jiànshè: 建设 - To Build, Construct, Development

• Keywords: jianshe, 建设, build in Chinese, construct in Chinese, construction, development, nation-building, economic development, infrastructure construction, China development, Chinese word for build.
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 建设 (jiànshè), which means “to build” or “construction.” This page offers a deep dive beyond simple translation, exploring how jiànshè represents not just physical construction but also the large-scale, ambitious development of a nation, economy, or even abstract concepts like company culture. Understand its cultural significance in modern China, see practical examples, and learn to distinguish it from similar words like 盖 (gài).

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jiànshè
• Part of Speech: Verb, Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To build, to construct; construction, development (often large-scale and systematic).
• In a Nutshell: 建设 (jiànshè) is a powerful word that goes beyond laying bricks. Think bigger. It's about the planned, purposeful creation of something significant that contributes to a larger goal. While it can mean building a bridge, it's more often used for building a city's subway system, a nation's economy, or a company's brand. It carries a sense of progress, ambition, and collective effort.

• 建 (jiàn): To build, establish, or found. The character combines 廴 (yǐn), a radical for moving forward over a long distance, with 聿 (yù), an ancient character for a writing brush. This paints a picture of moving forward according to a plan or blueprint.
• 设 (shè): To set up, arrange, or establish. It's composed of 言 (yán), meaning “speech” or “words,” and 殳 (shū), an ancient weapon or tool for action. This suggests establishing something through both decree (words) and implementation (action).
• Together, 建设 (jiànshè) implies a planned (建) and systematically implemented (设) act of construction or development, creating something organized and substantial.

In modern China, 建设 (jiànshè) is more than a verb; it's a cornerstone of the national narrative. The term is deeply intertwined with the concept of “national rejuvenation” (民族复兴, mínzú fùxīng) and the country's rapid economic and social transformation over the past few decades. You will hear it constantly in government reports, news broadcasts, and public slogans, often referring to:

• 经济建设 (jīngjì jiànshè): Economic construction/development.
• 现代化建设 (xiàndàihuà jiànshè): Modernization.
• 基础设施建设 (jīchǔ shèshī jiànshè): Infrastructure construction.

Compared to the English word “construction,” which is often a neutral term for a physical building project, 建设 (jiànshè) carries a powerful, positive connotation of progress, state-led ambition, and building a better future for the collective. While an American might talk about “developing a community,” the Chinese use of 建设 implies a more top-down, planned, and monumental effort to transform that community according to a grand vision. It reflects a cultural value placed on collective goals and long-term strategic planning.

建设 is used in both formal and semi-formal contexts, almost always with a positive and forward-looking tone.

• In Government and News: This is its most common habitat. It's used to describe any large-scale public works or policy initiatives. For example, building new high-speed rail, developing a special economic zone, or implementing environmental protection policies are all forms of 建设.
• In Business: Companies use it to talk about building non-physical assets. For instance, 品牌建设 (pǐnpái jiànshè) is “brand building,” and 企业文化建设 (qǐyè wénhuà jiànshè) is “building corporate culture.”
• In Abstract Concepts: It can even be used for personal or societal development, such as 思想建设 (sīxiǎng jiànshè), meaning “ideological development” or “building up one's mindset,” and 心理建设 (xīnlǐ jiànshè), which is like “mental preparation” or “building psychological resilience.”

