wǔ xīng hóng qí: 五星红旗 - Five-star Red Flag

• Keywords: wuxinghongqi, wǔ xīng hóng qí, 五星红旗, Five-star Red Flag, flag of China, Chinese national flag, PRC flag, red flag with yellow stars, symbolism of Chinese flag, Chinese patriotism
• Summary: The 五星红旗 (wǔ xīng hóng qí), or Five-star Red Flag, is the official national flag of the People's Republic of China (PRC). A powerful symbol of Chinese national identity and patriotism, its design is rich with political meaning, representing the leadership of the Communist Party and the unity of the Chinese people. Understanding the name and symbolism of the flag of China is essential for anyone interested in modern Chinese culture and society.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): wǔ xīng hóng qí
• Part of Speech: Noun (Proper Noun)
• HSK Level: N/A (Proper Noun)
• Concise Definition: The national flag of the People's Republic of China.
• In a Nutshell: “五星红旗” is the official and most common name for the Chinese national flag. The name is a literal description of its appearance: a red flag featuring five yellow stars. It's not just a piece of cloth; it's a deeply respected emblem of the nation, its government, and its people, seen everywhere from schools to international sporting events.

• 五 (wǔ): The number five.
• 星 (xīng): Star or planet. Pictographically, it represents stars in the sky.
• 红 (hóng): Red. In Chinese culture, red symbolizes good fortune and celebration. In the context of the PRC, it strongly represents the Communist Revolution and the blood of revolutionary martyrs.
• 旗 (qí): Flag, banner, or standard.

The characters combine in a very direct and descriptive way: 五 (five) + 星 (star) + 红 (red) + 旗 (flag) = Five-star Red Flag.

The 五星红旗 is one of the most potent symbols of modern China, and its design is deeply political. Understanding its symbolism is key to understanding the country's official narrative.

• The Red Background: Represents the Communist Revolution and the sacrifices made to establish the People's Republic of China.
• The Large Yellow Star: Symbolizes the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC).
• The Four Smaller Stars: Represent the four social classes united under the CPC, as defined by Mao Zedong: the working class (工人阶级), the peasantry (农民阶级), the urban petite bourgeoisie (城市小资产阶级), and the national bourgeoisie (民族资产阶级).
• The Arrangement: The four smaller stars arc towards the large star, signifying the unity of the Chinese people under the guidance and leadership of the Communist Party.

A useful comparison is with the American “Stars and Stripes”. Both flags are powerful symbols of national pride. However, their core symbolism differs greatly. The U.S. flag represents a union of states (the 50 stars) and the original colonies (the 13 stripes), reflecting a federal republic's history. In contrast, the 五星红旗 represents a political ideology and a specific social structure—the unity of classes led by a single party—reflecting the structure of a socialist state. This difference highlights the distinct political foundations and national narratives of the two countries.

As the national flag, the 五星红旗 is used in a variety of formal and informal contexts.

• Official Ceremonies: The most famous is the daily flag-raising ceremony (升旗仪式, shēngqí yíshì) in Tiananmen Square, a major tourist attraction and patriotic event. Schools across China also hold weekly flag-raising ceremonies.
• National Holidays: The flag is displayed ubiquitously during major holidays, especially National Day (国庆节, Guóqìng Jié) on October 1st. Streets, buildings, and homes are decorated with it.
• International Arenas: It is flown at the Olympics when Chinese athletes win, at embassies, and during international summits, representing the nation on the world stage.
• Expressions of Patriotism: In recent years, it has become common to see individuals displaying the flag on their cars, social media profiles, or clothing, especially during times of heightened national pride or international tension.

The connotation is overwhelmingly positive and patriotic within mainland China. Disrespecting the flag is a serious social taboo and is illegal under the National Flag Law.

