Quánmiàn Jiànchéng Xiǎokāng Shèhuì: 全面建成小康社会 - Completing the Building of a Moderately Prosperous Society
Quick Summary
Keywords: 全面建成小康社会, 小康社会, 中国梦, 两个一百年, 现代化建设, 脱贫攻坚, 社会发展
Language learners and China observers often overlook the deeper significance of this pivotal development milestone. This concept represents a critical transition point in China's socioeconomic landscape, marking a sophisticated approach to national progress that goes beyond simple economic metrics. The term encapsulates a nuanced vision of societal advancement, emphasizing comprehensive human development and quality of life improvements across multiple dimensions.
The phrase signals a strategic shift from pure economic growth to holistic social transformation, where indicators like education, healthcare, social welfare, and personal well-being take center stage. For those studying Chinese policy and societal evolution, understanding 全面建成小康社会 provides insights into the country's complex development philosophy and strategic planning mechanisms.
This concept fundamentally reframes how progress is conceptualized, moving away from Western-centric development models toward a more nuanced, context-specific approach that prioritizes balanced, inclusive growth tailored to China's unique historical and cultural context. 小康社会体现了中国对传统理想社会的现代化诠释。这一概念源于古代典籍《礼记》,将《诗经》中关于美好生活的诗意想象转化为具体的社会发展目标。
1979年,邓小平首次明确提出这一概念,标志着中国发展理念的重要转折。从最初关注生活基本改善,到后来强调全面建成小康社会,这一术语逐步演化为系统性社会发展框架。
其核心不仅涉及经济指标,更涵盖教育、卫生、文化等多个维度的全面进步,体现了中国特色社会主义的发展理念。
实现这一目标意味着在经济发展、社会治理和人民生活质量方面达到新的历史水平。
“全面建成小康社会”在政策文件中具有极高的权威性,通常出现在党和国家重要会议、领导人讲话以及政府工作报告中。这种正式场合的使用凸显了其在国家战略中的核心地位,体现了对国家发展目标的庄重承诺。
语言使用中存在微妙的权力动态和委婉表达。在不同语境下,这一概念承载着多层含义,既是政策宣示,也是对发展道路的深刻阐释。
它不仅是一个政治术语,更是一种社会进步的隐喻,暗示着国家对于人民福祉的全面关注和系统性承诺。
通过这种方式,政策制定者能够传达复杂的社会发展目标,同时保持语言的庄重和包容性。 </think>
Quánmiàn Jiànchéng Xiǎokāng Shèhuì: 全面建成小康社会 - Completing the Building of a Moderately Prosperous Society
Quick Summary
- Keywords: 全面建成小康社会, 小康社会, 中国梦, 两个一百年, 现代化建设, 脱贫攻坚, 社会发展指标, 全面建成, 四全面
- Summary: 全面建成小康社会 (Quánmiàn Jiànchéng Xiǎokāng Shèhuì) is one of the most consequential political concepts in modern Chinese history, representing the goal of building a “moderately prosperous society” across all dimensions of Chinese life. Coined by Deng Xiaoping in 1979 and elevated to a “Four Comprehensives” national strategy, this term transcends mere economic metrics to encompass human development, social equity, ecological sustainability, and institutional modernization. For English speakers, it is often translated as “Completing the Building of a Moderately Prosperous Society in All Respects,” though this translation loses much of the term's cultural resonance and historical depth. This guide decodes the soul of the term, explains why it matters for understanding China, and provides practical mastery for learners seeking authentic comprehension beyond textbook definitions.
Part 1: The Soul of the Word
Core Information
- Pinyin: Quánmiàn Jiànchéng Xiǎokāng Shèhuì
- Literal Breakdown: 全面 (quánmiàn) = comprehensive/all-encompassing; 建成 (jiànchéng) = to build and complete; 小康 (xiǎokāng) = moderately prosperous; 社会 (shèhuì) = society
- Part of Speech: Noun phrase / Political slogan / Development goal
- HSK Level: Primarily found in advanced political and journalistic texts rather than standard HSK curricula
- Concise Definition: The Chinese Communist Party's stated goal of achieving moderate prosperity across economic, political, cultural, social, and ecological dimensions, formally declared achieved in 2020
The “In a Nutshell” Concept
If China's development were a video game, 全面建成小康社会 would be the completion of a major quest line—the moment when the protagonist has gathered enough resources, leveled up sufficiently, and completed the necessary missions to move to the next, more challenging stage. The term carries an almost mythological weight in Chinese political discourse: it is simultaneously a concrete set of measurable targets (per capita income, poverty rates, life expectancy) and a grand narrative about national rejuvenation. What makes this term particularly fascinating is its dual nature as both a technical policy framework and a culturally resonant aspiration that connects modern China to ancient philosophical ideals.
