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| 干部 [2025/08/10 13:56] – created xiaoer | 干部 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1 |
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| ====== gànbù: 干部 - Cadre, Official, Functionary ====== | |
| ===== Quick Summary ===== | |
| * **Keywords:** 干部, ganbu, Chinese cadre, Chinese official, what is a ganbu, CCP official, government worker in China, functionary, leadership in China, public servant, state-owned enterprise, 体制内 (tǐzhì nèi). | |
| * **Summary:** The Chinese term **干部 (gànbù)** translates to "cadre" or "official," but it represents a concept far broader than a simple government worker. A `干部` is a person in a position of management, leadership, or administration within China's public system. This includes not only government officials but also leaders in state-owned enterprises, public schools, hospitals, and community organizations. Understanding `干部` is essential for grasping the structure of modern Chinese society and the pervasive influence of the state "system" (**体制, tǐzhì**) in daily life. | |
| ===== Core Meaning ===== | |
| * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** gànbù | |
| * **Part of Speech:** Noun | |
| * **HSK Level:** HSK 5 | |
| * **Concise Definition:** A cadre, official, or functionary, especially one holding a leadership or administrative position within a state, Party, or public institution. | |
| * **In a Nutshell:** Think of a `干部` as anyone with managerial responsibility inside "the system." It's not just a job title; it's a role that signifies a level of authority and responsibility within the vast network of Chinese public life. The term is neutral and descriptive, covering a wide range of positions from a local neighborhood committee director to a high-ranking government minister. It's the default word for a person in charge within a public or state-run entity. | |
| ===== Character Breakdown ===== | |
| * **干 (gàn):** While this character has other meanings, here it means "to do," "to work," or "main trunk/backbone." It implies being a core, functional part of something. | |
| * **部 (bù):** This character means "part," "section," or "department." | |
| * **Combined Meaning:** The characters literally combine to mean "the working part" or "the backbone of a department." This beautifully illustrates the role of a `干部` as a key administrative or functional component of an organization. They are the people who "do the work" of management and keep the departments running. | |
| ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== | |
| The concept of the `干部` is central to the political and social structure of the People's Republic of China. The `干部` system forms the administrative backbone of the party-state, implementing policy and managing public resources at every level of society. | |
| A useful comparison is to the Western concept of a "public official" or "civil servant." However, there are crucial differences: | |
| 1. **Scope:** A Western "civil servant" almost exclusively refers to someone working in government. A `干部`, however, can be a manager in a state-owned bank, a university dean, a hospital administrator, or a factory director, as long as the institution is state-affiliated. The term blurs the lines between government, business, and education in a way that is unique to China's system. | |
| 2. **Political Nature:** While Western civil servants are ideally apolitical, the `干部` system is fundamentally intertwined with the Communist Party of China (CPC). Many, especially at higher levels, are Party members, and their role involves executing Party policy alongside state functions. | |
| 3. **"The System" (体制, tǐzhì):** Being a `干部` means you are **[[体制内]] (tǐzhì nèi)** - "inside the system." This provides a high degree of job security, social status, and benefits (the so-called "iron rice bowl," or **铁饭碗 tiě fànwǎn**), making it a highly desirable career path for many Chinese people. It represents stability and a connection to state power and resources. | |
| ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== | |
| `干部` is a common and generally neutral term used in news, official documents, and everyday conversation. | |
| * **Formal Contexts:** In news reports or government announcements, `干部` is the standard, respectful term for officials and administrators. For example, "A delegation of cadres visited the disaster area." (一批**干部**前往灾区视察). | |
| * **Everyday Conversation:** People use it to describe someone's job. If a friend's father is a manager at a state-run telecom company, they might say, "我爸爸是公司的**干部**" (Wǒ bàba shì gōngsī de gànbù - My dad is a cadre at his company). | |
| * **Connotation:** | |
| * **Neutral (Most Common):** Simply describes a person's role. | |
| * **Positive:** When preceded by words like "good" (好 hǎo) or "outstanding" (优秀 yōuxiù), it implies a dedicated and effective leader. The phrase **为人民服务 (wèi rénmín fúwù)**, "to serve the people," is the ideal that a good `干部` should embody. | |
| * **Slightly Negative:** In some contexts, it can evoke images of a rigid, out-of-touch bureaucrat, especially when discussing red tape or inefficiency. | |
| ===== Example Sentences ===== | |
| * **Example 1:** | |
| * 他是一名经验丰富的**干部**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Tā shì yī míng jīngyàn fēngfù de **gànbù**. | |
| * English: He is an experienced cadre. | |
| * Analysis: A simple, neutral statement describing someone's profession and experience. | |
| * **Example 2:** | |
| * 这位**干部**对我们很热情，解决了我们所有的问题。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhè wèi **gànbù** duì wǒmen hěn rèqíng, jiějué le wǒmen suǒyǒu de wèntí. | |
