tóngzhì: 同志 - Comrade, Gay Person (LGBTQ+)

• Keywords: tongzhi, 同志, tóngzhì, Chinese comrade, Chinese gay, LGBTQ in China, meaning of tongzhi, 同志 meaning, Chinese Communist Party term, queer in Chinese, gay in Chinese
• Summary: Discover the fascinating dual meaning of the Chinese word 同志 (tóngzhì). Originally a revolutionary term for “comrade,” it was used universally in Communist China to signify equality and shared purpose. However, since the 1990s, 同志 (tóngzhì) has been reclaimed by the LGBTQ+ community as a positive and widely used term for “gay” or “queer.” Understanding this word's evolution from political ideology to modern identity is key to grasping a unique aspect of contemporary Chinese culture and language.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): tóngzhì
• Part of Speech: Noun, Form of Address
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: A term meaning “comrade,” which is also the most common contemporary term for a gay person or a member of the LGBTQ+ community.
• In a Nutshell: 同志 (tóngzhì) literally translates to “same will” or “same purpose.” This made it the perfect form of address during China's Communist era, meant to unite all people as “comrades” in the revolutionary cause. While this political usage is now mostly formal or historical, the word has had a powerful rebirth. Starting in Hong Kong and Taiwan, it was adopted by the LGBTQ+ community to describe their own shared identity and goals. Today, its primary meaning in everyday conversation, especially among younger people, is “gay” or “LGBTQ+.”

• 同 (tóng): This character means “same,” “alike,” or “together.” It depicts a mouth (口) under a cover, suggesting agreement or speaking as one.
• 志 (zhì): This character means “will,” “aspiration,” or “purpose.” It's a combination of 士 (shì - a scholar, a gentleman) on top of 心 (xīn - the heart/mind). It beautifully illustrates the idea of an ambition held within one's heart or mind.
• Together, 同志 (tóngzhì) creates the meaning “people with a shared purpose or aspiration.” This originally referred to a shared political ideology, but was cleverly re-appropriated to refer to a shared sexual identity.

The story of 同志 (tóngzhì) is a powerful lesson in how language evolves with society. It has two distinct lives. 1. The Revolutionary “Comrade”: After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, 同志 (tóngzhì) became the standard, state-mandated form of address for everyone, regardless of age, rank, or gender. Calling someone “Comrade” (e.g., 王同志, Wáng tóngzhì) instead of “Mr. Wang” (王先生, Wáng xiānsheng) was a political act. It symbolized the erasure of feudal and bourgeois hierarchies, promoting a new collectivist value system where everyone was an equal participant in the socialist revolution. This usage dominated Chinese society for decades. 2. Reclaiming Identity - The “Queer” Comrade: In 1989, at the first Hong Kong Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, the creator and activist Edward Lam proposed using 同志 (tóngzhì) to refer to the LGBTQ+ community. The logic was brilliant and subversive: like the revolutionaries of the past, queer people were a community with a “shared purpose”—the fight for acceptance and equal rights. This reclamation provided a positive, indigenous, and politically-charged alternative to clinical or derogatory terms. The usage spread rapidly to Taiwan and then to Mainland China, becoming the default identifier for the community. Comparison to Western Culture: The journey of 同志 (tóngzhì) is strikingly similar to the word “queer” in English. “Queer,” once a derogatory slur, was reclaimed by activists and academics in the 1990s to become a positive, inclusive umbrella term. Both 同志 (tóngzhì) and “queer” represent a community taking control of its own narrative by re-purposing the language of a powerful institution (the Communist Party for 同志, and homophobic society for “queer”).

Context is everything when using 同志 (tóngzhì) today. Its meaning changes dramatically based on the speaker, the listener, and the situation.

• Formal / Political Context: In official Communist Party meetings, in state-run news reports, or when addressing government officials or police officers, 同志 (tóngzhì) retains its “comrade” meaning. For example, a news anchor might refer to Xi Jinping as “习近平同志” (Xí Jìnpíng Tóngzhì). A citizen might address an officer as “警察同志” (jǐngchá tóngzhì - Police Comrade). This usage is formal and increasingly rare in daily life.
• LGBTQ+ Context: This is the most common usage in modern, urban China. It's a neutral-to-positive term used within the community and by allies to refer to gay people or the broader LGBTQ+ population. It is much more common than direct translations like “同性恋” (tóngxìngliàn), which can sound clinical or overly formal.
• Ironic / Humorous Context: Sometimes, friends might jokingly call each other 同志 (tóngzhì) to evoke the old-fashioned, revolutionary feeling in a humorous way.