Evolution & Etymology: From Ancient Dream to Modern Policy
The word 小康 (xiǎokāng) is not a Communist Party invention—it has deep roots in Chinese civilization. Its earliest appearance is in the Classic of Poetry (《诗经》), specifically in the poem “Sheng Min” (《生民》): “率育 of grain, and with the people live in xiaokang.” Here, xiaokang described a peaceful, well-fed society—basic prosperity and social stability during harvest seasons. This was contrasted with the chaotic “dark age” (乱世, luànshì) that preceded or followed dynastic transitions.
The more famous philosophical treatment of 小康 appears in the Doctrine of the Mean (《中庸》) and the Book of Rites (《礼记》). In Chapter 18 of the Book of Rites, Confucius describes three types of social organization:
- 至善 (Zhìshàn): The perfect society of the Sage Kings (now in the past)
- 小康 (Xiǎokāng): A “lesser” but still orderly society requiring virtue and proper governance (achievable under good rulers)
- 乱世 (Luànshì): A chaotic age when virtue has declined
For Confucius, 小康 represented an achievable middle ground—not the utopian ideal but a functional, well-governed society where people live with dignity, food, and social order. This Confucian heritage gave the term an almost sacred quality when Deng Xiaoping and other reform-era leaders adopted it in 1979.
When Deng first used 小康 to describe China's development goals, he was making a deliberate cultural choice: he was not promising communism (which remained the ultimate goal) but something more immediately tangible—a society where basic needs are met, people live with moderate comfort, and chaos is avoided. The phrase 小康之家 (xiǎokāng zhī jiā) in common speech meant a family that had moved beyond subsistence farming to have some savings and stability. Deng scaled this concept to the national level.
The transformation from 小康社会 to 全面建成小康社会 occurred in stages:
- 1979-1987: Initial framing by Deng Xiaoping as a “xiaokang” standard of living, with per capita GDP targets of $800-$1,000
- 1990s: Formalization as a national development goal during the 8th Five-Year Plan
- 2000s: Expansion beyond economic metrics to include social development, environmental protection, and democratic governance
- 2012: Xi Jinping elevates it to the “First Comprehension” (第一个全面) of the “Four Comprehensives” strategic thought
- 2017: 19th Party Congress declares it will be “决胜全面建成小康社会” (decisively completed) by 2020
- 2020: President Xi formally declares China has achieved the goal
The journey from 1979 to 2020 represents one of the longest-running policy objectives in Chinese history—41 years of sustained national effort toward a single articulated goal. Understanding this historical arc is essential for grasping why the term carries such gravitational weight in Chinese political discourse.
Part 2: Deep Contextual Mapping (The Comparison Table)
The following table distinguishes 全面建成小康社会 from related concepts, clarifying its unique position in Chinese political vocabulary:
| Term | Nuance | Intensity (1-10) | Typical Scenario |
|---|---|---|---|
| 全面建成小康社会 | The holistic achievement of moderate prosperity across ALL dimensions—economy, society, culture, environment, governance. It is both a destination and a process. | 9 | National development discourse, Party congresses, government work reports |
| 实现四个现代化 | “Achieve the Four Modernizations” (agriculture, industry, national defense, science/technology). Earlier framework (1964) focused primarily on productive capacity. | 8 | 1970s-1980s development rhetoric; now considered partially superseded |
| 脱贫致富 | “Poverty alleviation and prosperity.” More narrow focus on eliminating absolute poverty. One component of xiaokang society. | 7 | Rural development policies, poverty alleviation campaigns |
| 共同富裕 | “Common prosperity.” A more advanced goal emphasizing equitable wealth distribution, still aspirational. | 6 | Recent policy emphasis (2021-present), wealth redistribution discussions |
| 发达国家 | “Developed country.” Western-centric category. China officially avoids this label for itself despite high GDP. | 8 | International relations, economic classification debates |
Key Distinction: 全面建成小康社会 is deliberately more comprehensive than Western concepts of “development.” A country might have high GDP per capita but still fail xiaokang standards if it has severe inequality, environmental degradation, or governance problems. Conversely, the xiaokang threshold is calibrated to Chinese conditions—it is not the same as “developed nation” status. This is why Chinese official media never translates the term as simply “developed society” but always uses “moderately prosperous society.”