• Example 1:
  • 每天早上，天安门广场上都会升起五星红旗。
  • Pinyin: Měitiān zǎoshang, Tiān'ānmén Guǎngchǎng shàng dūhuì shēngqǐ wǔ xīng hóng qí.
  • English: Every morning, the Five-star Red Flag is raised in Tiananmen Square.
  • Analysis: This sentence describes a famous daily patriotic ritual in China.
• Example 2:
  • 奥运冠军身披五星红旗，绕场一周。
  • Pinyin: Àoyùn guànjūn shēn pī wǔ xīng hóng qí, rào chǎng yī zhōu.
  • English: The Olympic champion, draped in the Five-star Red Flag, took a victory lap around the stadium.
  • Analysis: This illustrates the flag as a symbol of national honor and achievement in sports.
• Example 3:
  • 国庆节期间，到处都飘扬着五星红旗。
  • Pinyin: Guóqìng Jié qījiān, dàochù dōu piāoyáng zhe wǔ xīng hóng qí.
  • English: During the National Day holiday, the Five-star Red Flag is flying everywhere.
  • Analysis: This shows the flag's use during national celebrations.
• Example 4:
  • 老师教我们画五星红旗，并解释了它的意义。
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī jiāo wǒmen huà wǔ xīng hóng qí, bìng jiěshì le tā de yìyì.
  • English: The teacher taught us how to draw the Five-star Red Flag and explained its meaning.
  • Analysis: This points to the role of the flag in patriotic education from a young age.
• Example 5:
  • 五星红旗是中华人民共和国的象征。
  • Pinyin: Wǔ xīng hóng qí shì Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó de xiàngzhēng.
  • English: The Five-star Red Flag is the symbol of the People's Republic of China.
  • Analysis: A simple, definitional sentence stating the flag's official status.
• Example 6:
  • 看到五星红旗在异国他乡升起，留学生们都非常激动。
  • Pinyin: Kàndào wǔ xīng hóng qí zài yìguó tāxiāng shēngqǐ, liúxuéshēng men dōu fēicháng jīdòng.
  • English: Seeing the Five-star Red Flag being raised in a foreign land, the international students were very emotional.
  • Analysis: This highlights the flag as a powerful emotional symbol for Chinese people abroad.
• Example 7:
  • 法律规定，不得侮辱五星红旗。
  • Pinyin: Fǎlǜ guīdìng, bùdé wǔrǔ wǔ xīng hóng qí.
  • English: The law stipulates that one must not insult the Five-star Red Flag.
  • Analysis: This sentence emphasizes the legal protection and respect afforded to the flag.
• Example 8:
  • 这艘船的船尾挂着一面五星红旗。
  • Pinyin: Zhè sōu chuán de chuánwěi guà zhe yī miàn wǔ xīng hóng qí。
  • English: A Five-star Red Flag was hanging at the stern of this ship.
  • Analysis: A neutral, descriptive sentence showing the use of the measure word 面 (miàn) for flags.
• Example 9:
  • 电影的最后一幕是五星红旗在山顶上飘扬的画面。
  • Pinyin: Diànyǐng de zuìhòu yī mù shì wǔ xīng hóng qí zài shāndǐng shàng piāoyáng de huàmiàn.
  • English: The final scene of the movie was a shot of the Five-star Red Flag flying on the mountaintop.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates how the flag is often used in media as a powerful, climactic symbol.
• Example 10:
  • 你知道五星红旗上的五颗星代表什么吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ zhīdào wǔ xīng hóng qí shàng de wǔ kē xīng dàibiǎo shénme ma?
  • English: Do you know what the five stars on the Five-star Red Flag represent?
  • Analysis: A common question used to test or explain the flag's symbolism.

• Not Just a Description: While the name is descriptive, it's a proper noun. Referring to it as just “the red flag with five stars” in English is fine, but in Chinese, “五星红旗” is its official title. The generic term for “national flag” is 国旗 (guóqí).
• Symbolism Misinterpretation: A common mistake for learners is to assume the stars represent geographical regions (like provinces or special administrative regions), similar to the stars on the U.S. flag. It's crucial to remember the symbolism is political and class-based, representing the Communist Party and the unity of four social classes.
• Respect is Paramount: The flag is treated with immense respect. In China, you will not see it used casually as a design on disposable items or clothing in a flippant way, which might be more common in some Western countries. The legal and social consequences for desecrating the flag are severe.

• 国旗 (guóqí): The generic term for “national flag.” 五星红旗 is a specific type of 国旗.
• 国歌 (guógē): National anthem. China's is the “March of the Volunteers” (义勇军进行曲, Yìyǒngjūn Jìnxíngqǔ).
• 国徽 (guóhuī): National emblem. It features Tiananmen Gate, five stars, and a cogwheel surrounded by sheaves of wheat and rice.
• 爱国主义 (àiguó zhǔyì): Patriotism. The flag is a central symbol of this value.
• 天安门广场 (Tiān'ānmén Guǎngchǎng): Tiananmen Square. The site of the famous daily flag-raising ceremony, making it intrinsically linked with the 五星红旗.
• 升旗仪式 (shēngqí yíshì): Flag-raising ceremony. A formal ritual of respect for the flag.
• 中华人民共和国 (Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó): The People's Republic of China (PRC). The official name of the country the flag represents.
• 中国共产党 (Zhōngguó Gòngchǎndǎng): The Communist Party of China (CPC). The political party represented by the large star on the flag.
• 国庆节 (Guóqìng Jié): National Day (October 1st). The anniversary of the founding of the PRC, when the flag is displayed everywhere.