• Example 1:
  • 中国正在建设更多的高速铁路。
  • Pinyin: Zhōngguó zhèngzài jiànshè gèng duō de gāosù tiělù.
  • English: China is currently building more high-speed railways.
  • Analysis: A classic example of 建设 used for large-scale infrastructure projects.
• Example 2:
  • 这个城市需要建设一个新的机场来满足日益增长的客流量。
  • Pinyin: Zhège chéngshì xūyào jiànshè yī ge xīn de jīchǎng lái mǎnzú rìyì zēngzhǎng de kèliúliàng.
  • English: This city needs to construct a new airport to meet the growing passenger traffic.
  • Analysis: Here, 建设 functions as a verb referring to a major public facility.
• Example 3:
  • 经济建设是国家发展的中心任务。
  • Pinyin: Jīngjì jiànshè shì guójiā fāzhǎn de zhōngxīn rènwù.
  • English: Economic development is the central task of national development.
  • Analysis: 建设 is used as a noun here, representing the entire field of economic development as a national priority.
• Example 4:
  • 我们公司非常重视企业文化建设。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī fēicháng zhòngshì qǐyè wénhuà jiànshè.
  • English: Our company places great importance on building corporate culture.
  • Analysis: This shows the abstract use of 建设 in a business context. You are “building” an intangible concept.
• Example 5:
  • 在重大挑战面前，我们需要做好心理建设。
  • Pinyin: Zài zhòngdà tiǎozhàn miànqián, wǒmen xūyào zuòhǎo xīnlǐ jiànshè.
  • English: In the face of major challenges, we need to do good psychological preparation (build up our mental fortitude).
  • Analysis: A great example of its abstract personal use. You are “constructing” your own mental readiness.
• Example 6:
  • 深圳的快速发展离不开成功的城市建设规划。
  • Pinyin: Shēnzhèn de kuàisù fāzhǎn líbukāi chénggōng de chéngshì jiànshè guīhuà.
  • English: Shenzhen's rapid development is inseparable from successful urban construction planning.
  • Analysis: Here, 建设 is a noun, part of the compound “urban construction.”
• Example 7:
  • 政府投入了大量资金用于农村的基础设施建设。
  • Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ tóurù le dàliàng zījīn yòngyú nóngcūn de jīchǔ shèshī jiànshè.
  • English: The government has invested a large amount of funds in the infrastructure construction of rural areas.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates its common pairing with “infrastructure” (基础设施).
• Example 8:
  • 加强法治建设对社会稳定至关重要。
  • Pinyin: Jiāqiáng fǎzhì jiànshè duì shèhuì wěndìng zhìguān zhòngyào.
  • English: Strengthening the construction of the rule of law is crucial for social stability.
  • Analysis: An abstract, societal use. It means systematically building and improving the legal system.
• Example 9:
  • 这个项目还在建设中，预计明年完工。
  • Pinyin: Zhège xiàngmù hái zài jiànshè zhōng, yùjì míngnián wángōng.
  • English: This project is still under construction and is expected to be completed next year.
  • Analysis: Here, “在建设中” is a set phrase meaning “under construction.”
• Example 10:
  • 品牌建设是一个长期的过程，需要耐心和策略。
  • Pinyin: Pǐnpái jiànshè shì yī ge chángqī de guòchéng, xūyào nàixīn hé cèlüè.
  • English: Brand building is a long-term process that requires patience and strategy.
  • Analysis: Another business example, where 建设 acts as a noun for “building” or “development.”

The most common mistake for learners is using 建设 (jiànshè) for small, everyday building projects.

• 建设 (jiànshè) vs. 盖 (gài):
  • Use 建设 (jiànshè) for large, complex, or abstract things: a city, a railway, a nation's economy, a company's culture.
  • Use 盖 (gài) for specific, smaller buildings: a house, a shed, a small school.
  • Incorrect: 我要建设一个新房子。 (Wǒ yào jiànshè yī ge xīn fángzi.) - This sounds overly grandiose, like you're building a national monument instead of a house.
  • Correct: 我要盖一个新房子。 (Wǒ yào gài yī ge xīn fángzi.) - “I want to build a new house.”
• “Construction” as a False Friend: While “construction” is a good starting translation, remember that 建设 has a broader, more positive, and often state-driven connotation. When you hear “economic construction” (经济建设), don't just picture bulldozers; picture a comprehensive national strategy for economic development.

• 建筑 (jiànzhù) - Architecture; a building. 建设 is the process of building, while 建筑 is often the noun for the finished product.
• 修建 (xiūjiàn) - To build, construct, or repair. Often used for specific, tangible projects like roads, dams, and temples. It's more focused on the physical act than the grand vision of 建设.
• 建立 (jiànlì) - To establish, set up, or found. Used for relationships, organizations, or systems (e.g., 建立公司 - to found a company; 建立友谊 - to establish a friendship).
• 发展 (fāzhǎn) - To develop; development. A very broad term. 建设 is often a key method used to achieve 发展.
• 盖 (gài) - To build. The go-to verb for smaller, individual structures like a house (盖房子).
• 施工 (shīgōng) - Construction; to be under construction. This term refers specifically to the on-site labor and work of a construction project. You'll see it on signs at building sites.
• 创造 (chuàngzào) - To create. This implies originality and invention, often used for art, ideas, or new technologies.
• 设置 (shèzhì) - To set up, to install. Often used for equipment, software, or establishing a new department. It shares the character 设 with 建设.