Part 3: The Social Playbook (Modern China Usage)
Where it Works (and Where it Fails)
Official Contexts (Where it Works):
In formal Party-government settings, 全面建成小康社会 carries maximum positive valence. You will encounter it in:
- 党代会报告 (Dǎngdàihuì bàogào): Party Congress work reports, where it is typically followed by statistics on poverty reduction, per capita income growth, and urbanization rates
- 政府工作报告 (Zhèngfǔ gōngzuò bàogào): Government work reports, where it serves as the framework for organizing policy priorities
- 领导人讲话 (Lǐngdǎorén jiǎnghuà): Major speeches, where it is often paired with 中国梦 (China Dream) and 中华民族伟大复兴 (national rejuvenation)
- 宣传材料 (Xuānchuán cáiliào): Propaganda materials, where it is visualized through infographics showing progress across “five dimensions” (economy, politics, culture, society, ecology)
Example from official usage: “我们要统筹推进经济建设、政治建设、文化建设、社会建设、生态文明建设,全面建成小康社会,开启全面建设社会主义现代化国家新征程。” (We must comprehensively promote economic, political, cultural, social, and ecological civilization development, complete the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and embark on a new journey to comprehensively build a modern socialist country.)
Limitations and Criticisms:
Within academic and some intellectual circles, the term faces several critiques:
- Measurement concerns: Critics question whether official statistics accurately reflect the quality of life improvements. Income inequality (Gini coefficient), environmental quality, and mental health indicators sometimes tell a more complicated story than the official narrative suggests.
- Definition flexibility: The term has been somewhat elastic—what counts as “moderate prosperity” has shifted over 40 years, making it difficult to falsify.
- Urban-rural divide: Critics argue that much of the claimed xiaokang achievement is concentrated in urban areas, while rural communities, especially in western provinces, have benefited less.
These critiques are rarely voiced in official contexts but circulate in academic papers, international policy analysis, and sometimes in more nuanced domestic discussions.
The Hidden Codes: What the Term Actually Communicates
When a Chinese official uses 全面建成小康社会 in a speech, they are communicating several things simultaneously:
- Legitimacy claim: They are crediting the Party's leadership for the achievement, reinforcing the narrative that CCP governance delivers results.
- Transition marker: They are signaling that China has completed one historical phase and is entering another (the “new era” of modernization).
- Collective identity: They are invoking shared sacrifice and effort—everyone contributed to building xiaokang.
- Future promise: They are implicitly promising that the next phase (基本实现社会主义现代化, “basically realizing socialist modernization”) will build on this foundation.
In business contexts, the term signals that the “low-hanging fruit” era of easy growth is over. Companies can no longer rely on massive poverty-driven demand; they must adapt to a society where basic needs are met and consumers expect higher quality.
Cross-Generational Reception:
Different generations in China relate to 全面建成小康社会 in distinct ways:
- Older generation (60+): Many have direct memory of genuine poverty. The term resonates as the fulfillment of a promise they witnessed—life really has gotten dramatically better.
- Middle generation (35-60): Often raised in conditions of scarcity but now enjoying middle-class comfort. They feel the term captures their lived experience of transformation.
- Younger generation (under 35): “Digital natives” born into a China of supermarkets and smartphones often take moderate prosperity for granted. For them, the term is somewhat abstract—history rather than aspiration.
Part 4: Practical Mastery (10+ Examples)
Example 1:
- Sentence: 党的十九大庄严宣告,全面建成小康社会胜利在望。
- Pinyin: Dǎng de shíjiǔ dà zhuāngyán Xuāngào, quánmiàn jiànchéng xiǎokāng shèhuì shènglì zài wàng.
- English: The 19th Party Congress solemnly declared that victory in completing the building of a moderately prosperous society is within reach.
- Deep Analysis: This example appears in the formal preamble to a major Party document. The character 庄严 (zhuāngyán, solemn) signals the gravity of the occasion. The phrase 胜利在望 (victory in sight) uses military metaphor to frame development as a battle won through strategic effort. Note that 全面建成小康社会 functions as a noun phrase here, not as a verb—it is the object of 宣告.
Example 2:
- Sentence: 我们既要全面建成小康社会,又要乘势而上开启全面建设社会主义现代化国家新征程。
- Pinyin: Wǒmen jì yào quánmiàn jiànchéng xiǎokāng shèhuì, yòu yào chéngshì ér shàng kāiqǐ quánmiàn jiànshè shèhuì zhǔyì xiàndàihuà guójiā xīn zhēngchéng.
