公民

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公民 [2025/08/10 03:46] – created xiaoer公民 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1
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-====== gōngmín: 公民 - Citizen, National ====== +
-===== Quick Summary ===== +
-  * **Keywords:** gongmin, 公民, Chinese citizen, what does gongmin mean, Chinese for citizen, citizen in Mandarin, legal status in China, rights and duties in China, citizenship, 人民, 老百姓, 国民. +
-  * **Summary:** Learn the meaning of **公民 (gōngmín)**, the formal Chinese word for "citizen." This page breaks down its legal and political significance in China, contrasting it with the Western concept of citizenship. Discover how **公民 (gōngmín)** is used in discussions of rights and duties, and understand its crucial difference from more common words for "people" like `人民 (rénmín)` and `老百姓 (lǎobǎixìng)`. +
-===== Core Meaning ===== +
-  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** gōngmín +
-  * **Part of Speech:** Noun +
-  * **HSK Level:** HSK 5 +
-  * **Concise Definition:** A citizen; a person with the legal nationality and associated rights and duties of a particular country. +
-  * **In a Nutshell:** **公民 (gōngmín)** is a formal, legal term. Think of the word as it appears in a constitution or on a legal document. It's not the word you'd use to say you're from a certain city; instead, it defines your relationship with the nation-state. It's about your official status, rights, and responsibilities as a member of a country. +
-===== Character Breakdown ===== +
-  * **公 (gōng):** This character means "public," "common," or "collective." It's found in words like `公共 (gōnggòng)` for "public" and `公司 (gōngsī)` for "company." It implies something shared by the group or belonging to the state. +
-  * **民 (mín):** This character means "the people" or "populace." It's a core component of `人民 (rénmín)`, meaning "the People." +
-  * The two characters combine to literally mean "public people" or "people of the state." This powerfully conveys the idea of an individual as a formal member of the public body, defined by their relationship to the nation. +
-===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== +
-The term **公民 (gōngmín)** in China carries a weight that is subtly different from "citizen" in many Western cultures, particularly the United States. While both refer to a legal status, the emphasis and historical context diverge. +
-In the West, especially the U.S., the concept of "citizen" is deeply rooted in ideas of individual liberty, natural rights, and popular sovereignty—the government serves the citizens. Civic duty often involves holding the government accountable and participating in a "bottom-up" political process. +
-In China, the concept of **公民 (gōngmín)** is strongly tied to the collective and the state. The constitution outlines the fundamental rights and duties of citizens (`公民的基本权利和义务`). There is a pronounced emphasis on a citizen's duties and responsibilities **to** the state and society, such as upholding national unity, observing the law, and defending the motherland. While rights are legally defined, the cultural understanding often frames these rights within the context of contributing to national strength and social harmony. It reflects a more "top-down" relationship where the state, representing the collective, grants status and defines the role of the individual within the whole. +
-===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== +
-You will almost exclusively encounter **公民 (gōngmín)** in formal settings. It is not a word for casual conversation. +
-***In Legal and Political Discourse*** +
-This is the term's primary domain. It's used in news broadcasts, government documents, legal texts, and political speeches when discussing nationality, constitutional law, and the relationship between the individual and the state. +
-  * `中国**公民**` (Zhōngguó **gōngmín**) - Chinese citizen +
-  * `**公民**权利` (**gōngmín** quánlì) - citizen's rights +
-  * `**公民**义务` (**gōngmín** yìwù) - citizen's duties +
-***In Education and Society*** +
-The term is used in academic and educational contexts, particularly in civics classes, which might be called `公民教育 (gōngmín jiàoyù)`. It's also used in public service announcements that encourage "good citizenship," such as obeying traffic laws or protecting the environment. +
-===== Example Sentences ===== +
-**Example 1:** +
-每个中国**公民**都应该遵守法律。 +
-Pinyin: Měi ge Zhōngguó **gōngmín** dōu yīnggāi zūnshǒu fǎlǜ. +
-English: Every Chinese citizen should abide by the law. +
-Analysis: This is a classic example of **公民 (gōngmín)** used in the context of legal obligation or duty. +
-**Example 2:** +
-根据宪法，**公民**有选举权和被选举权。 +
-Pinyin: Gēnjù xiànfǎ, **gōngmín** yǒu xuǎnjǔquán hé bèi xuǎnjǔquán. +
-English: According to the constitution, citizens have the right to vote and to be elected. +
-Analysis: Here, **公民 (gōngmín)** is tied directly to legal and political rights as defined by the state. +
-**Example 3:** +
-纳税是每个**公民**应尽的义务。 +
-Pinyin: Nàshuì shì měi ge **gōngmín** yīng jìn de yìwù. +
-English: Paying taxes is a duty that every citizen should fulfill. +
-Analysis: The phrase `应尽的义务 (yīng jìn de yìwù)` meaning "duty that one should fulfill," is very commonly paired with **公民 (gōngmín)**. +
