quánlì dòuzhēng: 权力斗争 - Power Struggle, Political Infighting

• Keywords: quanli douzheng, quánlì dòuzhēng, 权力斗争, power struggle in Chinese, political infighting Chinese, Chinese politics, Chinese business culture, office politics, gongdou, historical drama terms.
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 权力斗争 (quánlì dòuzhēng), the essential Chinese term for a power struggle or political infighting. This comprehensive guide explores its deep roots in Chinese history, its modern-day relevance in corporate boardrooms and government, and its central role in popular palace dramas. Learn how to use this term correctly, understand its cultural nuances, and see why it's more than just a simple disagreement.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): quánlì dòuzhēng
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: N/A (Composed of HSK 5 权力 and HSK 6 斗争)
• Concise Definition: A serious conflict or struggle between individuals or groups to gain or maintain power, control, and influence.
• In a Nutshell: Think beyond a simple argument. `权力斗争` describes a high-stakes, often prolonged and covert, battle for dominance. It's the central plot of countless Chinese historical dramas, a key concept for understanding political history, and a reality of modern corporate life. The term implies strategy, factions, and a zero-sum game where one side's gain is the other's loss.

• 权 (quán): Power, authority, right. This character is composed of 木 (mù, tree/wood) and 雚 (guàn, a type of heron, used for its sound). Historically, it was associated with a sliding weight on a steelyard balance, symbolizing the “weight” of authority and the power to judge.
• 力 (lì): Strength, force, power. This is a pictograph of a plow, or alternatively, an arm flexing its muscle, representing physical strength and effort.
• 斗 (dòu): To fight, struggle, contend. The character is a pictograph of two people grappling or fighting.
• 争 (zhēng): To strive, contend, vie for. The character depicts a hand at the top and another at the bottom, both trying to grasp a central object, vividly illustrating the idea of contention.

Together, 权力 (quánlì) combines “authority” and “strength” to mean power. 斗争 (dòuzhēng) combines “fighting” and “contending” to mean struggle. Thus, `权力斗争` is a very literal and potent phrase: a “power struggle”.

`权力斗争` is a concept woven into the fabric of Chinese civilization. From the endless cycles of dynasties rising and falling to the intricate plots within the Forbidden City, the struggle for power has been a constant theme. A key difference from the Western concept of a “power struggle” lies in the methodology and social dynamics. While a Western power struggle might be more direct (e.g., a hostile takeover, a public challenge), the traditional Chinese approach, influenced by strategists like Sun Tzu, often values indirectness, patience, and subtlety. It's less about a single, decisive confrontation and more about a long-term campaign of building alliances (`关系`, guānxi), undermining rivals, and manipulating situations to one's advantage. This is famously depicted in the “palace struggle” or `宫斗 (gōngdòu)` genre of TV shows. Here, imperial concubines, princes, and eunuchs engage in complex schemes not for personal glory alone, but for the survival and supremacy of their clan or faction. This reflects a collectivist aspect where the struggle is often between groups, not just individuals. The famous classic `三十六计 (The Thirty-Six Stratagems)` can be seen as a tactical manual for navigating such conflicts.

`权力斗争` is a formal and serious term. You will encounter it in specific, high-stakes contexts.

• Politics and News: This is its primary domain. News reports and analyses use it to describe factional conflicts within a political party (domestically or internationally), historical events like the Cultural Revolution, or geopolitical rivalries between nations.
• Corporate and Business: The term for “office politics” is `办公室政治 (bàngōngshì zhèngzhì)`, which is seen as a form of `权力斗争`. It's used to describe intense rivalries between departments, fights for executive positions, or struggles over a company's strategic direction.
• Historical Dramas and Literature: This is where learners most frequently encounter the term. It's used to describe the entire plot of shows focusing on imperial courts, warlord eras, or family sagas.
• Connotation: The term is almost always negative or, at best, a neutral descriptor for a destructive situation. It implies discord, self-interest, and instability, which are contrary to the traditional Confucian value of harmony (`和谐`, héxié).

