bǎoshǒu: 保守 - Conservative, To Guard/Keep

• Keywords: bǎoshǒu, baoshou, 保守, conservative in Chinese, traditional Chinese, Chinese culture, guard a secret, keep a secret, bǎoshǒu meaning, Chinese adjective
• Summary: The Chinese word 保守 (bǎoshǒu) translates to “conservative,” but its meaning is far broader than in Western political contexts. It describes a mindset, lifestyle, or strategy focused on preserving tradition, avoiding risk, and favoring gradual change. From describing a person's modest clothing and traditional values to a prudent business investment, understanding bǎoshǒu is key to grasping important cultural attitudes in Chinese society. It can also be used as a verb meaning “to guard” or “to keep,” such as keeping a secret.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): bǎo shǒu
• Part of Speech: Adjective, Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To be conservative; to guard or keep (a secret, etc.).
• In a Nutshell: 保守 (bǎoshǒu) is about holding onto and protecting what already exists. As an adjective, it describes someone or something that is resistant to change, traditional, and cautious. This can apply to a person's ideas (思想保守 - sīxiǎng bǎoshǒu), their style of dress (穿着保守 - chuānzhuó bǎoshǒu), or a financial plan (投资保守 - tóuzī bǎoshǒu). As a verb, it means to actively guard something, most commonly a secret. The overall feeling is one of stability, caution, and a preference for the familiar over the new.

• 保 (bǎo): To protect, keep, or guard. This character is composed of the “person” radical (亻) on the left and a component that originally depicted a person carrying a child, symbolizing protection and care.
• 守 (shǒu): To guard, defend, or keep watch. This character shows a roof (宀) over a hand/inch (寸), evoking the image of guarding one's home or post.
• Together, 保守 (bǎoshǒu) literally means “protect and guard.” This powerful combination creates the modern meaning of “conservatism”—the act of defending existing norms, traditions, and states of being from change or risk.

In Chinese culture, 保守 (bǎoshǒu) is a deeply rooted concept often linked to Confucian values that prioritize stability, harmony, and respect for tradition and elders. For much of Chinese history, being 保守 was considered a virtue. It meant you were reliable, prudent, and unlikely to cause disruptive trouble for your family or society. This contrasts sharply with the Western, particularly American, concept of “conservative.” In the U.S., “conservative” is primarily a political label associated with a specific party, advocating for policies like free-market capitalism and individual liberty. While Chinese conservatism can have political dimensions, it is more fundamentally a cultural and personal stance. A Chinese person might be described as 保守 if they:

• Believe in traditional family structures and filial piety.
• Prefer saving money over making risky investments.
• Dress modestly.
• Are hesitant to adopt foreign trends or radical new ideas.

Therefore, calling someone 保守 in China is less of a political statement and more of a comment on their personality and approach to life. It can be neutral, slightly positive (implying they are steady and dependable), or slightly negative (implying they are close-minded and old-fashioned), depending heavily on the context and the speaker's own values.

The use of 保守 is widespread and highly contextual. Its connotation can shift from positive to negative depending on the situation.

• Describing People and Ideas (Often Neutral to Negative):

When describing a person's thinking or personality (思想很保守 - “thoughts are very conservative”), it often implies they are not open-minded or are “stuck in the past.” This is a common point of gentle conflict between younger, more globalized generations and their more traditional parents or grandparents.

• Business and Finance (Often Neutral to Positive):

In a business or investment context, 保守 is usually a positive or neutral term. A 保守 investment strategy (保守的投资策略) is a safe, low-risk one. A 保守 estimate (保守估计) is a cautious, likely understated one, which is seen as responsible planning.

• Fashion and Lifestyle (Neutral):

Describing someone's clothing as 保守 (穿着很保守) simply means it's modest, not revealing or flashy. It's a factual description without strong judgment.

• As a Verb (Neutral):

The most common verb usage is in the phrase 保守秘密 (bǎoshǒu mìmì), meaning “to keep a secret.” Here, it simply means to guard information faithfully.

