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| 小康社会 [2025/08/10 04:36] – created xiaoer | 小康社会 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1 |
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| ====== xiǎokāng shèhuì: 小康社会 - Moderately Prosperous Society, Well-off Society ====== | |
| ===== Quick Summary ===== | |
| * **Keywords:** xiaokang shehui, 小康社会, moderately prosperous society, well-off society, Chinese Dream, China's economic goals, Deng Xiaoping, CCP policy, Chinese society, what is xiaokang, common prosperity. | |
| * **Summary:** "小康社会 (xiǎokāng shèhuì)" is a foundational concept in modern China, referring to a "moderately prosperous society" where the majority of citizens enjoy a comfortable, stable, middle-class standard of living. Repurposed from ancient Confucian philosophy by Deng Xiaoping, it became a key national goal for the Chinese Communist Party, signifying the elimination of absolute poverty and the achievement of a decent quality of life for all. Understanding "xiaokang" is essential to grasping China's socio-economic development and the vision of the "Chinese Dream." | |
| ===== Core Meaning ===== | |
| * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** xiǎokāng shèhuì | |
| * **Part of Speech:** Noun Phrase | |
| * **HSK Level:** N/A (High-frequency term in news and politics) | |
| * **Concise Definition:** A society that is "moderately prosperous" or "comfortably well-off," where the basic material needs of its people are met. | |
| * **In a Nutshell:** Forget about billionaires and lavish luxury. "小康社会" describes the sweet spot of societal well-being. It’s a collective national goal to create a society where people don't have to worry about food, shelter, or basic education. Think of it as China's vision for a comprehensive, stable middle-class life for its citizens. It's not about individual riches, but about raising the entire country to a level of comfort, security, and dignity. | |
| ===== Character Breakdown ===== | |
| * **小 (xiǎo):** Small, minor, slightly. | |
| * **康 (kāng):** Healthy, peaceful, abundant. | |
| * **社 (shè):** Society, group, agency. Originally referring to a god of the earth or a village community. | |
| * **会 (huì):** To meet, gathering, society, association. | |
| The characters combine to form two words: **小康 (xiǎokāng)** and **社会 (shèhuì)**. | |
| * **小康 (xiǎokāng)** literally means "small abundance" or "minor peace." The "small" here implies "moderate" or "comfortable," not "insignificant." It's a state of being well-off but not extravagantly wealthy. | |
| * **社会 (shèhuì)** is the modern Chinese word for "society." | |
| Together, **小康社会 (xiǎokāng shèhuì)** is a "society of moderate prosperity"—a nation that has achieved a widespread, comfortable standard of living. | |
| ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== | |
| The term `小康` has a history stretching back over two millennia. It first appeared in the Confucian *Book of Rites* (《礼记》), where it described a realistic, orderly society—a step toward the ultimate utopian ideal of **大同 (dàtóng)**, or the "Great Harmony." | |
| In the late 1970s, Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping brilliantly revived this ancient term to frame China's modern economic goals. By using a concept deeply embedded in Chinese culture, he created a vision that was both ambitious and relatable for the nation. | |
| **Comparison with "The American Dream":** | |
| * **The American Dream** is typically an **individualistic** concept. It emphasizes personal freedom, upward mobility, and the potential for unlimited wealth ("from rags to riches"). The responsibility lies with the individual. | |