• Example 1:
  • 各位同志，请保持安静，会议马上开始。
  • Pinyin: Gèwèi tóngzhì, qǐng bǎochí ānjìng, huìyì mǎshàng kāishǐ.
  • English: All comrades, please be quiet, the meeting is about to begin.
  • Analysis: This is a classic example of the formal, political usage. You would hear this in a government or company meeting, not in a coffee shop.
• Example 2:
  • 他是同志吗？我觉得他好像是。
  • Pinyin: Tā shì tóngzhì ma? Wǒ juéde tā hǎoxiàng shì.
  • English: Is he gay? I think he might be.
  • Analysis: This is the most common modern usage. Here, the speaker is discreetly asking about someone's sexual orientation.
• Example 3:
  • 警察同志，我的钱包被偷了！
  • Pinyin: Jǐngchá tóngzhì, wǒ de qiánbāo bèi tōu le!
  • English: Police officer, my wallet was stolen!
  • Analysis: Addressing a police officer as “同志” is a polite and slightly formal way to show respect for their official position. It is one of the few holdovers of the “comrade” meaning in public life.
• Example 4:
  • 我最好的朋友向我出柜了，我很高兴他信任我，我们永远是好同志。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zuì hǎo de péngyou xiàng wǒ chūguì le, wǒ hěn gāoxìng tā xìnrèn wǒ, wǒmen yǒngyuǎn shì hǎo tóngzhì.
  • English: My best friend came out to me, I'm so happy he trusts me, we will always be good friends/comrades.
  • Analysis: This is a clever and heartwarming play on words. The speaker uses 同志 to mean both “friend/comrade” in solidarity and acknowledges his friend's new identity as a 同志 (gay person).
• Example 5:
  • 这个城市的同志社群非常活跃。
  • Pinyin: Zhège chéngshì de tóngzhì shèqún fēicháng huóyuè.
  • English: The LGBTQ+ community in this city is very active.
  • Analysis: Here, 同志 is used as an adjective to describe the community as a whole. “社群” (shèqún) means “community.”
• Example 6:
  • 在毛主席的时代，人人都互相称呼“同志”。
  • Pinyin: Zài Máo zhǔxí de shídài, rénrén dōu hùxiāng chēnghu “tóngzhì”.
  • English: In Chairman Mao's era, everyone addressed each other as “comrade.”
  • Analysis: This sentence describes the historical usage of the term, placing it firmly in the past.
• Example 7:
  • 作为一名同志，在中国生活有时会很有挑战性。
  • Pinyin: Zuòwéi yī míng tóngzhì, zài Zhōngguó shēnghuó yǒushí huì hěn yǒu tiǎozhàn xìng.
  • English: As a gay person, living in China can sometimes be challenging.
  • Analysis: This is an example of self-identification, using 同志 in a personal and political context related to identity.
• Example 8:
  • “你好，同志！” “啊？你是在说我吗？”
  • Pinyin: “Nǐ hǎo, tóngzhì!” “Á? Nǐ shì zài shuō wǒ ma?”
  • English: “Hello, comrade/gay person!” “Huh? Are you talking to me?”
  • Analysis: This shows the potential for awkwardness. An unsolicited “同志” can be ambiguous and confusing for the listener, who doesn't know which meaning is intended.
• Example 9:
  • 今天的同志骄傲游行有很多人参加。
  • Pinyin: Jīntiān de tóngzhì jiāo'ào yóuxíng yǒu hěn duō rén cānjiā.
  • English: Many people participated in today's Gay Pride Parade.
  • Analysis: 同志 is used here as a direct equivalent of “Gay” in the phrase “Gay Pride” (同志骄傲, tóngzhì jiāo'ào).
• Example 10:
  • 别开玩笑了，我们只是好兄弟，不是同志！
  • Pinyin: Bié kāiwánxiào le, wǒmen zhǐshì hǎo xiōngdì, bùshì tóngzhì!
  • English: Stop joking, we're just good bros, not a gay couple!
  • Analysis: Here, 同志 is used to mean “a gay couple” or “in a gay relationship.” This is a common colloquial usage, often in a joking or clarifying manner.

• The Biggest Mistake: A foreigner trying to be friendly by using what they think is an old-fashioned, charming term. Do not call a stranger “同志” on the street. In the 1970s, this was normal. Today, you will likely cause confusion. The person may think you are a plain-clothes police officer, or more likely, that you are asking if they are gay. Stick to safer forms of address like `你好 (nǐ hǎo)`, `先生 (xiānsheng)`, or `美女 (měinǚ)`.
• Incorrect Usage:
  • (At a restaurant)
  • Wrong: 服务员同志，请给我菜单。(Fúwùyuán tóngzhì, qǐng gěi wǒ càidān.)
  • Why it's wrong: This is incredibly awkward. It sounds overly formal and political, like you've time-traveled from the Cultural Revolution. Or, it could be misinterpreted as you asking about the waiter's sexuality.
  • Correct: 服务员，请给我菜单。(Fúwùyuán, qǐng gěi wǒ càidān.) or simply, 你好，菜单。(Nǐ hǎo, càidān.)
• Context is King: The meaning of 同志 (tóngzhì) is 100% dependent on context. If you are at a Pride event, it means “LGBTQ+.” If you are watching a documentary about the Communist Party, it means “comrade.” If you are not sure which meaning is appropriate, it's best to use a different word.

• 朋友 (péngyou) - Friend. The most common and safe word for a friend, with no political or sexual connotations.
• 同性恋 (tóngxìngliàn) - Homosexual / Homosexuality. A more formal, clinical, or scientific term. 同志 is generally preferred in casual conversation.
• 拉拉 (lālā) - A popular slang term for “lesbian,” derived from the English word. It's an informal term used within the community.
• 出柜 (chū guì) - “To come out of the closet.” A direct and widely understood loan-translation from English.
• 酷儿 (kù'er) - “Queer.” A phonetic loanword from English, often used in academic or more activist circles, similar to its usage in the West.
• 革命 (gémìng) - Revolution. The original cultural and political context in which 同志 became a word for the entire nation.
• 先生 (xiānsheng) - Mr. / Sir. The default polite term for addressing a man you don't know.
• 女士 (nǚshì) - Ms. / Madam. The default polite term for addressing a woman you don't know.
• 基友 (jīyǒu) - Lit. “gay friend.” A very popular slang term. While it can refer to an actual gay friend, it's most often used humorously between close straight male friends to mean “best bud” or to describe a “bromance.”