chāojí dàguó: 超级大国 - Superpower

• Keywords: chaojidaguo, 超级大国, superpower in Chinese, what is a superpower, Chinese politics, US-China relations, great power, 大国, 冷战, Cold War, major country.
• Summary: Learn the meaning and cultural significance of 超级大国 (chāojí dàguó), the Chinese word for “superpower.” This guide breaks down the term's characters, explores its use in discussing the United States and China's rising global status, and provides practical examples for understanding modern Chinese perspectives on international politics. Discover why China is often hesitant to adopt this label and what it prefers to be called instead.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): chāojí dàguó
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: N/A (Advanced vocabulary, equivalent to HSK 7-9)
• Concise Definition: A nation possessing dominant political, economic, military, and cultural influence on a global scale; a superpower.
• In a Nutshell: 超级大国 (chāojí dàguó) is the direct and literal translation of the English word “superpower.” It combines “super” (超级) and “great country” (大国). It's a formal term used in news, academic discussions, and conversations about international relations to describe countries like the United States or the former Soviet Union.

• 超 (chāo): This character means “to surpass,” “to exceed,” or “to transcend.” Think of it as the prefix “super-” or “ultra-” in English.
• 级 (jí): This character means “level,” “grade,” or “rank.” Together, 超级 (chāojí) literally means “super-level,” which is the standard Chinese word for “super.”
• 大 (dà): A very common character meaning “big,” “large,” or “great.”
• 国 (guó): This character means “country” or “nation.” It's depicted as a border (囗) protecting a piece of jade (玉), symbolizing a treasured territory. Together, 大国 (dàguó) means “great country” or “major power.”

When combined, 超级 (chāojí) acts as an adjective modifying 大国 (dàguó), elevating a “great country” to the ultimate status of “superpower.”

The term 超级大国 (chāojí dàguó) is straightforward in its definition but complex in its cultural application, especially concerning China itself. Historically and in modern media, the term is most frequently and neutrally applied to the United States. During the Cold War, it was used to describe both the U.S. and the Soviet Union as the world's two competing superpowers (两个超级大国). The most significant nuance arises when discussing China's own status. While many in the West and even some citizens within China might consider the country's economic and military might to have reached superpower levels, the official stance of the Chinese government is one of modesty and rejection of the label. Comparison to Western View: In the United States, being called a “superpower” is often seen as a statement of fact or a source of national pride, implying leadership and responsibility (or dominance, depending on perspective). In contrast, the Chinese government actively avoids the 超级大国 label because it is closely associated with 霸权主义 (bàquán zhǔyì) - “hegemony.” Beijing's foreign policy emphasizes non-interference and a “peaceful rise” (和平崛起), and adopting the superpower title could be seen by other nations as an admission of hegemonic ambition, contradicting its official narrative. Instead of 超级大国, Chinese officials prefer terms like “负责任的大国” (fùzérèn de dàguó) - “a responsible great power” or simply stating that China is the world's largest “发展中国家” (fāzhǎn zhōng guójiā) - “developing country.”

• In News and Academia: This is the most common context. News reports, political analysis, and academic papers use 超级大国 to formally discuss global power dynamics.
• In Daily Conversation: While less common than in formal settings, people use it when discussing international news, history (especially the Cold War), or debating the future of US-China relations.
• Connotation:
  • Neutral: When used descriptively to refer to the U.S. or the former USSR.
  • Pride/Ambition: When used by some nationalistic Chinese citizens to describe their hopes for China's future.
  • Negative/Cautionary: When linked to the concept of hegemony or foreign interventionism, often in criticism of U.S. foreign policy.

