zōnghé guólì: 综合国力 - Comprehensive National Power

• Keywords: zonghe guoli, zōnghé guólì, 综合国力, comprehensive national power, comprehensive national strength, China's national power, China's rise, Chinese soft power, hard power, international relations.
• Summary: Learn the meaning of 综合国力 (zōnghé guólì), a crucial term for understanding modern China. This page breaks down “Comprehensive National Power,” a concept that goes beyond just military and economic might to include technology, culture, and education. Discover how 综合国力 shapes China's domestic policy and foreign relations, and how it differs from Western ideas of “hard power” and “soft power.” This is an essential term for anyone interested in Chinese politics, economics, or current events.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zōnghé guólì
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: N/A (Advanced)
• Concise Definition: A nation's “Comprehensive National Power,” which is the combined strength of its military, economic, political, technological, and cultural assets.
• In a Nutshell: Imagine a country's total score in a video game, covering everything from its economy and military (“hard power”) to its cultural influence and technological innovation (“soft power”). 综合国力 (zōnghé guólì) is that total score. It's a holistic measure of a nation's overall strength and influence on the world stage. The term is formal and frequently used in Chinese government reports, news, and academic discussions about international standing.

• 综 (zōng): To synthesize, gather, or sum up. The silk radical (纟) on the left hints at weaving threads together, creating a comprehensive whole.
• 合 (hé): To combine, join, or unite. A simple and common character representing coming together.
• 国 (guó): Country or nation. A box (囗) representing territory, with 玉 (yù), meaning jade or treasure, inside—symbolizing the nation and its valuable contents.
• 力 (lì): Power, strength, or force. A pictograph originally depicting a plow or a muscular arm.

The characters combine logically: `综合 (zōnghé)` means “comprehensive” or “synthesized.” `国力 (guólì)` means “national power.” Together, 综合国力 (zōnghé guólì) literally translates to “Comprehensive National Power.”

综合国力 is a cornerstone concept in contemporary Chinese political thought, deeply tied to the national goal of “The Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation” (中华民族伟大复兴 - Zhōnghuá mínzú wěidà fùxīng). It reflects a uniquely holistic and strategic view of a country's global position. Comparison with Western Concepts: In the West, political scientists often separate a nation's influence into two categories:

• Hard Power: Tangible assets like military force and economic size.
• Soft Power: Intangible assets like cultural appeal, diplomatic skill, and political values.

综合国力 (zōnghé guólì) does not see these as separate. Instead, it views them as interconnected parts of a single, integrated system. A strong economy fuels military modernization, which in turn boosts diplomatic leverage. Technological advancement enhances both economic competitiveness and cultural influence (e.g., platforms like TikTok). This Chinese concept is a calculated, all-encompassing metric for a nation's standing. While the US might be seen as having immense “hard power,” discussions in China about 综合国力 would also critically assess its social cohesion, infrastructure quality, and political stability as part of the overall equation. This reflects a strategic, long-term planning mindset prevalent in Chinese governance, where progress is measured across all fronts simultaneously.

综合国力 is a formal and high-level term. You will almost never hear it in casual, everyday conversation. Its use is largely confined to specific, serious contexts:

• News and Media: Used constantly in news reports on CCTV, in articles from Xinhua News Agency, or in newspapers like the People's Daily when discussing international relations, economic development, or national strategy.
• Government and Policy: It's a key phrase in government work reports, policy documents, and speeches by national leaders. It's used to set goals and measure progress.
• Academia: Scholars of international relations, political science, and economics in China use 综合国力 as a core analytical framework.

Its connotation is neutral and descriptive, but it's almost always used in the context of aspiring to increase or enhance it.

