jīngjì: 经济 - Economy, Economic, Financial

• Keywords: 经济, jingji, Chinese economy, China economy, what does jingji mean, Chinese for economy, economic in Chinese, financial Chinese, learn Chinese economics
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 经济 (jīngjì), the essential Chinese word for “economy” and “economic.” This comprehensive guide explores not just its translation, but its profound cultural significance in modern China, where economic development has shaped society for decades. Learn how to use jīngjì correctly in conversations about everything from global markets to personal finance, and understand its nuances compared to related terms like finance and being “economical.”

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jīngjì
• Part of Speech: Noun, Adjective
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: Economy; economic; financial; thrifty/economical.
• In a Nutshell: 经济 (jīngjì) is the fundamental term for the “economy” – the system of how a country manages its money, goods, and industries. It's also used as an adjective, “economic,” to describe anything related to this system. In modern China, you'll hear this word constantly, as it reflects the nation's intense focus on growth, development, and financial well-being over the past several decades.

• 经 (jīng): This character's original meaning was the vertical “warp” threads on a loom, which form the foundation of a fabric. This idea of a foundation or a guiding principle extended its meaning to “to manage,” “to pass through,” or “classic scriptures.” Here, think of it as “to manage” or “to organize.”
• 济 (jì): This character often means “to cross a river” or, by extension, “to help,” “to aid,” or “to provide for.”
• How they combine: Together, 经 (jīng) and 济 (jì) literally mean “to manage and to provide for.” The word is actually a shortened version of a classical four-character phrase, 经世济民 (jīng shì jì mín), which means “to order the world and to provide for the people.” This origin beautifully captures the idea that an economy's ultimate purpose is to manage a state's resources to care for its citizens.

The term 经济 (jīngjì) carries immense weight in modern China, far beyond its simple definition. Since the “Reform and Opening Up” (改革开放, gǎigé kāifàng) policies began in the late 1970s, 经济发展 (jīngjì fāzhǎn - economic development) has been the central narrative of the nation. It represents not just statistics on a chart, but a collective national project that has lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty and restored a sense of national pride. In the West, “the economy” is a critical topic but is often viewed through a lens of political debate and cyclical booms and busts. In China, for decades, pursuing economic growth was a near-universally accepted goal, a core pillar of the government's legitimacy and a shared ambition among the people. While recent years have seen more discussion about environmental impact and inequality, the foundational belief in the importance of a strong 经济 remains deeply ingrained in the culture. Discussing the 经济 is discussing the nation's past, present, and future.

经济 is a versatile and high-frequency word.

• As a noun (“the economy”): It's used to talk about the economy of a country, a region, or the world.
  • e.g., 中国经济 (Zhōngguó jīngjì) - The Chinese economy.
  • e.g., 全球经济 (quánqiú jīngjì) - The global economy.
• As an adjective (“economic”): It describes things related to the economy.
  • e.g., 经济问题 (jīngjì wèntí) - economic problems.
  • e.g., 经济政策 (jīngjì zhèngcè) - economic policy.
• Meaning “economical” or “thrifty”: It can also describe a choice that saves money. This usage is common but slightly more formal than daily slang.
  • e.g., 坐高铁很经济。(Zuò gāotiě hěn jīngjì.) - Taking the high-speed rail is very economical.
• Referring to “financial condition”: It can describe the financial state of a family or person.
  • e.g., 我们家经济条件不错。(Wǒmen jiā jīngjì tiáojiàn bùcuò.) - My family's financial situation is pretty good.

The connotation is generally neutral but often used in a positive context when paired with words like 发展 (fāzhǎn - development).

