jueqǐ: 崛起 - Rise, Emerge, Spring up

• Keywords: 崛起, jueqi, juéqǐ, rise of China, China's rise, peaceful rise, emerge, spring up, rise to prominence, what does jueqi mean, Chinese word for rise, Chinese political terms
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 崛起 (juéqǐ), the powerful Chinese word for 'rise' or 'emerge.' This page explores why 'the rise of China' (中国的崛起) is a crucial concept in modern politics and economics. Learn how to use this formal term in sentences about business, personal achievement, and historical events, and understand its deep cultural significance for any learner of Chinese.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): juéqǐ
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: To rise abruptly to a position of prominence or power, often from a previously low or obscure state.
• In a Nutshell: 崛起 isn't just about “rising” like the sun. It's a powerful, formal term that describes a dramatic and significant ascent. Think of a sleeping giant waking up, a new company dominating a market overnight, or a nation emerging as a global power. It implies strength, suddenness, and a fundamental shift in status.

• 崛 (jué): This character means “to tower” or “to rise suddenly.” It's composed of the radical 山 (shān) for “mountain” on top, and 屈 (qū) meaning “to bend” or “to submit” below. Imagine a mountain bursting forth from the bent earth—it conveys immense height and abruptness.
• 起 (qǐ): A very common character meaning “to rise,” “to get up,” or “to start.” It signifies the beginning of an upward movement.

When combined, 崛起 (juéqǐ) creates a vivid image of “rising up like a mountain.” It's not a gentle slope; it's a dramatic, powerful, and towering emergence.

The most important cultural context for 崛起 in the 21st century is 中国的崛起 (Zhōngguó de juéqǐ) - The Rise of China. This phrase is ubiquitous in Chinese media, political discourse, and academic writing. It encapsulates the nation's rapid economic and geopolitical transformation over the past few decades. A key related concept was 和平崛起 (hépíng juéqǐ) - “Peaceful Rise.” This was a political term promoted by the Chinese government in the early 2000s to assure the world that its growing power would not be a threat, but a positive force for global stability and development. Comparison to Western Concepts: In English, the word “rise” can be quite neutral (e.g., “the sun will rise”). 崛起 is much more loaded. It's closer in feeling to the English phrase “meteoric rise” but can be applied to massive entities like nations and industries. Unlike simple “growth” or “development,” 崛起 implies a fundamental change in the power structure. It suggests a journey from a lower, weaker, or less-noticed position to one of strength and prominence. It carries a sense of overcoming past hardships to achieve present strength.

崛起 is a formal word. You will encounter it frequently in the news, documentaries, and formal speeches, but rarely in casual, everyday conversation.

• Geopolitics and Economics: This is its most common usage. It's used to describe the ascent of nations, economic blocs, or major industries.
  • e.g., “亚洲四小龙的崛起” (The rise of the Four Asian Tigers).
• Business and Technology: It can describe a company or brand that has quickly gone from a startup to an industry leader.
  • e.g., “这家科技公司迅速崛起” (This tech company rose rapidly).
• Metaphorical Rise: It can be used more poetically to describe the emergence of a new idea, a social movement, or an individual's significant career ascent.
  • e.g., “一位新星在文坛的崛起” (The rise of a new star in the literary world).

The connotation is almost always positive or, at the very least, neutral and impactful. It signifies strength, success, and a major transformation.

