shèhuì: 社会 - Society

• Keywords: 社会, shehui, Chinese for society, what is shehui, Chinese society, social issues in China, community in Chinese, social life, social person, collectivism in China.
• Summary: A comprehensive guide to understanding 社会 (shèhuì), the Chinese word for “society”. This page breaks down its core meaning, cultural significance, and practical usage. Learn how 社会 (shèhuì) is more than just a direct translation of “society” and discover how it reflects key Chinese cultural values like collectivism, harmony, and the importance of one's role within the group. Whether you're discussing social issues, your career, or even modern slang, this entry will help you master this fundamental term.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): shèhuì
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: A community of people living together in an ordered system; society.
• In a Nutshell: 社会 (shèhuì) is the standard word for “society,” just like in English. However, it often carries a stronger feeling of being a single, large, collective entity that individuals belong to. Think of it less as a loose collection of individuals and more as a giant organization or extended family. Understanding 社会 is key to understanding the public sphere, social norms, and one's place within modern China.

• 社 (shè): Originally, this character depicted an altar for the earth god (土), representing a local community that worshipped together. Today, it means “a society,” “a club,” or “an agency,” always referring to an organized group of people. For example, 旅行社 (lǚxíngshè) is a “travel agency.”
• 会 (huì): This character means “to meet,” “to gather,” or “an assembly/association.” It's the “huì” in 开会 (kāihuì), which means “to hold a meeting.”
• Combined Meaning: When you put 社 (shè) (an organized community) and 会 (huì) (a gathering) together, you get 社会 (shèhuì)—a “gathering of communities.” This perfectly captures the idea of a large-scale, organized human society.

In many Western cultures, “society” is often seen as a collection of individuals pursuing their own goals. The Chinese concept of 社会 (shèhuì) is subtly but profoundly different, heavily influenced by collectivist values. 社会 (shèhuì) is often perceived as a tangible entity with its own interests and expectations. The well-being of the 社会 as a whole is frequently prioritized over the desires of any single individual. This is the foundation of the concept of 社会和谐 (shèhuì héxié), or “social harmony,” a major goal in Chinese governance and social philosophy. A useful comparison is to think of a “company” versus a “marketplace.” A marketplace is a space where independent vendors operate. A company is a single organization where everyone works together toward a common goal. The Western view of society can lean towards the “marketplace” model, while the Chinese view of 社会 (shèhuì) is much closer to the “company” model. An individual is expected to contribute to the group, follow its rules, and find their proper place within its structure. This concept is also tied to the life transition of “entering society” (踏入社会, tà rù shèhuì), which means finishing one's education and starting a full-time job. This is seen as the moment a person leaves the protective bubble of school and family and begins their role as a contributing member of the broader 社会.

社会 is a high-frequency word used in a wide range of contexts, from formal news reports to casual slang.

• Formal/General Use: In news, academia, and formal discussions, it's used exactly like “society” in English to refer to social structures, issues, and development.
  • Examples: 社会问题 (shèhuì wèntí - social problems), 社会发展 (shèhuì fāzhǎn - social development), 社会责任 (shèhuì zérèn - social responsibility).
• Describing a Life Stage: The phrase 进入社会 (jìnrù shèhuì) or 踏入社会 (tà rù shèhuì) is extremely common for describing the major life event of graduating and starting a career.
• Colloquial/Slang Use: Describing a person as 很社会 (hěn shèhuì), literally “very society,” is modern slang. It means the person is street-smart, savvy, and knows how to get things done, often by bending the rules. It can carry a slightly negative connotation, implying someone is a bit of a hustler or gangster-like. This usage was popularized by an internet meme involving the cartoon character Peppa Pig, ironically labeling her “社会人 (shèhuì rén).”