• Example 1:
  • 中国的综合国力在过去几十年里显著增强。
  • Pinyin: Zhōngguó de zōnghé guólì zài guòqù jǐ shí nián lǐ xiǎnzhù zēngqiáng.
  • English: China's comprehensive national power has significantly increased over the past few decades.
  • Analysis: A very common and neutral statement you would find in a news article or textbook.
• Example 2:
  • 科技创新是提升综合国力的核心要素。
  • Pinyin: Kējì chuàngxīn shì tíshēng zōnghé guólì de héxīn yàosù.
  • English: Technological innovation is a core element for enhancing comprehensive national power.
  • Analysis: This highlights that 综合国力 is not just about military or economics. Technology is seen as a key multiplier.
• Example 3:
  • 我们不能只关注经济增长，也要重视文化软实力的建设，这同样是综合国力的一部分。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen bùnéng zhǐ guānzhù jīngjì zēngzhǎng, yě yào zhòngshì wénhuà ruǎn shílì de jiànshè, zhè tóngyàng shì zōnghé guólì de yībùfèn.
  • English: We can't only focus on economic growth, we must also value the development of cultural soft power, which is also a part of comprehensive national power.
  • Analysis: This sentence explicitly breaks down the components of 综合国力, showing its holistic nature.
• Example 4:
  • 一个国家的综合国力体现在经济、军事、科技和文化等多个方面。
  • Pinyin: Yīgè guójiā de zōnghé guólì tǐxiàn zài jīngjì, jūnshì, kējì hé wénhuà děng duō ge fāngmiàn.
  • English: A country's comprehensive national power is reflected in many aspects such as its economy, military, technology, and culture.
  • Analysis: A textbook definition, often used to explain the concept itself.
• Example 5:
  • 这次成功的太空任务，极大地提升了我国的综合国力和国际地位。
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì chénggōng de tàikōng rènwù, jí dà de tíshēngle wǒguó de zōnghé guólì hé guójì dìwèi.
  • English: This successful space mission greatly boosted our nation's comprehensive national power and international standing.
  • Analysis: Shows how specific national achievements are framed in terms of their contribution to 综合国力.
• Example 6:
  • 国际竞争归根到底是综合国力的较量。
  • Pinyin: Guójì jìngzhēng guīgēn dàodǐ shì zōnghé guólì de jiàoliàng.
  • English: In the final analysis, international competition is a contest of comprehensive national power.
  • Analysis: A phrase often used in political commentary to frame geopolitical rivalries. “较量” (jiàoliàng) means a “test of strength” or “contest.”
• Example 7:
  • 任何一个国家想要实现和平崛起，都必须不断增强其综合国力。
  • Pinyin: Rènhé yīgè guójiā xiǎngyào shíxiàn hépíng juéqǐ, dōu bìxū bùduàn zēngqiáng qí zōnghé guólì.
  • English: Any country that wants to achieve a peaceful rise must continuously strengthen its comprehensive national power.
  • Analysis: Connects 综合国力 to another key concept, “peaceful rise” (和平崛起).
• Example 8:
  • 教育水平是衡量一个国家未来综合国力的重要指标。
  • Pinyin: Jiàoyù shuǐpíng shì héngliáng yīgè guójiā wèilái zōnghé guólì de zhòngyào zhǐbiāo.
  • English: The level of education is an important indicator for measuring a country's future comprehensive national power.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the long-term, strategic view embedded in the concept.
• Example 9:
  • 尽管经济体量巨大，但其综合国力的某些方面仍然存在短板。
  • Pinyin: Jǐnguǎn jīngjì tǐliàng jùdà, dàn qí zōnghé guólì de mǒu xiē fāngmiàn réngrán cúnzài duǎnbǎn.
  • English: Although its economy is huge, some aspects of its comprehensive national power still have shortcomings.
  • Analysis: Shows how the term can be used to analyze weaknesses. “短板” (duǎnbǎn) literally means “short plank” (of a barrel), a metaphor for a weakness.
• Example 10:
  • 维护国家安全是增强综合国力的根本保障。
  • Pinyin: Wéihù guójiā ānquán shì zēngqiáng zōnghé guólì de gēnběn bǎozhàng.
  • English: Maintaining national security is the fundamental guarantee for strengthening comprehensive national power.
  • Analysis: A statement you might hear from a government official, linking security directly to the nation's overall strength.

• Mistake 1: Equating it with “Military Power.”
  • A common mistake is to think 综合国力 just means military strength. While the military is a crucial component, the term is intentionally broad. Focusing only on the military misses the point—it's about the synthesis of all national strengths.
• Mistake 2: Using it in Casual Conversation.
  • Incorrect: “哇，这个手机太棒了，中国的综合国力真强！” (Wā, zhège shǒujī tài bàng le, Zhōngguó de zōnghé guólì zhēn qiáng!) - “Wow, this phone is great, China's comprehensive national power is so strong!”
  • Why it's wrong: This is like using “geopolitical hegemony” to describe a good meal. The term is far too formal and high-level for this context. You would simply say “中国科技真厉害” (Chinese technology is really amazing).
• “False Friend”: It's more than just “National Power.”
  • While “National Power” is a good starting point, it lacks the key meaning of “comprehensive” or “synthesized” (综合). Translating it this way loses the nuance that it's a calculated sum of many different parts. Always remember it's the total score, not just one category.

• 实力 (shílì): Actual strength/power. A much more general and common term that can refer to an individual's, a company's, or a nation's power. It lacks the formal, all-encompassing nature of 综合国力.
• 软实力 (ruǎn shílì): Soft Power. The power of a nation's culture, values, and foreign policy. It is considered a key component of 综合国力.
• 硬实力 (yìng shílì): Hard Power. A nation's military and economic might. This is the other major component of 综合国力.
• 大国 (dàguó): A great power; a major country. A nation with a high level of 综合国力 is considered a 大国.
• 崛起 (juéqǐ): To rise (as a power). Often used in the phrase “中国崛起” (China's Rise), which is fundamentally a description of the growth of its 综合国力.
• 国情 (guóqíng): The national condition; the state of the nation. Understanding a country's 国情 is necessary to analyze its 综合国力.
• 国际地位 (guójì dìwèi): International status/standing. A country's 国际地位 is largely determined by its 综合国力.
• 中华民族伟大复兴 (zhōnghuá mínzú wěidà fùxīng): The Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation. This is the ultimate political goal that the enhancement of 综合国力 is meant to achieve.