qūshì: 趋势 - Trend, Tendency

• Keywords: 趋势, qushi, Chinese for trend, market trend in Chinese, social trend, fashion trend Chinese, tendency, general direction, economic trend, Chinese business vocabulary.
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 趋势 (qūshì), meaning “trend” or “tendency.” This page breaks down how to use `趋势` to discuss everything from market and economic trends to the latest fashion and social movements in China. Discover its cultural significance in a fast-changing society and understand how it differs from similar words like `潮流` (cháoliú). This is a must-know term for anyone interested in modern Chinese business, culture, or society.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): qūshì
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: The general direction in which something is developing or changing; a trend or tendency.
• In a Nutshell: `趋势` is like a current in a river. It describes the way things are flowing on a large scale—be it the economy, technology, or fashion. It's a more analytical and formal word than the English “trend” might imply. When you hear `趋势`, think about data, charts, and the powerful momentum of change over time. It's less about a fleeting fad and more about a significant, observable movement.

• 趋 (qū): This character means “to tend towards,” “to head for,” or “to hasten.” You can see the radical for “to run” or “to walk” (走), suggesting movement in a specific direction.
• 势 (shì): This character means “power,” “force,” “momentum,” or “situation.” It contains the character for “power” or “force” (力). It captures the idea of a powerful force behind a movement.
• Together, 趋势 (qūshì) literally means “the direction (趋) of a force/momentum (势).” This paints a vivid picture of a powerful, underlying force that is pushing things in a certain direction, which is the perfect definition of a trend.

While not a term from ancient philosophy, `趋势` is culturally vital in modern China. In a country that has undergone immense and rapid transformation, being able to identify, understand, and adapt to trends is a key skill for survival and success. The concept of `趋势` is deeply embedded in the business and economic mindset. Entrepreneurs and investors constantly analyze `市场趋势` (market trends) and `经济趋势` (economic trends) to make strategic decisions. This focus on “the way things are heading” reflects a forward-looking, pragmatic worldview shaped by decades of dynamic change. Compared to the English word “trend,” `趋势` often carries a heavier, more analytical weight. An American might casually talk about a “TikTok trend,” which is fleeting. In Chinese, while `趋势` can be used for fashion, it often implies a more significant, data-backed shift. A closer Western concept might be “secular trend” in economics or “paradigm shift” in technology. The Chinese idiom 大势所趋 (dàshìsuǒqū), meaning “the general trend is irreversible,” perfectly captures this sense of an inevitable, powerful force of history or the market that one must align with, not fight against.

`趋势` is a versatile and common word used in both formal and semi-formal contexts.

• Business and Economics: This is its most common habitat. You'll hear it constantly in meetings, presentations, and reports to discuss `市场趋势` (market trends), `增长趋势` (growth trends), or `下降趋势` (downward trends).
• Technology: Used to describe the direction of innovation, such as `人工智能是未来的发展趋势` (AI is the development trend of the future).
• Fashion and Lifestyle: In magazines or on social media platforms like 小红书 (xiǎohóngshū), bloggers and influencers will discuss `今年的时尚趋势` (this year's fashion trends). Here, it's closer to the English “trend.”
• Social Commentary: News articles and academic papers use it to analyze `社会发展趋势` (social development trends), like aging populations or urbanization.

Its connotation is generally neutral, simply describing the direction of change. It can be modified with adjectives to become positive (e.g., `良好趋势` - a good trend) or negative (e.g., `危险的趋势` - a dangerous trend).