• Example 1:
  • 这是一个复杂的社会。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shì yī個 fùzá de shèhuì.
  • English: This is a complex society.
  • Analysis: A basic, neutral sentence demonstrating the core meaning of 社会.
• Example 2:
  • 大学生毕业后就要进入社会了。
  • Pinyin: Dàxuéshēng bìyè hòu jiù yào jìnrù shèhuì le.
  • English: After graduating, university students must enter society.
  • Analysis: This shows the common usage of “entering society” as a key life milestone.
• Example 3:
  • 我们必须关注当前的社会问题。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen bìxū guānzhù dāngqián de shèhuì wèntí.
  • English: We must pay attention to current social problems.
  • Analysis: Here, 社会 is used as an adjective to modify “problems” (问题).
• Example 4:
  • 每个公民都对社会有责任。
  • Pinyin: Měi ge gōngmín dōu duì shèhuì yǒu zérèn.
  • English: Every citizen has a responsibility to society.
  • Analysis: This sentence reflects the cultural value of contributing to the collective.
• Example 5:
  • 他的社会地位很高。
  • Pinyin: Tā de shèhuì dìwèi hěn gāo.
  • English: His social status is very high.
  • Analysis: 社会地位 (shèhuì dìwèi) is a set phrase for “social status.”
• Example 6:
  • 科技改变了我们的社会。
  • Pinyin: Kējì gǎibiànle wǒmen de shèhuì.
  • English: Technology has changed our society.
  • Analysis: A straightforward example showing how 社会 is used to discuss broad, societal-level changes.
• Example 7:
  • 他刚出社会，还没什么经验。
  • Pinyin: Tā gāng chū shèhuì, hái méi shénme jīngyàn.
  • English: He just entered the workforce, so he doesn't have much experience yet.
  • Analysis: 出社会 (chū shèhuì) is a colloquial alternative to 进入社会. It literally means “to exit (school and) enter society.”
• Example 8:
  • 维护社会稳定是政府的首要任务。
  • Pinyin: Wéihù shèhuì wěndìng shì zhèngfǔ de shǒuyào rènwù.
  • English: Maintaining social stability is the government's primary task.
  • Analysis: This highlights the importance of 社会稳定 (shèhuì wěndìng), or “social stability,” in Chinese political discourse.
• Example 9:
  • 你需要买社会保险吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ xūyào mǎi shèhuì bǎoxiǎn ma?
  • English: Do you need to buy social insurance (social security)?
  • Analysis: 社会保险 (shèhuì bǎoxiǎn), often shortened to 社保 (shèbǎo), is the official term for China's social security system.
• Example 10:
  • 他那个人很社会，你最好别惹他。
  • Pinyin: Tā nàge rén hěn shèhuì, nǐ zuìhǎo bié rě tā.
  • English: That guy is very “street-smart” (or thuggish), you'd better not mess with him.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the modern, colloquial slang usage of 社会 to describe a person. The connotation here is slightly intimidating.

A major pitfall for learners is confusing 社会 (shèhuì) with 社交 (shèjiāo).

• 社会 (shèhuì): Society. The noun for the large-scale system we live in.
• 社交 (shèjiāo): Socializing, social interaction. The *action* of interacting with other people.

Think of it this way: you live in a 社会, and at a party, you 社交. Common Mistake Example:

• Incorrect: 我很喜欢社会。 (Wǒ hěn xǐhuān shèhuì.)
• Why it's wrong: This literally means “I really like society.” It sounds strange and overly academic, as if you're a sociologist who loves studying social structures.
• Correct: 我很喜欢社交。 (Wǒ hěn xǐhuān shèjiāo.)
• Meaning: “I really like socializing.” This is the correct way to say you enjoy being with people, going to parties, etc.

Another nuance is the term 社会人 (shèhuì rén). It doesn't just mean “a person in society.” It specifically refers to someone who has left school and is working, or, in slang, someone who is street-smart and perhaps a bit of a gangster. You would not use it to describe a child or a student.

• 社交 (shèjiāo) - Socializing; social interaction. The *activity* of being social, distinct from the system of 社会.
• 社区 (shèqū) - Community. Refers to a much smaller, local unit, like a neighborhood or residential area. It's a component of the larger 社会.
• 集体主义 (jítǐ zhǔyì) - Collectivism. The ideology that the group (集体 or 社会) is more important than the individual.
• 关系 (guānxi) - Relationships; connections. The network of personal connections essential for navigating Chinese 社会.
• 和谐 (héxié) - Harmony. A core cultural value and a key goal for the 社会. Often seen in the phrase 社会和谐 (shèhuì héxié).
• 稳定 (wěndìng) - Stability. Another primary goal for the Chinese 社会, often linked with harmony.
• 阶层 (jiēcéng) - Social stratum; class. Used to describe different economic or status levels within 社会.
• 公司 (gōngsī) - Company. A primary organizational unit where most people participate in 社会 after graduation.