jiānkòng: 监控 - To Monitor, Surveil, Control

• Keywords: jiankong, 监控, monitor in Chinese, surveillance in Chinese, control in Chinese, Chinese CCTV, supervise Chinese, what does jiankong mean, Chinese security camera
• Summary: Learn the meaning of 监控 (jiānkòng), a critical Chinese term for “to monitor,” “to surveil,” or “to control.” This page breaks down how 监控 is used in everyday life in China, from technical system monitoring and CCTV security cameras to the broader cultural context of public safety and surveillance. Understand the difference between 监控 (jiānkòng) and related words like 监督 (jiāndū) to use it accurately.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jiānkòng
• Part of Speech: Verb, Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: To monitor, to surveil, to control; the act or system of monitoring/surveillance.
• In a Nutshell: 监控 (jiānkòng) is about keeping a close watch over a situation, system, or place, often using technology like cameras or sensors. It combines the idea of “supervising” with “controlling.” While it can be neutral (like monitoring a patient's heartbeat), it's most commonly associated with CCTV surveillance cameras, which are a highly visible part of modern Chinese society.

• 监 (jiān): This character means “to supervise,” “to inspect,” or “to watch over.” Imagine someone in a position of authority looking down (from above 臣 and 人) upon a vessel or situation (皿) to ensure everything is in order.
• 控 (kòng): This character means “to control.” The hand radical (扌) on the left clearly indicates an action of manipulation or management.
• When combined, 监控 (jiānkòng) literally means to “supervise and control.” This perfectly captures the dual meaning of observing something while also having the ability to manage or influence it.

In many Western cultures, widespread public surveillance often sparks debates about individual privacy versus state control. The term “surveillance” can carry a negative, “Big Brother” connotation. In China, 监控 (jiānkòng) is viewed through a different cultural lens. While privacy concerns exist, the concept is overwhelmingly framed and accepted as a tool for public safety (公共安全 - gōnggòng ānquán) and social harmony. The presence of 监控摄像头 (jiānkòng shèxiàngtóu)—surveillance cameras—on nearly every street corner, in subways, and in businesses is often seen by citizens as a deterrent to crime and a way to quickly resolve disputes (like traffic accidents). This acceptance is linked to a more collectivist mindset, where the security and stability of the group can take precedence over individual freedoms. The government heavily promotes the effectiveness of its vast surveillance network, known colloquially as 天网 (Tiānwǎng) or “Skynet,” in catching criminals and maintaining order. For a learner, it's crucial to understand that while you might feel “watched,” the average Chinese citizen may feel “protected” by the same system.

监控 is a versatile word used in various modern contexts.

• Public Security and CCTV: This is the most common usage. It refers to the vast network of cameras watching over public and private spaces.
  • e.g., “这里有监控。” (Zhèlǐ yǒu jiānkòng.) - “There is surveillance here.” (A common sign).
• Technical and IT Systems: In a professional context, it refers to monitoring the performance of a network, server, or any automated system. This usage is neutral.
  • e.g., “我们需要监控服务器的负载。” (Wǒmen xūyào jiānkòng fúwùqì de fùzài.) - “We need to monitor the server load.”
• Medical and Scientific Contexts: Used for monitoring a patient's vital signs, a scientific experiment, or environmental conditions. This is also a neutral usage.
  • e.g., “医生在监控病人的心率。” (Yīshēng zài jiānkòng bìngrén de xīnlǜ.) - “The doctor is monitoring the patient's heart rate.”
• Personal Supervision (Slightly Negative Connotation): When used for people, it can imply a lack of trust. A boss “monitoring” an employee or a parent “monitoring” a child's every move feels controlling and intrusive.
  • e.g., “我感觉我老板一直在监控我。” (Wǒ gǎnjué wǒ lǎobǎn yīzhí zài jiānkòng wǒ.) - “I feel like my boss is constantly monitoring me.”