| * **小康社会** is a **collectivist** concept. It is a state-led, national goal focused on raising the standard of living for **everyone**. It prioritizes societal stability, the elimination of poverty, and a shared, moderate level of prosperity over individual enrichment. It's less about climbing a ladder to the very top and more about building a solid, comfortable, and wide foundation for the entire house. This reflects the value placed on the collective good and the government's role in ensuring the people's livelihood (民生, mínshēng). | |
| ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== | |
| * **Official Government Policy:** This term is ubiquitous in government documents, official speeches, and state media. The major goal "全面建成小康社会" (quánmiàn jiànchéng xiǎokāng shèhuì), or "to comprehensively build a moderately prosperous society," was declared achieved by the CCP in 2021, coinciding with its 100th anniversary. It serves as a benchmark for national progress. | |
| * **Personal Aspirations:** In everyday conversation, people use `小康` to describe a desirable lifestyle. It's a common personal or family goal. Achieving a `小康生活 (xiǎokāng shēnghuó)`—a "xiaokang life"—often implies having a stable job, owning an apartment and a car, being able to afford good healthcare and education for children, and having the means to travel for leisure. | |
| * **Connotation:** The term carries a strong positive and hopeful connotation. It represents progress, stability, comfort, and national achievement. | |
| ===== Example Sentences ===== | |
| * **Example 1:** | |
| * 中国宣布已全面建成**小康社会**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhōngguó xuānbù yǐ quánmiàn jiànchéng **xiǎokāng shèhuì**. | |
| * English: China announced that it has comprehensively built a moderately prosperous society. | |
| * Analysis: This is a typical official statement you would see in the news, using the full, formal phrase. | |
| * **Example 2:** | |
| * 我们家现在的生活水平已经达到**小康**了。 | |
| * Pinyin: Wǒmen jiā xiànzài de shēnghuó shuǐpíng yǐjīng dádào **xiǎokāng** le. | |
| * English: Our family's standard of living has now reached a "xiaokang" (well-off) level. | |
| * Analysis: Here, `小康` is used colloquially to describe a family's economic status. The `社会` part is often dropped in informal contexts. | |
| * **Example 3:** | |
| * 我不求大富大贵，只想过上**小康**的日子就心满意足了。 | |
| * Pinyin: Wǒ bù qiú dà fù dà guì, zhǐ xiǎng guò shàng **xiǎokāng** de rìzi jiù xīn mǎn yì zú le. | |
| * English: I'm not seeking great wealth and fortune; I'd be content just to live a comfortably well-off life. | |
| * Analysis: This sentence perfectly illustrates the nuance of `小康`—it's explicitly contrasted with being rich (`大富大贵`), highlighting its "moderate" nature. | |
| * **Example 4:** | |
| * 对他来说，有车有房的生活就是**小康**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Duì tā lái shuō, yǒu chē yǒu fáng de shēnghuó jiùshì **xiǎokāng**. | |
| * English: For him, a life with a car and a house is "xiaokang." | |
| * Analysis: This shows the tangible markers often associated with the `小康` standard in modern urban China. | |
| * **Example 5:** | |
| * 邓小平在80年代提出了建设**小康社会**的伟大构想。 | |
| * Pinyin: Dèng Xiǎopíng zài bāshí niándài tíchūle jiànshè **xiǎokāng shèhuì** de wěidà gòuxiǎng. | |
| * English: Deng Xiaoping put forward the great vision of building a moderately prosperous society in the 1980s. | |
| * Analysis: This sentence places the term in its modern historical context, crediting Deng Xiaoping for its re-introduction. | |
| * **Example 6:** | |
| * 实现**小康**是实现中国梦的关键一步。 | |
| * Pinyin: Shíxiàn **xiǎokāng** shì shíxiàn Zhōngguó Mèng de guānjiàn yībù. | |
| * English: Achieving a "xiaokang" society is a critical step toward realizing the Chinese Dream. | |
| * Analysis: This links `小康社会` to another major political concept, the "Chinese Dream," showing its foundational role. | |
| * **Example 7:** | |
| * 很多农村地区也正在向**小康**生活迈进。 | |
| * Pinyin: Hěn duō nóngcūn dìqū yě zhèngzài xiàng **xiǎokāng** shēnghuó màijìn. | |
| * English: Many rural areas are also advancing toward a "xiaokang" life. | |
| * Analysis: This highlights that `小康` is a goal for all of China, including rural areas, as part of the push for poverty alleviation and balanced development. | |