| * English: This official was very enthusiastic and solved all of our problems. | |
| * Analysis: Here, `干部` is used with a positive connotation, describing someone who is helpful and effective in their public role. | |
| * **Example 3:** | |
| * 公司的**干部**们正在开会，讨论下一步的计划。 | |
| * Pinyin: Gōngsī de **gànbù**men zhèngzài kāihuì, tǎolùn xià yībù de jìhuà. | |
| * English: The company's executives/leaders are having a meeting to discuss the next step of the plan. | |
| * Analysis: This shows the use of `干部` in a state-owned enterprise context. It's equivalent to "management" or "executives." | |
| * **Example 4:** | |
| * 一个好**干部**应该把人民的利益放在第一位。 | |
| * Pinyin: Yī ge hǎo **gànbù** yīnggāi bǎ rénmín de lìyì fàng zài dìyī wèi. | |
| * English: A good cadre should put the people's interests first. | |
| * Analysis: This sentence reflects the official, idealized role of a `干部` in Chinese political discourse. | |
| * **Example 5:** | |
| * 他年纪轻轻就当上了**干部**，真了不起。 | |
| * Pinyin: Tā niánjì qīngqīng jiù dāng shàng le **gànbù**, zhēn liǎobuqǐ. | |
| * English: He became a cadre at such a young age, it's really amazing. | |
| * Analysis: This highlights the social status associated with becoming a `干部`, seen as a significant achievement. | |
| * **Example 6:** | |
| * 我们需要培养更多的年轻**干部**来接班。 | |
| * Pinyin: Wǒmen xūyào péiyǎng gèng duō de niánqīng **gànbù** lái jiēbān. | |
| * English: We need to cultivate more young cadres to take over. | |
| * Analysis: "接班 (jiēbān)" means to succeed a predecessor. This is common official language about ensuring continuity in leadership. | |
| * **Example 7:** | |
| * 退休**干部**每个月都有养老金。 | |
| * Pinyin: Tuìxiū **gànbù** měi ge yuè dōu yǒu yǎnglǎojīn. | |
| * English: Retired cadres receive a pension every month. | |
| * Analysis: This points to the benefits of being "in the system." A specific term for this is [[老干部]] (lǎo gànbù). | |
| * **Example 8:** | |
| * 他是外交部的**干部**，经常出国。 | |
| * Pinyin: Tā shì wàijiāobù de **gànbù**, jīngcháng chūguó. | |
| * English: He is an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and often travels abroad. | |
| * Analysis: Shows how `干部` is used to specify a person's affiliation with a particular government department (部, bù). | |
| * **Example 9:** | |
| * 别看他只是个小**干部**，权力可不小。 | |
| * Pinyin: Bié kàn tā zhǐshì ge xiǎo **gànbù**, quánlì kě bù xiǎo. | |
| * English: Don't just see him as a low-level cadre; his power is not small at all. | |
| * Analysis: This sentence gives insight into the nuances of power structures, where even a seemingly junior `干部` can have significant influence. | |
| * **Example 10:** | |
| * 这件事情需要上级**干部**批准。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhè jiàn shìqing xūyào shàngjí **gànbù** pīzhǔn. | |
| * English: This matter requires approval from a higher-level cadre. | |
| * Analysis: Demonstrates the hierarchical nature of the system in which `干部` operate. | |
| ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== | |
| * **Mistake 1: Confusing `干部` with `经理 (jīnglǐ)`.** | |
| * Do not use `干部` for a manager in a private or foreign company. `干部` is reserved for public, state-run, or Party-affiliated organizations. For a manager at Apple China or a private restaurant, you must use **[[经理]] (jīnglǐ)**. | |
| * *Incorrect:* 他是麦当劳的干部。 (Tā shì Màidāngláo de gànbù.) | |
| * *Correct:* 他是麦当劳的**经理**。 (Tā shì Màidāngláo de **jīnglǐ**.) | |
| * **Mistake 2: Assuming every `干部` is a Communist Party Member.** | |
| * While many cadres, especially senior ones, are CPC members, it is not a prerequisite for the title. The term refers to the administrative *position*, not necessarily political affiliation. There are many non-Party cadres, known as **非党干部 (fēidǎng gànbù)**. | |
| * **False Friend: "Cadre" in English.** | |
| * While "cadre" is the best direct translation, the English word often has a strong military or revolutionary flavor (e.g., "a cadre of elite soldiers"). The Chinese `干部` is far more common and its primary meaning is bureaucratic and administrative. In most cases, translating `干部` as "official," "administrator," or "leader" is more natural in English, depending on the context. | |
| ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== | |
| * [[领导]] (lǐngdǎo) - Leader; Leadership. A `领导` is a type of `干部`. This term emphasizes the person's authority and role as a leader, whereas `干部` is a more general classification of the position. | |
| * [[官员]] (guānyuán) - Government Official. This term is more formal than `干部` and refers more specifically to officials within the government bureaucracy, often of a certain rank. `干部` is a broader category. | |
| * [[公务员]] (gōngwùyuán) - Civil Servant. A modern term for a government employee who has passed the national civil service exam. All `公务员` are `干部`, but not all `干部` (e.g., a manager in a state-owned company) are `公务员`. | |
| * [[体制内]] (tǐzhì nèi) - "Inside the System." The socio-political environment of state-affiliated employment where `干部` work. It implies stability, benefits, and a unique culture. | |
| * [[单位]] (dānwèi) - Work Unit. The specific public institution or state-owned enterprise where a `干部` is employed. A core concept of life in China. | |
| * [[老干部]] (lǎo gànbù) - Veteran Cadre. Refers to retired officials, who often enjoy special status, pensions, and healthcare benefits. | |
| * [[经理]] (jīnglǐ) - Manager. The correct term for a manager in the private sector. The direct counterpart to `干部` in a commercial, non-state context. | |
| * [[铁饭碗]] (tiě fànwǎn) - Iron Rice Bowl. A metaphor for the extreme job security, guaranteed salary, and benefits associated with being a `干部` or other state employee. | |