• Example 1:
  • 这家公司的管理层充满了权力斗争，影响了公司的发展。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī de guǎnlǐcéng chōngmǎn le quánlì dòuzhēng, yǐngxiǎng le gōngsī de fāzhǎn.
  • English: This company's management is full of power struggles, which has affected the company's development.
  • Analysis: A classic example of using the term in a corporate context. It points to a serious, systemic problem at the leadership level.
• Example 2:
  • 很多历史剧都喜欢描述古代宫廷里的权力斗争。
  • Pinyin: Hěn duō lìshǐjù dōu xǐhuān miáoshù gǔdài gōngtíng lǐ de quánlì dòuzhēng.
  • English: Many historical dramas love to depict the power struggles within ancient imperial courts.
  • Analysis: This sentence directly connects the term to the popular TV genre (`宫斗`, gōngdòu), a very common context for learners.
• Example 3:
  • 两位候选人之间的权力斗争已经公开化了。
  • Pinyin: Liǎng wèi hòuxuǎnrén zhījiān de quánlì dòuzhēng yǐjīng gōngkāihuà le.
  • English: The power struggle between the two candidates has now become public.
  • Analysis: Highlights the transition from a covert (`暗中`, ànzhōng) to an overt (`公开`, gōngkāi) conflict, a critical turning point in any power struggle.
• Example 4:
  • 在一个家庭企业里，继承问题常常会引发权力斗争。
  • Pinyin: Zài yī ge jiātíng qǐyè lǐ, jìchéng wèntí chángcháng huì yǐnfā quánlì dòuzhēng.
  • English: In a family business, succession issues often trigger power struggles.
  • Analysis: Shows the term's applicability to family dynamics, especially when significant assets or control are at stake.
• Example 5:
  • 为了避免权力斗争，他们制定了非常明确的职责分工。
  • Pinyin: Wèile bìmiǎn quánlì dòuzhēng, tāmen zhìdìng le fēicháng míngquè de zhízé fēngōng.
  • English: In order to avoid power struggles, they established a very clear division of responsibilities.
  • Analysis: This example shows the term being used to describe a problem that needs a solution, illustrating its negative connotations.
• Example 6:
  • 这两个国家几十年来一直处于地缘政治的权力斗争中。
  • Pinyin: Zhè liǎng ge guójiā jǐ shí nián lái yīzhí chǔyú dìyuán zhèngzhì de quánlì dòuzhēng zhōng.
  • English: These two countries have been in a geopolitical power struggle for decades.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates the use of the term on an international scale, referring to geopolitics.
• Example 7:
  • 他不想卷入部门经理之间的权力斗争，所以选择了辞职。
  • Pinyin: Tā bù xiǎng juǎnrù bùmén jīnglǐ zhījiān de quánlì dòuzhēng, suǒyǐ xuǎnzé le cízhí.
  • English: He didn't want to get involved in the power struggle between the department managers, so he chose to resign.
  • Analysis: A personal and relatable example of the negative impact of office politics on an individual employee.
• Example 8:
  • 历史告诉我们，无休止的权力斗争最终只会导致国家的衰落。
  • Pinyin: Lìshǐ gàosù wǒmen, wúxiūzhǐ de quánlì dòuzhēng zuìzhōng zhǐ huì dǎozhì guójiā de shuāiluò.
  • English: History tells us that endless power struggles will ultimately only lead to the decline of a nation.
  • Analysis: A philosophical and historical reflection, treating `权力斗争` as a destructive force.
• Example 9:
  • 新总裁的到来，预示着一场新的权力斗争即将开始。
  • Pinyin: Xīn zǒngcái de dàolái, yùshì zhe yī chǎng xīn de quánlì dòuzhēng jíjiāng kāishǐ.
  • English: The arrival of the new CEO foreshadows that a new power struggle is about to begin.
  • Analysis: This sentence captures the feeling of an impending conflict, often triggered by a change in leadership.
• Example 10:
  • 他们表面上是合作伙伴，但暗地里一直在进行权力斗争。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen biǎomiàn shàng shì hézuò huǒbàn, dàn àndìlǐ yīzhí zài jìnxíng quánlì dòuzhēng.
  • English: On the surface, they are partners, but secretly they have been engaged in a power struggle all along.
  • Analysis: Emphasizes the covert, hidden nature (`暗地里`, àndìlǐ) that is characteristic of many power struggles.

• Not Just Any Argument: The most common mistake is to use `权力斗争` for a simple disagreement or competition. It's a very strong term. Arguing with a colleague about a project deadline is a `争论 (zhēnglùn)` or `分歧 (fēnqí)`. Competing for a sales bonus is `竞争 (jìngzhēng)`. A `权力斗争` is when you are trying to take their job, get them fired, or dismantle their department's influence.
  • Incorrect: 我们为去哪里吃饭发生了权力斗争。 (Wǒmen wèi qù nǎlǐ chīfàn fāshēng le quánlì dòuzhēng.) - We had a power struggle over where to eat.
  • Correct: 我们为去哪里吃饭发生了争论。 (Wǒmen wèi qù nǎlǐ chīfàn fāshēng le zhēnglùn.) - We had an argument over where to eat.
• Stakes Matter: The term implies that real power, authority, or control is at stake. If the outcome doesn't significantly shift the power dynamics between the involved parties, it's not a `权力斗争`.

• 宫斗 (gōngdòu) - “Palace struggle.” A very popular sub-genre of `权力斗争` set in an imperial court, often focusing on concubines.
• 内斗 (nèidòu) - “Internal struggle” or “infighting.” A more general term that emphasizes the conflict is happening *within* a single group, company, or party.
• 政治斗争 (zhèngzhì dòuzhēng) - “Political struggle.” A near-synonym, but one that is exclusively used for the world of politics and government.
• 办公室政治 (bàngōngshì zhèngzhì) - “Office politics.” The modern, corporate application of `权力斗争` principles.
• 夺权 (duóquán) - “To seize power.” A verb describing the ultimate goal of a `权力斗争`.
• 派系 (pàixì) - “Faction” or “clique.” The groups or teams that engage in a `权力斗争`.
• 竞争 (jìngzhēng) - “Competition.” Spiritually, the opposite. `竞争` can be healthy and is often encouraged (e.g., in the market), while `斗争` is destructive.
• 关系 (guānxi) - “Connections/Network.” The social capital and network of obligations that are often leveraged as weapons in a `权力斗争`.
• 三十六计 (sānshíliù jì) - “The Thirty-Six Stratagems.” A classic collection of ancient Chinese stratagems that can be seen as a playbook for winning a `权力斗争`.