• Example 1:
  • 我父母的思想比较保守，不太能接受新事物。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ fùmǔ de sīxiǎng bǐjiào bǎoshǒu, bù tài néng jiēshòu xīn shìwù.
  • English: My parents' thinking is relatively conservative; they can't really accept new things.
  • Analysis: This is a very common and neutral way to describe the generational gap in attitudes.
• Example 2:
  • 在投资方面，他一向很保守，只买最安全的股票。
  • Pinyin: Zài tóuzī fāngmiàn, tā yīxiàng hěn bǎoshǒu, zhǐ mǎi zuì ānquán de gǔpiào.
  • English: In terms of investing, he has always been very conservative, only buying the safest stocks.
  • Analysis: Here, 保守 has a positive or neutral connotation of being prudent and risk-averse.
• Example 3:
  • 这是一个保守估计，实际利润可能会更高。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shì yīgè bǎoshǒu gūjì, shíjì lìrùn kěnéng huì gèng gāo.
  • English: This is a conservative estimate; the actual profit might be higher.
  • Analysis: A standard phrase in business and planning. It means the estimate is intentionally on the low side to be safe.
• Example 4:
  • 她的穿着风格非常保守，从不穿短裙。
  • Pinyin: Tā de chuānzhuó fēnggé fēicháng bǎoshǒu, cóngbù chuān duǎnqún.
  • English: Her style of dress is very conservative; she never wears short skirts.
  • Analysis: A neutral, factual description of someone's clothing choices.
• Example 5:
  • 请你一定要为我保守这个秘密。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng nǐ yīdìng yào wèi wǒ bǎoshǒu zhège mìmì.
  • English: Please, you must keep this secret for me.
  • Analysis: This showcases the verb usage of 保守, meaning “to guard” or “to keep.”
• Example 6:
  • 医生建议先采取保守治疗，如果没效果再考虑手术。
  • Pinyin: Yīshēng jiànyì xiān cǎiqǔ bǎoshǒu zhìliáo, rúguǒ méi xiàoguǒ zài kǎolǜ shǒushù.
  • English: The doctor recommended trying conservative treatment first, and only considering surgery if it's not effective.
  • Analysis: In medicine, 保守治疗 (bǎoshǒu zhìliáo) refers to non-invasive treatments like medication or physical therapy, as opposed to surgery.
• Example 7:
  • 他因为太保守而错过了这个绝佳的商业机会。
  • Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi tài bǎoshǒu ér cuòguòle zhège juéjiā de shāngyè jīhuì.
  • English: He missed this excellent business opportunity because he was too conservative.
  • Analysis: This example highlights the negative side of being 保守—being overly cautious can lead to inaction and missed opportunities.
• Example 8:
  • 这个公司的发展策略一直很保守，追求稳定而不是快速扩张。
  • Pinyin: Zhège gōngsī de fāzhǎn cèlüè yīzhí hěn bǎoshǒu, zhuīqiú wěndìng ér bùshì kuàisù kuòzhāng.
  • English: This company's development strategy has always been very conservative, pursuing stability rather than rapid expansion.
  • Analysis: A neutral description of a business model, which could be seen as either wise or timid depending on the industry.
• Example 9:
  • 在约会这件事上，她的观念非常保守。
  • Pinyin: Zài yuēhuì zhè jiàn shì shàng, tā de guānniàn fēicháng bǎoshǒu.
  • English: When it comes to dating, her views are very conservative.
  • Analysis: This refers to traditional views on relationships, such as believing in waiting for marriage or following formal courtship rules.
• Example 10:
  • 球队教练在比赛中采用了保守的战术，以防守为主。
  • Pinyin: Qiúduì jiàoliàn zài bǐsài zhōng cǎiyòngle bǎoshǒu de zhànshù, yǐ fángshǒu wéi zhǔ.
  • English: The team's coach adopted a conservative tactic in the game, focusing mainly on defense.
  • Analysis: Used in sports to describe a low-risk, defensive strategy.

• False Friend: “Conservative” (Political Party): The most common mistake for English speakers is to map 保守 directly onto their home country's political landscape. While China has political factions, 保守 is rarely used to describe a formal political party affiliation like “Conservative” or “Republican.” It's a descriptor of an approach or ideology, not a party name.
• Not Always Negative: Learners often assume 保守 is a criticism, meaning “old-fashioned” or “close-minded.” As the examples show, in contexts like finance, medicine, or engineering, being 保守 is a positive trait that implies being safe, reliable, and prudent. Context is everything.
• 保守 vs. 害羞 (hàixiū - shy): A beginner might incorrectly use 保守 to mean “shy” or “introverted.” While a culturally conservative person might also be reserved, the words have different meanings. 保守 is about one's beliefs and resistance to change, while 害羞 is about social anxiety or discomfort around people.
  • Incorrect: 他很保守，不敢在大家面前说话。(He is very conservative, so he doesn't dare to speak in front of everyone.)
  • Correct: 他很害羞，不敢在大家面前说话。(He is very shy, so he doesn't dare to speak in front of everyone.)

• 传统 (chuántǒng) - Tradition; Traditional. A person who is 保守 highly values 传统.
• 守旧 (shǒujiù) - Old-fashioned; hidebound. Literally “guard the old.” This is a more negative version of 保守, implying a stubborn and irrational resistance to all change.
• 开放 (kāifàng) - Open; open-minded. The direct antonym of 保守. It can describe a person's liberal views, an “open” personality, or China's “reform and opening-up” policy (改革开放).
• 稳健 (wěnjiàn) - Prudent; sound; steady. A very positive synonym for 保守 used almost exclusively in finance and business. It emphasizes stability and reliability without the negative connotation of being “old-fashioned.”
• 含蓄 (hánxù) - Reserved; implicit; veiled. Describes a style of communication where feelings are not stated directly. This is a behavioral trait often associated with people who have 保守 values, but it is not the same thing.
• 秘密 (mìmì) - Secret. The noun most commonly paired with 保守 when it's used as a verb: 保守秘密 (to keep a secret).
• 落后 (luòhòu) - To fall behind; backward. This is often used to criticize a system or idea that is too 保守, causing it to become outdated and inefficient.