| * **Example 8:** | |
| * 衡量**小康**的标准不仅仅是收入，还包括教育、医疗和环境。 | |
| * Pinyin: Héngliáng **xiǎokāng** de biāozhǔn bù jǐnjǐn shì shōurù, hái bāokuò jiàoyù, yīliáo hé huánjìng. | |
| * English: The measure of "xiaokang" is not just income, but also includes education, healthcare, and the environment. | |
| * Analysis: This demonstrates the comprehensive nature of the concept. It's about overall quality of life, not just money. | |
| * **Example 9:** | |
| * 他们家挺**小康**的，孩子都上国际学校了。 | |
| * Pinyin: Tāmen jiā tǐng **xiǎokāng** de, háizi dōu shàng guójì xuéxiào le. | |
| * English: Their family is quite well-off; their kids even go to an international school. | |
| * Analysis: An example of `小康` being used as a quasi-adjective. `挺 (tǐng)...的` means "quite...". This is a very natural, conversational usage. | |
| * **Example 10:** | |
| * 从温饱到**小康**，是中国四十年来巨大的飞跃。 | |
| * Pinyin: Cóng wēnbǎo dào **xiǎokāng**, shì Zhōngguó sìshí nián lái jùdà de fēiyuè. | |
| * English: From subsistence (wēnbǎo) to moderate prosperity (xiǎokāng), this is China's great leap over the past forty years. | |
| * Analysis: This sentence contrasts `小康` with `温饱 (wēnbǎo)`, the stage of just having enough food and clothing, showing the progression of China's development. | |
| ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== | |
| * **Mistake 1: Confusing `小康` with "Rich".** | |
| The most common mistake is to think `小康` means "rich." It doesn't. It means "comfortably well-off" or "middle-class." | |
| * **Incorrect:** 他很有钱，过着小康生活。(He is very rich, living a xiaokang life.) // This is contradictory. If he's very rich, he's past the `小康` stage. | |
| * **Correct:** 他不追求暴富，只想过上安稳的小康生活。(He doesn't chase sudden wealth, he just wants to live a stable, comfortable life.) | |
| * **Mistake 2: Applying a societal concept to an individual.** | |
| `小康社会` refers to a society. You cannot say a person **is** a `小康社会`. | |
| * **Incorrect:** 他是一个小康社会。(He is a moderately prosperous society.) | |
| * **Correct:** 他来自一个**小康家庭**。(Tā láizì yīgè **xiǎokāng jiātíng**.) - He comes from a well-off family. | |
| * **Correct:** 他的生活很**小康**。(Tā de shēnghuó hěn **xiǎokāng**.) - His life is very comfortable. | |
| * **False Friend: "Well-off"** | |
| While "well-off" is a good starting translation, in English it can sometimes suggest being in the upper-middle class. `小康` is broader and more foundational. It's about the absence of economic precarity and the ability to enjoy modern comforts. It's the new baseline, not a luxury status. | |
| ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== | |
| * [[温饱]] (wēnbǎo) - "Warm and full." The state of basic subsistence, having just enough food and clothing. This is the stage *before* `小康`. | |
| * [[脱贫]] (tuōpín) - To escape poverty. The process of moving from below `温饱` to at least `温饱`, which is the prerequisite for achieving `小康`. | |
| * [[中国梦]] (zhōngguó mèng) - The Chinese Dream. A broader vision of national rejuvenation, of which creating a `小康社会` is a cornerstone. | |
| * [[共同富裕]] (gòngtóng fùyù) - Common prosperity. The ideological goal that comes *after* `小康`, focused on reducing the wealth gap and ensuring prosperity is more evenly shared. | |
| * [[中产阶级]] (zhōngchǎn jiējí) - Middle class. The social stratum that most embodies the `小康` lifestyle. The expansion of this class is a key indicator of a `小康社会`. | |
| * [[大同]] (dàtóng) - The Great Harmony. The ancient Confucian utopian ideal of a perfect, harmonious society. `小康` is considered a realistic, achievable step towards this ideal. | |
| * [[改革开放]] (gǎigé kāifàng) - Reform and Opening-Up. The set of policies initiated by Deng Xiaoping that unleashed China's economic growth and made the pursuit of `小康社会` a reality. | |
| * [[民生]] (mínshēng) - The people's livelihood. A broad term for the well-being of the populace (jobs, housing, healthcare). Improving `民生` to the `小康` level is a primary government objective. | |