• Example 1:
  • 这是一个明显的发展趋势。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shì yī gè míngxiǎn de fāzhǎn qūshì.
  • English: This is an obvious development trend.
  • Analysis: A basic, neutral statement identifying a trend. `明显 (míngxiǎn)` means “obvious.”
• Example 2:
  • 我们必须密切关注市场趋势的变化。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen bìxū mìqiè guānzhù shìchǎng qūshì de biànhuà.
  • English: We must pay close attention to the changes in market trends.
  • Analysis: A classic business sentence. `密切关注 (mìqiè guānzhù)` is a common collocation meaning “to pay close attention to.”
• Example 3:
  • 远程办公正在成为一种新的工作趋势。
  • Pinyin: Yuǎnchéng bàngōng zhèngzài chéngwéi yī zhǒng xīn de gōngzuò qūshì.
  • English: Remote work is becoming a new work trend.
  • Analysis: This shows `趋势` used to describe a change in modern lifestyle and work culture.
• Example 4:
  • 公司的利润呈现出上升趋势。
  • Pinyin: Gōngsī de lìrùn chéngxiàn chū shàngshēng qūshì.
  • English: The company's profits are showing an upward trend.
  • Analysis: Here, `趋势` is combined with `上升 (shàngshēng)` to mean “upward trend.” The opposite is `下降趋势 (xiàjiàng qūshì)`. `呈现出 (chéngxiàn chū)` is a formal way to say “to show” or “to present.”
• Example 5:
  • 今年秋冬的时尚趋势是什么？
  • Pinyin: Jīnnián qiūdōng de shíshàng qūshì shì shénme?
  • English: What are the fashion trends for this autumn and winter?
  • Analysis: A typical question used in the context of fashion and consumer culture.
• Example 6:
  • 这种复古风格是目前的一大趋势。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhǒng fùgǔ fēnggé shì mùqián de yī dà qūshì.
  • English: This kind of retro style is a major trend right now.
  • Analysis: `一大趋势 (yī dà qūshì)` means “a major trend,” emphasizing its significance.
• Example 7:
  • 全球化是一个不可逆转的趋势。
  • Pinyin: Quánqiúhuà shì yī gè bùkě nìzhuǎn de qūshì.
  • English: Globalization is an irreversible trend.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses powerful vocabulary (`不可逆转 bùkě nìzhuǎn` - irreversible) to show the strong, inevitable nature of a `趋势`.
• Example 8:
  • 数据显示，出生率持续下降的趋势没有改变。
  • Pinyin: Shùjù xiǎnshì, chūshēnglǜ chíxù xiàjiàng de qūshì méiyǒu gǎibiàn.
  • English: The data shows that the trend of a continuously declining birth rate has not changed.
  • Analysis: A perfect example from social science or news reporting, using data (`数据`) to back up a `趋势`.
• Example 9:
  • 很多年轻人选择不买房，这反映了一种社会趋势。
  • Pinyin: Hěn duō niánqīngrén xuǎnzé bù mǎifáng, zhè fǎnyìng le yī zhǒng shèhuì qūshì.
  • English: Many young people are choosing not to buy houses, which reflects a social trend.
  • Analysis: Shows how individual choices, when aggregated, can form a `社会趋势 (shèhuì qūshì)`.
• Example 10:
  • 顺应时代趋势才能获得成功。
  • Pinyin: Shùnyìng shídài qūshì cái néng huòdé chénggōng.
  • English: Only by adapting to the trends of the times can one achieve success.
  • Analysis: This sentence captures the cultural importance of `趋势`. `顺应 (shùnyìng)` means to comply with or conform to, highlighting the idea that one should “go with the flow” of a major trend.

• Mistake: Using `趋势` for personal habits. `趋势` is for large-scale phenomena, not individual, small-scale habits.
  • Incorrect: 我最近的趋势是每天喝咖啡。(My recent “trend” is to drink coffee every day.)
  • Correct: 我最近养成了每天喝咖啡的习惯 (xíguàn - habit)。
  • Why: A personal habit is not a broad, societal movement. `趋势` is too big and analytical for this context.
• `趋势` vs. `潮流` (cháoliú): This is a key distinction.
  • `趋势 (qūshì)` is broader, more analytical, and longer-term. It applies to economics, data, and major social shifts. Think “tendency” or “secular trend.”
  • `潮流 (cháoliú)` literally means “tide flow.” It's used for fashion, pop culture, fads, and things that are currently “in” or “cool.” It's often more temporary.
  • Example: Low-rise jeans might be a `潮流` (fashion fad), while the move towards sustainable fashion is a `趋势` (a larger industry trend).
• `趋势` vs. `倾向` (qīngxiàng):
  • `趋势 (qūshì)` is an observable, external direction of change.
  • `倾向 (qīngxiàng)` is an internal inclination, preference, or bias. It's about what someone or something is *leaning towards*.
  • Example: `他有保守的政治倾向` (He has conservative political leanings). You wouldn't say `政治趋势` here unless you were talking about the entire country's political trend.

• 潮流 (cháoliú) - A fad, a fashion wave, a pop culture trend. More fleeting and style-focused than `趋势`.
• 大势所趋 (dàshìsuǒqū) - An idiom meaning “the general trend is irreversible.” The ultimate expression of the power of a `趋势`.
• 动向 (dòngxiàng) - Recent developments or a direction of movement. More immediate and specific, often used to track a company's or government's next move.
• 势头 (shìtóu) - Momentum, impetus. Describes the strength or force of a developing trend. A `趋势` can have a strong `势头`.
• 走向 (zǒuxiàng) - A course or direction something is taking, its path. Often used to talk about the future path of a relationship, a conflict, or a country.
• 倾向 (qīngxiàng) - An inclination or tendency, often referring to a person's or group's internal preference or bias.
• 前景 (qiánjǐng) - Future prospects or outlook. The `趋势` of an industry heavily influences its `前景`.
• 风向标 (fēngxiàngbiāo) - A weather vane; metaphorically, a “bellwether” or “indicator” of a coming trend.