• Example 1:
  • 为了公共安全，这个区域处于24小时监控之下。
  • Pinyin: Wèile gōnggòng ānquán, zhège qūyù chǔyú èrshísì xiǎoshí jiānkòng zhī xià.
  • English: For public safety, this area is under 24-hour surveillance.
  • Analysis: A very common and formal sentence you might see on signs or in official announcements. Here, 监控 is used as a noun for “surveillance.”
• Example 2:
  • IT部门负责监控公司的网络系统。
  • Pinyin: IT bùmén fùzé jiānkòng gōngsī de wǎngluò xìtǒng.
  • English: The IT department is responsible for monitoring the company's network system.
  • Analysis: This shows the neutral, technical usage of 监控 as a verb.
• Example 3:
  • 警察通过监控录像找到了小偷。
  • Pinyin: Jǐngchá tōngguò jiānkòng lùxiàng zhǎodàole xiǎotōu.
  • English: The police found the thief by using the surveillance footage.
  • Analysis: 监控录像 (jiānkòng lùxiàng) is a key phrase meaning “surveillance footage/video.”
• Example 4:
  • 父母不应该过度监控孩子的生活。
  • Pinyin: Fùmǔ bù yìnggāi guòdù jiānkòng háizi de shēnghuó.
  • English: Parents shouldn't excessively monitor their children's lives.
  • Analysis: This example highlights the negative connotation of control and intrusion when 监控 is applied to personal relationships.
• Example 5:
  • 护士正在监控病人的生命体征。
  • Pinyin: Hùshi zhèngzài jiānkòng bìngrén de shēngmìng tǐzhēng.
  • English: The nurse is monitoring the patient's vital signs.
  • Analysis: A standard, neutral use in a medical context.
• Example 6:
  • 这个软件可以帮你监控你的每日开销。
  • Pinyin: Zhège ruǎnjiàn kěyǐ bāng nǐ jiānkòng nǐ de měi rì kāixiāo.
  • English: This software can help you monitor your daily expenses.
  • Analysis: Shows how 监控 can be used for personal data tracking, similar to “track” or “monitor” in English.
• Example 7:
  • 小区门口新安装了几个监控摄像头。
  • Pinyin: Xiǎoqū ménkǒu xīn ānzhuāngle jǐ ge jiānkòng shèxiàngtóu.
  • English: Several new surveillance cameras were installed at the entrance of the residential complex.
  • Analysis: 监控 is used here as an adjective to describe the type of camera (摄像头 - shèxiàngtóu).
• Example 8:
  • 老师在考场里来回走动，监控学生是否作弊。
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī zài kǎochǎng lǐ láihuí zǒudòng, jiānkòng xuéshēng shìfǒu zuòbì.
  • English: The teacher walked back and forth in the examination hall, monitoring whether students were cheating.
  • Analysis: This is a direct, human form of monitoring, similar to “supervising” but with a stricter feel.
• Example 9:
  • 银行会对可疑的大额交易进行监控。
  • Pinyin: Yínháng huì duì kěyí de dà'é jiāoyì jìnxíng jiānkòng.
  • English: The bank will conduct monitoring of suspicious large-amount transactions.
  • Analysis: A formal use of 进行监控 (jìnxíng jiānkòng), meaning “to carry out monitoring,” common in financial and regulatory contexts.
• Example 10:
  • 请放心，我们的监控系统只是为了保证大家的安全。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng fàngxīn, wǒmen de jiānkòng xìtǒng zhǐshì wèile bǎozhèng dàjiā de ānquán.
  • English: Please rest assured, our surveillance system is only to ensure everyone's safety.
  • Analysis: This sentence frames 监控 in a positive, reassuring light, which is a common perspective in China. 监控系统 (jiānkòng xìtǒng) means “surveillance/monitoring system.”

• False Friend: “Monitor” (the screen): An English speaker might point to a computer screen and call it a 监控. This is incorrect. A computer screen or display is a 显示器 (xiǎnshìqì). 监控 refers to the *act* or *system* of surveillance, not the physical device you watch it on (though you might watch the 监控录像 on a 显示器).
• 监控 (jiānkòng) vs. 监督 (jiāndū): This is a critical distinction.
  • 监控 (jiānkòng) is often impersonal, technical, and continuous observation (like a camera). It's about data collection and watching for deviations.
  • 监督 (jiāndū) means “to supervise” and implies a more human-centric process of oversight to ensure rules are followed or quality standards are met. A manager 监督 their team's work; a camera 监控 a hallway.
  • *Incorrect:* 摄像头在监督我们。(The camera is supervising us.) → This sounds odd.
  • *Correct:* 摄像头在监控我们。(The camera is monitoring us.)
  • *Correct:* 老板在监督我们的项目进度。(The boss is supervising our project's progress.)

• 监督 (jiāndū) - To supervise. More about overseeing people and processes to ensure quality and compliance, less about passive surveillance.
• 摄像头 (shèxiàngtóu) - Camera. Often used in the phrase 监控摄像头 (surveillance camera).
• 监视 (jiānshì) - To watch over, to surveil. Very similar to 监控, but often implies a more targeted, intense, and sometimes covert surveillance of a specific person or target.
• 控制 (kòngzhì) - To control. This is the “control” part of 监控, but it stands alone as a much broader and more direct term.
• 安全 (ānquán) - Safety, security. The primary justification given for widespread 监控.
• 天网 (Tiānwǎng) - “Skynet.” The official and colloquial name for China's massive nationwide video surveillance network.
• 看管 (kānguǎn) - To look after, to guard. Less technical and more about physical guardianship, like a security guard watching over a property.
• 隐私 (yǐnsī) - Privacy. The concept often seen as being in tension with 监控.