-**Example 4:** +
-他放弃了美国国籍，成为了一名中国**公民**。 +
-Pinyin: Tā fàngqì le Měiguó guójí, chéngwéi le yī míng Zhōngguó **gōngmín**. +
-English: He gave up his American nationality and became a Chinese citizen. +
-Analysis: This sentence highlights that **公民 (gōngmín)** is a formal, legal status of nationality. `一名 (yī míng)` is a measure word for people, often used in formal contexts. +
-**Example 5:** +
-学校非常重视学生的**公民**意识教育。 +
-Pinyin: Xuéxiào fēicháng zhòngshì xuéshēng de **gōngmín** yìshí jiàoyù. +
-English: The school places great importance on the students' civic awareness education. +
-Analysis: **公民意识 (gōngmín yìshí)**, or "civic consciousness," is a modern term that refers to a person's understanding of their role, rights, and duties as a citizen. +
-**Example 6:** +
-外国人在中国不具备完全的**公民**权利。 +
-Pinyin: Wàiguórén zài Zhōngguó bù jùbèi wánquán de **gōngmín** quánlì. +
-English: Foreigners in China do not possess full citizen's rights. +
-Analysis: This sentence clarifies the distinction between a resident and a citizen, showing that **公民 (gōngmín)** status is what confers certain rights. +
-**Example 7:** +
-维护国家统一是**公民**的神圣职责。 +
-Pinyin: Wéihù guójiā tǒngyī shì **gōngmín** de shénshèng zhízé. +
-English: Upholding national unity is the sacred duty of a citizen. +
-Analysis: The use of `神圣职责 (shénshèng zhízé)` or "sacred duty" elevates the role of the **公民 (gōngmín)** to a patriotic and almost moral level, which is common in official state language. +
-**Example 8:** +
-这张身份证是您作为中国**公民**的合法凭证。 +
-Pinyin: Zhè zhāng shēnfènzhèng shì nín zuòwéi Zhōngguó **gōngmín** de héfǎ píngzhèng. +
-English: This ID card is your legal proof of being a Chinese citizen. +
-Analysis: This connects the abstract concept of **公民 (gōngmín)** to a concrete, everyday object: the national ID card (`身份证 shēnfènzhèng`). +
-**Example 9:** +
-新闻发言人向全体**公民**发出了呼吁。 +
-Pinyin: Xīnwén fāyánrén xiàng quántǐ **gōngmín** fāchū le hūyù. +
-English: The spokesperson made an appeal to all citizens. +
-Analysis: This demonstrates how the term is used in formal public address, similar to a politician saying, "My fellow citizens..." +
-**Example 10:** +
-我们需要培养有责任感的好**公民**。 +
-Pinyin: Wǒmen xūyào péiyǎng yǒu zérèngǎn de hǎo **gōngmín**. +
-English: We need to cultivate good citizens with a sense of responsibility. +
-Analysis: The phrase `好公民 (hǎo gōngmín)` or "good citizen" is often linked to possessing `责任感 (zérèngǎn)`, a sense of responsibility. +
-===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== +
-The most common mistake for learners is using **公民 (gōngmín)** in casual situations where a different word for "people" is more appropriate. +
-**公民 (gōngmín) vs. 人民 (rénmín) vs. 老百姓 (lǎobǎixìng)** +
-  *   **公民 (gōngmín):** A formal, legal term for a citizen with defined rights and duties. Use it when discussing law, politics, or nationality. +
-  *   **[[人民]] (rénmín):** "The People." A political and collective term, often used by the state to refer to the masses as a whole. It has an ideological flavor (e.g., `人民政府` - People's Government). It's less about individual legal status and more about the collective populace. +
-  *   **[[老百姓]] (lǎobǎixìng):** "The common folk," "ordinary people." This is a very colloquial term used to refer to the general public, usually in contrast to the government or officials. It's the most down-to-earth of the three. +
-**Incorrect Usage Example:** +
-  *   **Incorrect:** 我是北京**公民**。(Wǒ shì Běijīng **gōngmín**.) +
-  *   **Why it's wrong:** This sounds strange and overly formal, like you're reading from a legal document. **公民 (gōngmín)** refers to national citizenship, not residency in a city. +
-  *   **Correct:** 我是北京人。(Wǒ shì Běijīngrén.) - I am a Beijinger / a person from Beijing. +
-  *   **Also Correct (if you need to be formal about residency):** 我是北京的**居民**。(Wǒ shì Běijīng de **jūmín**.) - I am a resident of Beijing. +
-**False Friend: "Citizen"** +
-While **公民 (gōngmín)** translates to "citizen," avoid assuming it carries the same cultural emphasis on individual rights and "bottom-up" civic action as it might in your home country. Remember the strong association with duty to the state and collective in the Chinese context. +
-===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== +
-  *   [[人民]] (rénmín) - "The People"; a collective, political term for the populace. +
-  *   [[老百姓]] (lǎobǎixìng) - "Common folk" or "ordinary people"; a colloquial term. +
-  *   [[居民]] (jūmín) - "Resident"; someone who lives in a specific place, regardless of citizenship. +
-  *   [[国民]] (guómín) - "National" or "citizenry"; refers to the people of a nation, sometimes with a stronger ethnic or cultural connotation than the legalistic `公民`. +
-  *   [[国籍]] (guójí) - "Nationality / Citizenship"; the legal status itself. (e.g., `他的国籍是中国。` - His nationality is Chinese.) +
-  *   [[权利]] (quánlì) - "Rights"; often follows `公民` to mean "citizen's rights." +
-  *   [[义务]] (yìwù) - "Duty / Obligation"; also frequently paired with `公民`. +
-  *   [[身份证]] (shēnfènzhèng) - "ID card"; the physical document that proves one's status as a `公民` in China. +
-  *   [[政治]] (zhèngzhì) - "Politics"; the field where the concept of `公民` is most relevant.+