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| 老百姓 [2025/08/10 13:50] – created xiaoer | 老百姓 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1 |
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| ====== lǎobǎixìng: 老百姓 - Common People, Ordinary People, The Masses ====== | |
| ===== Quick Summary ===== | |
| * **Keywords:** 老百姓, laobaixing, Chinese common people, ordinary people in China, the masses in Chinese, civilians in Chinese, what does laobaixing mean, Chinese for the public, Chinese society | |
| * **Summary:** "老百姓" (lǎobǎixìng) is a fundamental Chinese term that translates to "common people," "ordinary people," or "the masses." It refers to the general public, distinct from the government, military, or elite. Understanding "老百姓" is key to grasping the social and political dynamics of China, as it encapsulates the collective identity of everyday citizens and their relationship with the state. This page explores its meaning, cultural significance, and practical use in modern China. | |
| ===== Core Meaning ===== | |
| * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** lǎo bǎi xìng | |
| * **Part of Speech:** Noun | |
| * **HSK Level:** HSK 5 | |
| * **Concise Definition:** The ordinary citizens of a country; the general populace or the common folk. | |
| * **In a Nutshell:** "老百姓" is the go-to word for "the people" in a non-political, everyday sense. Think of it as "the man on the street," "regular folks," or "the general public." It defines a collective identity for people who are not in positions of power, and it’s a term used by everyone from government officials in speeches to regular people talking about their own lives. | |
| ===== Character Breakdown ===== | |
| * **老 (lǎo):** While its primary meaning is "old," here it functions as a familiar prefix, similar to "Old" in "Old John." It adds a sense of endearment, familiarity, and respect for the collective. It implies something long-standing and established. | |
| * **百 (bǎi):** Means "hundred," but in this context, it signifies "many," "numerous," or "all." | |
| * **姓 (xìng):** Means "surname" or "family name." | |
| The characters combine literally to mean "the old hundred surnames." In ancient China, "the hundred surnames" was a classical literary phrase used to refer to all the families in the kingdom, and thus, all the people. Adding a familiar **老 (lǎo)** to the front creates the modern, colloquial term **老百姓 (lǎobǎixìng)**, a warm and universally understood word for the common people. | |
| ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== | |
| In Chinese culture, the concept of **老百姓** is deeply ingrained and carries significant weight. It implicitly creates a distinction between two main groups in society: the rulers (**官员**, guānyuán) and the ruled (**老百姓**). This isn't necessarily negative; it's a reflection of a long history where the government's primary duty was to ensure the well-being and stability of its people. | |
| A useful Western comparison is the term "the taxpayers" or "the general public," but **老百姓** is more personal and less formal. While "the public" in the West often implies a body with civic power and agency ("public opinion," "public outcry"), **老百姓** can sometimes carry a more passive connotation, referring to the people as the recipients of policy rather than the drivers of it. However, it can also be a source of immense moral authority. A government that loses the support of the **老百姓** is seen as having lost its legitimacy, a concept with roots in the ancient "Mandate of Heaven" (天命, tiānmìng). | |
| The term embodies a collectivist value: it's not about an individual but about the collective "folk." When people say "我们老百姓" (wǒmen lǎobǎixìng - "we, the common people"), they are identifying with a massive, shared social identity. | |
| ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== | |
| **老百姓** is an extremely common and versatile term used across all registers of speech. | |
| * **In Conversation:** People use it to refer to themselves and their peers. It's a humble way to self-identify as an ordinary person without special status. For example, "我们老百姓就想过安稳日子" ("We common folk just want to live a peaceful life"). | |
| * **In News and Politics:** The media and government officials constantly use the term. It's a way to connect with the populace and show that policies are made for their benefit. E.g., "这项新政策将为老百姓减负" ("This new policy will reduce the burden on the common people"). | |
| * **Connotation:** The term is generally neutral to positive. It can evoke empathy, especially when discussing hardships (e.g., floods, rising prices). It can also be used to create a contrast, implicitly criticizing officials or the wealthy for being out of touch with the **老百姓**. | |
| ===== Example Sentences ===== | |
| * **Example 1:** | |
| * 政府的新政策应该多考虑**老百姓**的利益。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ de xīn zhèngcè yīnggāi duō kǎolǜ **lǎobǎixìng** de lìyì. | |
| * English: The government's new policies should consider the interests of the common people more. | |
| * Analysis: This is a classic example of how the term is used in a political context, setting up a relationship between the government (政府) and the people (老百姓). | |
| * **Example 2:** | |
| * 我们**老百姓**最关心的就是房价和看病的问题。 | |
| * Pinyin: Wǒmen **lǎobǎixìng** zuì guānxīn de jiùshì fángjià hé kànbìng de wèntí. | |
| * English: We, the common people, are most concerned about the issues of housing prices and healthcare. | |
| * Analysis: Here, a person uses "我们老百姓" to self-identify and speak on behalf of a collective group about everyday concerns. | |
| * **Example 3:** | |
| * 他虽然成了大明星，但从没忘记自己也是从**老百姓**中走出来的。 | |