• Example 1:
  • 中国的经济发展得非常快。
  • Pinyin: Zhōngguó de jīngjì fāzhǎn de fēicháng kuài.
  • English: China's economy is developing very fast.
  • Analysis: A classic, common sentence using 经济 as a noun to refer to the national economy.
• Example 2:
  • 这是一个很重要的经济问题。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shì yí ge hěn zhòngyào de jīngjì wèntí.
  • English: This is a very important economic issue.
  • Analysis: Here, 经济 functions as an adjective modifying “问题” (problem).
• Example 3:
  • 坐火车比坐飞机经济多了。
  • Pinyin: Zuò huǒchē bǐ zuò fēijī jīngjì duō le.
  • English: Taking the train is much more economical than taking a plane.
  • Analysis: This example shows the adjectival meaning of “economical” or “cost-effective.”
• Example 4:
  • 全球经济正面临许多挑战。
  • Pinyin: Quánqiú jīngjì zhèng miànlín xǔduō tiǎozhàn.
  • English: The global economy is currently facing many challenges.
  • Analysis: 经济 used in a global context. “面临” (miànlín) is a formal word for “to face.”
• Example 5:
  • 由于疫情，很多公司的经济状况都不好。
  • Pinyin: Yóuyú yìqíng, hěn duō gōngsī de jīngjì zhuàngkuàng dōu bù hǎo.
  • English: Due to the pandemic, the financial situation of many companies is not good.
  • Analysis: Here, “经济状况” (jīngjì zhuàngkuàng) is a common phrase meaning “economic/financial situation.”
• Example 6:
  • 1997年，亚洲爆发了经济危机。
  • Pinyin: Yījiǔjiǔqī nián, Yàzhōu bàofā le jīngjì wēijī.
  • English: In 1997, the Asian financial crisis broke out.
  • Analysis: “经济危机” (jīngjì wēijī) is the standard term for “economic crisis.”
• Example 7:
  • 我哥哥是大学里的经济学教授。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ gēge shì dàxué lǐ de jīngjìxué jiàoshòu.
  • English: My older brother is an economics professor at the university.
  • Analysis: 经济学 (jīngjìxué) is the academic field of “economics.”
• Example 8:
  • 政府出台了新的经济刺激计划。
  • Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ chūtái le xīn de jīngjì cìjī jìhuà.
  • English: The government rolled out a new economic stimulus plan.
  • Analysis: A typical sentence you might read in the news, showing 经济 used in a policy context.
• Example 9:
  • 他买二手车是为了经济上的考虑。
  • Pinyin: Tā mǎi èrshǒu chē shì wèile jīngjì shàng de kǎolǜ.
  • English: He bought a used car for economic reasons (i.e., to save money).
  • Analysis: The phrase “…上的考虑” (…shàng de kǎolǜ) means “for … reasons” or “out of … consideration.”
• Example 10:
  • 中国实行的是社会主义市场经济。
  • Pinyin: Zhōngguó shíxíng de shì shèhuì zhǔyì shìchǎng jīngjì.
  • English: What China practices is a socialist market economy.
  • Analysis: This shows 经济 as the final part of a complex official term, “市场经济” (market economy).
• Example 11:
  • 我们必须找到一个更经济的解决方案。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen bìxū zhǎodào yí ge gèng jīngjì de jiějué fāng'àn.
  • English: We must find a more economical solution.
  • Analysis: Another clear example of 经济 meaning “cost-effective” in a formal or business context.

• `经济` (jīngjì) vs. `金融` (jīnróng): This is a key distinction for learners.
  • 经济 (jīngjì) is broad. It refers to the entire system of production, consumption, trade, and industry. (The Economy)
  • 金融 (jīnróng) is specific. It refers to finance, banking, credit, loans, and investment markets. (Finance)
  • Think of it this way: the financial sector (金融) is a critical part of the overall economy (经济). A `金融危机` (financial crisis) can lead to an `经济危机` (economic crisis).
  • Incorrect: 他在一家经济公司工作。(Tā zài yì jiā jīngjì gōngsī gōngzuò.) This sounds strange.
  • Correct: 他在一家金融公司工作。(Tā zài yì jiā jīnróng gōngsī gōngzuò.) - He works at a finance company.
• “Economical” vs. “A Good Deal”: While 经济 can mean “economical,” in casual, everyday conversation about getting a good price, the word 划算 (huásuàn) is much more common.
  • Correct & common: 这件衣服打折后很划算！ (Zhè jiàn yīfu dǎzhé hòu hěn huásuàn!) - This piece of clothing is a great deal after the discount!
  • Correct but less common: 这件衣服打折后很经济。 (Zhè jiàn yīfu dǎzhé hòu hěn jīngjì.) - This sounds a bit more formal, like you're analyzing it as a wise financial choice rather than just expressing that it's a good bargain.

• 金融 (jīnróng) - Finance. The sector dealing with money, credit, and investments, which is a key part of the `经济`.
• 发展 (fāzhǎn) - Development/to develop. Very frequently paired with `经济` to form 经济发展 (economic development), a cornerstone phrase in modern China.
• 市场 (shìchǎng) - Market. As in 市场经济 (shìchǎng jīngjì), or “market economy.”
• 贸易 (màoyì) - Trade (usually commercial or international). A major component of a country's `经济`.
• 商业 (shāngyè) - Commerce, business. The collective activities that drive the `经济`.
• 划算 (huásuàn) - Cost-effective, a good deal. A more colloquial and common way to express the “economical” sense of `经济` in daily life.
• 危机 (wēijī) - Crisis. Often paired to create 经济危机 (economic crisis).
• 政策 (zhèngcè) - Policy. As in 经济政策 (economic policy).
• 收入 (shōurù) - Income. A measure of an individual's or family's financial health, which is a micro-level result of the macro-level `经济`.
• 消费 (xiāofèi) - To consume (goods and services), consumption. A key driver of economic activity.