• Example 1:
  • 美国是目前世界上唯一的超级大国。
  • Pinyin: Měiguó shì mùqián shìjiè shàng wéiyī de chāojí dàguó.
  • English: The United States is currently the world's only superpower.
  • Analysis: This is a common, factual statement you would find in a textbook or news article. The tone is neutral and descriptive.
• Example 2:
  • 冷战时期，世界由美国和苏联这两个超级大国主导。
  • Pinyin: Lěngzhàn shíqī, shìjiè yóu Měiguó hé Sūlián zhè liǎng ge chāojí dàguó zhǔdǎo.
  • English: During the Cold War period, the world was dominated by the two superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the term in a historical context, which is very common.
• Example 3:
  • 很多人在讨论中国未来是否会成为一个新的超级大国。
  • Pinyin: Hěn duō rén zài tǎolùn Zhōngguó wèilái shìfǒu huì chéngwéi yī ge xīn de chāojí dàguó.
  • English: Many people are discussing whether China will become a new superpower in the future.
  • Analysis: This example shows how the term is central to discussions about China's rise. The tone is speculative.
• Example 4:
  • 成为超级大国不仅需要经济实力，还需要强大的军事和文化影响力。
  • Pinyin: Chéngwéi chāojí dàguó bùjǐn xūyào jīngjì shílì, hái xūyào qiángdà de jūnshì hé wénhuà yǐngxiǎnglì.
  • English: To become a superpower requires not only economic strength, but also powerful military and cultural influence.
  • Analysis: This sentence defines the criteria for being a superpower. The grammar point “不仅…还…” (bùjǐn…hái…) means “not only…but also…”.
• Example 5:
  • 有些人担心超级大国之间的竞争可能导致新的冲突。
  • Pinyin: Yǒu xiē rén dānxīn chāojí dàguó zhījiān de jìngzhēng kěnéng dǎozhì xīn de chōngtū.
  • English: Some people worry that competition between superpowers could lead to new conflicts.
  • Analysis: Here, 超级大国 is used in a more cautionary or negative context, highlighting the potential dangers of great power politics.
• Example 6:
  • 他写了一本关于罗马帝国衰落的书，并将其与现代超级大国进行了比较。
  • Pinyin: Tā xiěle yī běn guānyú Luómǎ Dìguó shuāiluò de shū, bìng jiāng qí yǔ xiàndài chāojí dàguó jìnxíngle bǐjiào.
  • English: He wrote a book about the decline of the Roman Empire and compared it with modern superpowers.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the term's use in broad historical and political analysis.
• Example 7:
  • A: 你觉得中国算是超级大国吗？ B: 官方不这么说，但你看我们的发展速度！
  • Pinyin: A: Nǐ juéde Zhōngguó suànshì chāojí dàguó ma? B: Guānfāng bù zhème shuō, dàn nǐ kàn wǒmen de fāzhǎn sùdù!
  • English: A: Do you think China counts as a superpower? B: Officially they don't say so, but look at our development speed!
  • Analysis: A perfect example of a casual conversation, capturing the ambiguity and differing opinions on China's status.
• Example 8:
  • 那个国家不想被看作是超级大国的“小弟”。
  • Pinyin: Nàge guójiā bù xiǎng bèi kànzuò shì chāojí dàguó de “xiǎodì”.
  • English: That country doesn't want to be seen as a “little brother” (or lackey) of a superpower.
  • Analysis: “小弟 (xiǎodì)” is a colloquial term for a junior follower or underling. This sentence shows the term used in the context of international hierarchies.
• Example 9:
  • 科技创新是衡量一个国家能否成为超级大国的关键指标。
  • Pinyin: Kējì chuàngxīn shì héngliáng yī ge guójiā néng fǒu chéngwéi chāojí dàguó de guānjiàn zhǐbiāo.
  • English: Technological innovation is a key indicator for measuring whether a country can become a superpower.
  • Analysis: This highlights a modern criterion for superpower status beyond just military or economic size.
• Example 10:
  • 这部电影的情节围绕着两个虚构的超级大国之间的间谍战展开。
  • Pinyin: Zhè bù diànyǐng de qíngjié wéirào zhe liǎng ge xūgòu de chāojí dàguó zhījiān de diàndiézhàn zhǎnkāi.
  • English: The plot of this movie revolves around a spy war between two fictional superpowers.
  • Analysis: Shows the term can be used in fictional or entertainment contexts, just like in English.

• Mistake: Confusing `超级大国 (chāojí dàguó)` with `大国 (dàguó)`
  • `大国 (dàguó)` means “great power” or “major country.” Countries like the UK, France, Germany, Russia, and Japan can all be called 大国. It's a tier below superpower.
  • `超级大国 (chāojí dàguó)` is the highest tier, reserved for a nation with truly global, unparalleled influence. Currently, most would only apply this to the United States.
  • Incorrect: 法国是一个超级大国。 (Fàguó shì yī ge chāojí dàguó.) - “France is a superpower.”
  • Correct: 法国是一个欧洲大国。 (Fàguó shì yī ge Ōuzhōu dàguó.) - “France is a major European power.”
• Mistake: Assuming China Officially Identifies as a Superpower
  • As mentioned in the cultural context, a learner might hear about China's power and assume they can say “中国是一个超级大国” in a formal context or to a Chinese official. While not “grammatically” wrong, it's culturally tone-deaf. It ignores the official government position and the negative connotations of hegemony that China wishes to avoid. A more culturally aware statement would be to acknowledge its status as a 大国 (dàguó) or a 强国 (qiángguó) (strong nation).

• 大国 (dàguó) - Great Power / Major Country. The base term that 超级大国 is built upon. A broader category.
• 强国 (qiángguó) - Strong Nation / Powerful Country. Emphasizes strength (military, economic, etc.) and is a goal in Chinese national discourse (e.g., “building a strong nation”).
• 霸权 (bàquán) - Hegemony. The negative trait of dominance and bullying that China associates with the superpower label and publicly disavows.
• 崛起 (juéqǐ) - Rise (of a power). Commonly used in the phrase 中国崛起 (Zhōngguó juéqǐ), “China's Rise.”
• 发展中国家 (fāzhǎn zhōng guójiā) - Developing Country. China's official self-designation, used to manage international expectations and responsibilities.
• 冷战 (lěngzhàn) - Cold War. The historical era defined by the conflict between the two superpowers, the US and USSR.
• 世界警察 (shìjiè jǐngchá) - World Police. A critical, informal term, almost exclusively used to describe America's interventionist foreign policy.
• 多极化 (duōjíhuà) - Multipolarity. The concept of a global order with multiple centers of power, as opposed to a unipolar (one superpower) or bipolar (two superpowers) world. This is the world order China officially advocates for.
• 综合国力 (zōnghé guólì) - Comprehensive National Power. A key concept in Chinese political science for measuring a country's total power, including economic, military, technological, and cultural factors.