| * Pinyin: Tā suīrán chéngle dà míngxīng, dàn cóng méi wàngjì zìjǐ yěshì cóng **lǎobǎixìng** zhōng zǒu chūlái de. | |
| * English: Although he became a big star, he never forgot that he also came from the common people. | |
| * Analysis: This highlights the "ordinary origins" aspect of the term. It's used to contrast a person's current status with their humble roots. | |
| * **Example 4:** | |
| * 对普通**老百姓**来说，每天的生活成本越来越高。 | |
| * Pinyin: Duì pǔtōng **lǎobǎixìng** láishuō, měitiān de shēnghuó chéngběn yuèláiyuè gāo. | |
| * English: For ordinary people, the daily cost of living is getting higher and higher. | |
| * Analysis: The adjective 普通 (pǔtōng - ordinary) is often used to emphasize the "everyday" nature of the 老百姓. | |
| * **Example 5:** | |
| * 这个规定太复杂，**老百姓**根本看不懂。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhège guīdìng tài fùzá, **lǎobǎixìng** gēnběn kàn bù dǒng. | |
| * English: This regulation is too complicated; the common people can't understand it at all. | |
| * Analysis: This sentence shows the term being used to highlight a gap in understanding or communication between an institution and the general public. | |
| * **Example 6:** | |
| * 我就是个普普通通的**老百姓**，没什么了不起的。 | |
| * Pinyin: Wǒ jiùshì ge pǔpǔtōngtōng de **lǎobǎixìng**, méi shénme liǎobuqǐ de. | |
| * English: I'm just a perfectly ordinary person, nothing special. | |
| * Analysis: A very common, humble way to describe oneself. It's the opposite of being arrogant or putting on airs. | |
| * **Example 7:** | |
| * 灾难发生后，最可怜的还是**老百姓**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zāinàn fāshēng hòu, zuì kělián de háishì **lǎobǎixìng**. | |
| * English: After the disaster, the ones who are the most pitiful are still the common people. | |
| * Analysis: This usage evokes sympathy and highlights the vulnerability of ordinary people in the face of large-scale events. | |
| * **Example 8:** | |
| * 一个好官，心里一定要装着**老百姓**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Yí ge hǎo guān, xīnlǐ yídìng yào zhuāngzhe **lǎobǎixìng**. | |
| * English: A good official must always keep the common people in his heart. | |
| * Analysis: This expresses a cultural ideal about the duty of those in power. "装着" (zhuāngzhe - to hold, to contain) is a figurative way to say "to care about." | |
| * **Example 9:** | |
| * 这些历史书讲述了古代**老百姓**的生活。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhèxiē lìshǐ shū jiǎngshùle gǔdài **lǎobǎixìng** de shēnghuó. | |
| * English: These history books describe the lives of the common people in ancient times. | |
| * Analysis: The term is equally applicable in historical contexts as it is in modern ones. | |
| * **Example 10:** | |
| * 这事儿，你得去问问**老百姓**的意见。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhè shìr, nǐ děi qù wènwen **lǎobǎixìng** de yìjiàn. | |
| * English: For this matter, you have to go ask for the common people's opinion. | |
| * Analysis: A practical sentence suggesting that the "voice of the people" is a valuable source of information or feedback. | |
| ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== | |
| * **False Friend: "Citizen" (公民 - gōngmín)** | |
| * Don't confuse **老百姓** with **公民 (gōngmín)**. **公民** is a legal and political term meaning "citizen," emphasizing a person's rights and duties under the law (e.g., the right to vote, the duty to pay taxes). **老百姓** is a socio-cultural term that means "the common folk" and often implies a contrast with those in power. You are a **公民** by law, but you identify as a **老百姓** by social status. | |
| * **Mistake: Using it for Individuals or Small, Specific Groups** | |
| * **老百姓** is a collective noun. You cannot use it to count people. | |
| * **Incorrect:** 我昨天看见了三个**老百姓**。(Wǒ zuótiān kànjiànle sān ge lǎobǎixìng.) | |
| * **Correct:** 我昨天看见了三**个人**。(Wǒ zuótiān kànjiànle sān ge rén.) - I saw three people yesterday. | |
| * **老百姓** refers to the people as a large, abstract group, not specific individuals you can point to. | |
| * **Mistake: Not Recognizing the "Us vs. Them" Connotation** | |
| * While not always confrontational, the term almost always implies a social hierarchy. Using **老百姓** inherently creates a context where there is another group that is *not* **老百姓** (e.g., government, experts, the rich, the powerful). Ignoring this subtext can cause you to miss the full meaning of a sentence. | |
| ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== | |
| * [[人民]] (rénmín) - "The people." A more formal and political term, often used in official state names like 中华人民共和国 (People's Republic of China). It represents the people as a political entity. | |
| * [[民众]] (mínzhòng) - "The populace," "the masses." A slightly more formal or academic term than **老百姓**, often used in news or sociology. | |
| * [[公民]] (gōngmín) - "Citizen." The legal term for a member of a state, focusing on rights and responsibilities. | |
| * [[群众]] (qúnzhòng) - "The masses." Often used in a Communist Party context to refer to the non-Party populace that the Party leads. | |
| * [[普通人]] (pǔtōngrén) - "Ordinary person," "common person." Very close in meaning to **老百姓** and often interchangeable in casual use, but lacks the strong collective and political flavor. | |
| * [[百姓]] (bǎixìng) - "The hundred surnames." A more literary or historical version of **老百姓**, often seen in writing. | |
| * [[政府]] (zhèngfǔ) - "Government." The entity most commonly contrasted with **老百姓**. | |
| * [[官员]] (guānyuán) - "Official(s)." The individuals within the government contrasted with **老百姓**. | |
| * [[草根]] (cǎogēn) - "Grassroots." A more modern, informal term that is conceptually similar to **老百姓**, emphasizing an origin from the common people, not the elite. | |