• Example 1:
  • 中国的崛起改变了世界格局。
  • Pinyin: Zhōngguó de juéqǐ gǎibiàn le shìjiè géjú.
  • English: The rise of China has changed the global landscape.
  • Analysis: This is the classic, most common usage of 崛起, referring to China's emergence as a global power. It's formal and used in political or economic contexts.
• Example 2:
  • 我们正在见证一个新兴经济体的崛起。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen zhèngzài jiànzhèng yí ge xīnxīng jīngjìtǐ de juéqǐ.
  • English: We are witnessing the rise of an emerging economy.
  • Analysis: Here, 崛起 is applied to a broader category (“emerging economy”), highlighting its use in economic news and analysis.
• Example 3:
  • 这家公司凭借其创新产品在市场上迅速崛起。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī píngjiè qí chuàngxīn chǎnpǐn zài shìchǎng shàng xùnsù juéqǐ.
  • English: This company, relying on its innovative products, rose rapidly in the market.
  • Analysis: This shows 崛起 used in a business context to describe a company's dramatic success. The adverb 迅速 (xùnsù - rapidly) often accompanies it.
• Example 4:
  • 社交媒体的崛起彻底改变了人们的沟通方式。
  • Pinyin: Shèjiāo méitǐ de juéqǐ chèdǐ gǎibiàn le rénmen de gōutōng fāngshì.
  • English: The rise of social media has completely changed the way people communicate.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates how 崛起 can apply to abstract concepts or phenomena, like a technology trend.
• Example 5:
  • 战后，这座城市在废墟上重新崛起。
  • Pinyin: Zhànhòu, zhè zuò chéngshì zài fèixū shàng chóngxīn juéqǐ.
  • English: After the war, this city rose again from the ruins.
  • Analysis: The word 重新 (chóngxīn - again) adds a layer of meaning, emphasizing a “re-emergence” or revival, which is a powerful and evocative use of the term.
• Example 6:
  • 他是近年来在好莱坞崛起的一位新导演。
  • Pinyin: Tā shì jìnniánlái zài Hǎoláiwù juéqǐ de yí wèi xīn dǎoyǎn.
  • English: He is a new director who has risen to prominence in Hollywood in recent years.
  • Analysis: This shows the term can be applied to an individual's career, but it implies a significant, high-profile ascent to the top of their field. It's not for a simple promotion.
• Example 7:
  • 任何大国的崛起都伴随着挑战和机遇。
  • Pinyin: Rènhé dàguó de juéqǐ dōu bànsuí zhe tiǎozhàn hé jīyù.
  • English: The rise of any great power is accompanied by challenges and opportunities.
  • Analysis: A sophisticated sentence you might hear in an academic lecture or read in an international relations article. It frames 崛起 as a complex process.
• Example 8:
  • 那个足球队从联赛垫底崛起为冠军。
  • Pinyin: Nàge zúqiúduì cóng liánsài diàndǐ juéqǐ wéi guànjūn.
  • English: That soccer team rose from the bottom of the league to become the champion.
  • Analysis: This is a perfect example of the “from low to high” meaning inherent in 崛起. It highlights a dramatic turnaround.
• Example 9:
  • 智能手机的崛起导致了传统相机的衰落。
  • Pinyin: Zhìnéng shǒujī de juéqǐ dǎozhì le chuántǒng xiàngjī de shuāiluò.
  • English: The rise of the smartphone led to the decline of the traditional camera.
  • Analysis: This sentence cleverly contrasts 崛起 with its antonym, 衰落 (shuāiluò - decline), showing how one's rise can cause another's fall.
• Example 10:
  • 历史上有许多王朝的崛起与灭亡。
  • Pinyin: Lìshǐ shàng yǒu xǔduō wángcháo de juéqǐ yǔ mièwáng.
  • English: In history, there have been the rise and fall of many dynasties.
  • Analysis: This places 崛起 in a historical context, treating it as part of a natural cycle of power, similar to “rise and fall” in English.

• Don't use it for getting up: The most common mistake for learners is to confuse 崛起 (juéqǐ) with the simple act of “getting up” or “standing up.”
  • Incorrect: 我早上七点崛起。(Wǒ zǎoshang qī diǎn juéqǐ.)
  • Correct: 我早上七点起床。(Wǒ zǎoshang qī diǎn qǐchuáng.) - “I get up at 7 AM.”
  • Correct: 请站起来。(Qǐng zhàn qǐlái.) - “Please stand up.”
  • Reason: 崛起 is for a metaphorical, large-scale, and powerful rise, not a simple physical action.
• 崛起 vs. 发展 (fāzhǎn) vs. 增长 (zēngzhǎng):
  • 增长 (zēngzhǎng) is “growth,” usually in numbers or quantity (e.g., GDP growth, population growth). It's about an increase.
  • 发展 (fāzhǎn) is “development,” a broader and more general term for progress and advancement.
  • 崛起 (juéqǐ) is “to rise to prominence.” It implies not just growth, but a fundamental shift in status and power, often from a position of weakness. A country can have economic 增长 and social 发展 for years before it is considered a true 崛起.

• 复兴 (fùxīng) - Renaissance, revival. Different from 崛起 because it implies a return to a previous state of glory (e.g., the Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation - 中华民族伟大复兴).
• 兴起 (xīngqǐ) - To rise, to spring up. Similar to 崛起, but often used for trends, movements, or ideas rather than a single powerful entity. It feels a bit more “organic” and less like a singular, powerful thrust.
• 腾飞 (téngfēi) - Literally “to soar and fly.” A vivid metaphor for extremely rapid economic take-off. It emphasizes speed more than 崛起 does.
• 发展 (fāzhǎn) - Development. The steady, ongoing process that can lead to a 崛起. It's a more neutral and common term.
• 强大 (qiángdà) - Powerful, strong. This is the state or quality that a nation or company achieves after its 崛起.
• 衰落 (shuāiluò) - To decline, wane, or decay. The direct antonym of 崛起.
• 和平 (hépíng) - Peace. Often used in the political phrase 和平崛起 (Peaceful Rise).