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| 保守 [2025/08/11 10:58] – created xiaoer | 保守 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1 |
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| ====== bǎoshǒu: 保守 - Conservative, To Guard, To Keep ====== | |
| ===== Quick Summary ===== | |
| * **Keywords:** baoshou, 保守, conservative in Chinese, Chinese traditional, Chinese culture conservative, baoshou meaning, what does baoshou mean, keep a secret in Chinese, guard a secret Chinese | |
| * **Summary:** Learn the meaning of **保守 (bǎoshǒu)**, a fundamental Chinese term for "conservative." This guide explores its use in describing people, ideas, and actions, from traditional mindsets to cautious business estimates. Discover its cultural roots, how it differs from Western "conservatism," and its verb form, "to guard" or "to keep," as in **保守秘密 (bǎoshǒu mìmì)**, "to keep a secret." This is a must-know word for understanding modern Chinese society and communication. | |
| ===== Core Meaning ===== | |
| * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** bǎo shǒu | |
| * **Part of Speech:** Adjective, Verb | |
| * **HSK Level:** HSK 5 | |
| * **Concise Definition:** To be conservative; to guard or keep (a secret, value, etc.). | |
| * **In a Nutshell:** **保守 (bǎoshǒu)** is the primary way to express the concept of being "conservative" in Chinese. However, it's broader than just politics. It describes a mindset that values caution, tradition, and stability over risk and change. It can refer to a person's personality (risk-averse), fashion sense (not flashy), business approach (safe), or the act of protecting something abstract, like a secret or a tradition. | |
| ===== Character Breakdown ===== | |
| * **保 (bǎo):** This character means "to protect" or "to guard." It's composed of the radical for "person" (亻) and a component that suggests something precious or to be cared for. Think of a person protecting something valuable. | |
| * **守 (shǒu):** This character means "to defend," "to keep," or "to abide by." The character itself can be seen as a person guarding a post or a home (宀). | |
| * Together, **保守 (bǎoshǒu)** literally means "protect and defend." This combination creates a powerful sense of holding onto and maintaining existing things—be they values, traditions, or secrets—rather than seeking out new ones. It implies a defensive, cautious stance. | |
| ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== | |
| * **保守 (bǎoshǒu)** is deeply connected to traditional Chinese cultural values, many of which stem from Confucianism. Confucian thought emphasizes social harmony, order, respect for elders and authority, and learning from historical precedent. In this framework, being **保守** isn't inherently negative; it's often seen as a virtue that promotes stability and predictability in a collective society. A **保守** person is often considered reliable, prudent, and respectful of social norms. | |
| * **Comparison to Western "Conservatism":** This is a critical distinction. In the West (e.g., the U.S.), "conservative" is primarily a political label tied to specific ideologies like small government, free-market capitalism, and individual liberty. In China, **保守 (bǎoshǒu)** is more of a social and personal disposition. A person can be socially and personally **保守** (e.g., in their views on family and relationships) while fully supporting the socialist state and its policies. The term is less about a political party and more about a general approach to life: preferring the known over the unknown, the safe over the risky, and the traditional over the radical. | |
| ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== | |
| * **Describing Personality and Views:** This is the most common usage. Calling someone **保守** means they are traditional, perhaps a bit shy, and not very open to new ideas or experiences. | |
| * //Connotation:// Can be neutral ("He's a traditional guy") or slightly negative ("He's too old-fashioned and unwilling to change"). | |
| * **Describing Style and Choices:** It's often used to describe clothing, design, or art that is not modern, revealing, or avant-garde. | |
| * //Example:// 她的穿着很**保守**。 (Tā de chuānzhuó hěn bǎoshǒu.) - Her style of dress is very conservative. | |
| * **In Business and Finance:** Here, **保守** takes on the meaning of "cautious" or "prudent" and is generally positive or neutral. | |
| * //Example:// 这是一个**保守**的估计。 (Zhè shì yīgè bǎoshǒu de gūjì.) - This is a conservative estimate. | |
| * **As a Verb (To Guard/Keep):** This usage is more formal and specific. It almost always applies to abstract concepts, most famously secrets. | |
| * //Example:// 你能**保守**这个秘密吗？ (Nǐ néng bǎoshǒu zhège mìmì ma?) - Can you keep this secret? | |
| ===== Example Sentences ===== | |
| * **Example 1:** | |
| * 我爷爷的思想比较**保守**，不太能接受新事物。 | |
| * Pinyin: Wǒ yéye de sīxiǎng bǐjiào **bǎoshǒu**, bù tài néng jiēshòu xīn shìwù. | |
| * English: My grandpa's thinking is relatively **conservative**; he can't really accept new things. | |
| * Analysis: This is a classic, neutral use of **保守** to describe the mindset of an older generation, contrasting it with modernity. | |
| * **Example 2:** | |
| * 这是一个**保守**的商业计划，风险很低。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhè shì yīgè **bǎoshǒu** de shāngyè jìhuà, fēngxiǎn hěn dī. | |
| * English: This is a **conservative** business plan with very low risk. | |
| * Analysis: Here, **保守** is used in a business context to mean "cautious" or "prudent." The connotation is positive, emphasizing safety and reliability. | |
| * **Example 3:** | |
| * 请你一定要为我**保守**秘密。 | |
| * Pinyin: Qǐng nǐ yīdìng yào wèi wǒ **bǎoshǒu** mìmì. | |
| * English: Please, you must **keep** the secret for me. | |
| * Analysis: This demonstrates the verb usage. **保守** pairs perfectly with **秘密 (mìmì)**, "secret," to mean "to keep a secret." | |
| * **Example 4:** | |
| * 和他开放的哥哥相比，他 | |