的理念已经深入人心。 | |
| * Pinyin: **Yī fǎ zhì guó** de lǐniàn yǐjīng shēnrù rénxīn. | |
| * English: The concept of governing the country by law has already been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. | |
| * Analysis: This is a common propaganda phrase, asserting the widespread acceptance and internalization of the policy. | |
| * **Example 8:** | |
| * 反腐败斗争的胜利，离不开**依法治国**的坚定执行。 | |
| * Pinyin: Fǎnfǔbài dòuzhēng de shènglì, líbukāi **yī fǎ zhì guó** de jiāndìng zhíxíng. | |
| * English: The victory in the anti-corruption struggle cannot be separated from the firm implementation of governing the country according to law. | |
| * Analysis: This links `依法治国` to another major national policy: the anti-corruption campaign. | |
| * **Example 9:** | |
| * 他认为，只有**依法治国**，才能吸引更多的外国投资。 | |
| * Pinyin: Tā rènwéi, zhǐyǒu **yī fǎ zhì guó**, cáinéng xīyǐn gèng duō de wàiguó tóuzī. | |
| * English: He believes that only by governing the country according to law can more foreign investment be attracted. | |
| * Analysis: This sentence shows the practical economic argument for the policy: creating a predictable legal environment for business. | |
| * **Example 10:** | |
| * 全面**依法治国**是“四个全面”战略布局的重要组成部分。 | |
| * Pinyin: Quánmiàn **yī fǎ zhì guó** shì “sì gè quánmiàn” zhànlüè bùjú de zhòngyào zǔchéng bùfèn. | |
| * English: Comprehensively governing the country according to law is an important component of the "Four Comprehensives" strategic layout. | |
| * Analysis: This sentence places the term within a specific political framework associated with Xi Jinping, showing its high-level importance. | |
| ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== | |
| * **The "Rule OF Law" vs. "Rule BY Law" Trap:** The most common mistake for English speakers is to hear `依法治国`, translate it as "rule of law," and assume it means the same thing as in a Western democracy. Remember the key difference: in the Chinese context, the Party is the ultimate authority that **uses** the law to govern. The law does not supersede the Party. | |
| * **Overly Casual Usage:** Never use `依法治国` to describe managing a company, a classroom, or your family. It is exclusively for the governance of a nation. | |
| * **Incorrect:** 我爸爸**依法治国**地管理我们的家。 (Wǒ bàba yī fǎ zhì guó de guǎnlǐ wǒmen de jiā.) -> My dad manages our home by ruling the country according to law. (This sounds absurd and comical in Chinese). | |
| * **Correct (for a family context):** 我家有我家的规矩。 (Wǒ jiā yǒu wǒ jiā de guījǔ.) -> My family has its own rules. | |
| ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== | |
| * [[人治]] (rénzhì) - Rule by man. The historical and philosophical opposite of `依法治国`, where an individual's authority is supreme. | |
| * [[法治]] (fǎzhì) - A more concise term for "rule of law." It's often used interchangeably with `依法治国` in slogans and discussions, e.g., "socialist rule of law" (社会主义法治). | |
| * [[全面依法治国]] (quánmiàn yī fǎ zhì guó) - "Comprehensively Governing the Country According to Law." A key political theory of Xi Jinping, emphasizing a more systematic and all-encompassing approach. | |
| * [[法律]] (fǎlǜ) - Law; statute. This is the general, concrete word for "a law." `依法治国` is the principle; `法律` are the specific rules used to enact it. | |
| * [[宪法]] (xiànfǎ) - Constitution. The highest law of the land, which, according to the principle of `依法治国`, all other laws should align with. | |
| * [[政策]] (zhèngcè) - Policy. In practice, Party or government `政策` can sometimes be more influential or faster to implement than formal `法律` (law). Understanding the interplay between them is key to understanding China. | |
| * [[依法行政]] (yī fǎ xíngzhèng) - To administer according to law. A more specific term referring to the actions of government bodies and civil servants. | |