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主义 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
主义
zhǔyì
-ism
HSK 7, n, 8 strokes, rank #2979, Very Hard
主义
zhǔyì
ideology
HSK 7, n, 8 strokes, rank #2979, Very Hard
zhǔyì(zhu3yi4)zhu yi T3
1-ism
2ideology
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March 24, 2026
主义(主義)zhǔyì(zhu3yi4)
主义 (zhǔyì) refers to a system of beliefs or principles, often associated with political or philosophical ideologies. It commonly appears in contexts discussing various 'isms' like socialism (社会主义), capitalism (资本主义), or nationalism (民族主义). The term emphasizes the guiding ideas that shape movements or theories.
Strokes8Frequency#2979DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese history, the term 主义 has played a significant role in the context of the 20th-century ideological struggles, particularly during the rise of communism and nationalism. It reflects the importance of ideology in shaping modern Chinese society.
Memory tip
Think of 主义 as the 'root' (主) of a tree (义) that supports the entire ideology. Imagine a tree labeled with different 'isms' growing from a strong trunk, representing how various beliefs stem from a foundational idea.
Meanings of 主义
zhǔyì(zhu3yi4)
1-ism
2ideology
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 主义
主义Simplified
主義Traditional
8Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#2979Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 主义
Podcast: 主义
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AI study notes for 主义
Quick Contrast
社会主义 (socialism) vs 资本主义 (capitalism) — choose 主义 (zhǔyì) when discussing the general concept of 'ism' rather than a specific ideology.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 主义; the third tone (主) and the fourth tone (义) must be clear to avoid confusion with other words. It is often used in formal contexts, especially in academic discussions or political debates. Common collocations include 社会主义 (socialism) and 资本主义 (capitalism).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 6 word, 主义 connects with other advanced vocabulary related to politics and philosophy. Students should focus on how it interacts with different prefixes, like 社会 (social) or 民族 (national), to form specific ideologies.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 主义 with similar sounding terms like 直义 (zhí yì), which means 'straightforward meaning.' A correction would be to remember that 主义 specifically refers to ideologies, not just meanings.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 主义
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主义 (zhǔyì) refers to a system of beliefs or principles, often associated with political or philosophical ideologies. It commonly appears in contexts discussing various 'isms' like socialism (社会主义), capitalism (资本主义), or nationalism (民族主义). The term emphasizes the guiding ideas that shape movements or theories.
When to use 主义
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 主义; the third tone (主) and the fourth tone (义) must be clear to avoid confusion with other words. It is often used in formal contexts, especially in academic discussions or political debates. Common collocations include 社会主义 (socialism) and 资本主义 (capitalism).
主义 or something close to it
社会主义 (socialism) vs 资本主义 (capitalism) — choose 主义 (zhǔyì) when discussing the general concept of 'ism' rather than a specific ideology.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 主义 with similar sounding terms like 直义 (zhí yì), which means 'straightforward meaning.' A correction would be to remember that 主义 specifically refers to ideologies, not just meanings.
Write 主义
主
义
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Grammar patterns of 主义
主义 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
为什么像大学这样人才济济的社区要害怕虚无____呢？
Why should a great community like a university be afraid of nihilism?
The building is impeccably modernist: glass, aluminium and grey.
9
即便是作为一次人道主义行动，它也不过是取得了有限的成功。
jíbiàn shì zuòwéi yī cì réndào zhǔyì xíngdòng， tā yě búguò shì qǔdé le yǒuxiàn de chénggōng。
Even as a humanitarian mission it has been only a qualified success.
10
后来他就变成了一位知名的和平主义者。
hòulái tā jiù biànchéng le yī wèi zhīmíng de hépíng zhǔyì zhě。
Later he was to become famous as a pacifist.
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Cultural Notes for 主义
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
While 'ism' in English often refers to a broad spectrum of beliefs, in Chinese culture, 主义 carries a more formal weight, implying a structured and often state-endorsed ideology.
Frequently asked questions about 主义
Common phrases include 社会主义 (socialism), 资本主义 (capitalism), and 民族主义 (nationalism).
Not always, but it is most commonly associated with political ideologies; it can also refer to philosophical or cultural beliefs.
Yes, it can describe personal or group ideologies, but it's often used in more formal or collective contexts.
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