- English: We must both complete the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects and, riding this momentum, launch a new journey to comprehensively build a modern socialist state.
- Deep Analysis: This sentence demonstrates the forward-looking use of the term. The phrase 乘势而上 (“ride the momentum upward”) signals that xiaokang is a stepping stone, not the final destination. The juxtaposition with 开启…新征程 (launch a new expedition) indicates that Chinese development is conceived as a series of stages, each building on the last.
Example 3:
- Sentence: 截至2020年底,全面建成小康社会取得伟大历史性成就。
- Pinyin: Jiezhì 2020 nián dǐ, quánmiàn jiànchéng xiǎokāng shèhuì qǔdé wěidà lìshǐ xìng chéngjiù.
- English: By the end of 2020, great historic achievements have been made in completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects.
- Deep Analysis: This example shows how official discourse frames the achievement in 2020. The phrase 伟大历史性成就 (great historic achievements) elevates the accomplishment to a civilizational level. The time marker 截至2020年底 creates a sense of decisive conclusion—the 41-year project has ended.
Example 4:
- Sentence: 全面建成小康社会,是中国特色社会主义进入新时代的鲜明注脚。
- Pinyin: Quánmiàn jiànchéng xiǎokāng shèhuì, shì Zhōngguó tè sè shèhuì zhǔyì jìnrù xīn shídài de xiānmíng zhùfú.
- English: The completion of a moderately prosperous society in all respects is a distinctive footnote to socialism with Chinese characteristics entering a new era.
- Deep Analysis: Here, the term functions as a defining characteristic of the “new era.” The phrase 鲜明注脚 (distinctive footnote) is an elegant way to say “clear marker”—the xiaokang achievement explains why the era changed. This sentence appears frequently in theoretical articles explaining Xi's governance philosophy.
Example 5:
- Sentence: 巩固全面建成小康社会成果,推进共同富裕取得更为明显的实质性进展。
- Pinyin: Gǒnggù quánmiàn jiànchéng xiǎokāng shèhuì chéngguǒ, tuījìn gòngtóng fùyù qǔdé gèng wéi míngxiǎn de shízhìxìng jìnzhǎn.
- English: Consolidate the achievements of completing the building of a moderately prosperous society, and promote more notable and substantive progress in achieving common prosperity.
- Deep Analysis: This example demonstrates how the term has become a foundation for subsequent goals. The verb 巩固 (gǒnggù, consolidate) suggests that the work is not finished—achievements must be protected. The transition to 共同富裕 (common prosperity) shows the evolutionary path: xiaokang → common prosperity → full modernization.
Example 6:
- Sentence: 让发展成果更多更公平惠及全体人民,是全面建成小康社会的内在要求。
- Pinyin: Ràng fāzhǎn chéngguǒ gèng duō gèng gōngpíng huìjí quántǐ rénmín, shì quánmiàn jiànchéng xiǎokāng shèhuì de nèizài yāoqiú.
- English: Ensuring that the fruits of development benefit all the people more fully and equitably is an inherent requirement of completing the building of a moderately prosperous society.
- Deep Analysis: This sentence shifts focus from macro-level achievement to individual experience. The phrase 更多更公平惠及全体人民 (benefit all the people more fully and equitably) addresses the common criticism that xiaokang has been uneven. The term 内在要求 (inherent requirement) suggests that fairness is not just a nice-to-have but essential to the concept itself.
Example 7:
- Sentence: 全面建成小康社会,重点在“全面”,难点也在“全面”。
- Pinyin: Quánmiàn jiànchéng xiǎokāng shèhuì, zhòngdiǎn zài “quánmiàn”, nándiǎn yě zài “quánmiàn”.
- English: In completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, the emphasis is on “comprehensive,” and the difficulty also lies in “comprehensive.”
- Deep Analysis: This clever rhetorical construction dissects the term itself. By isolating 全面 (comprehensive) and repeating it as both the focus (重点) and the challenge (难点), the sentence emphasizes that true xiaokang is multidimensional. This is a common teaching technique in Chinese political discourse—breaking down slogans to reveal their deeper meaning.
Example 8:
- Sentence: 确保全面建成小康社会得到人民认可、经得起历史检验。
- Pinyin: Quèbǎo quánmiàn jiànchéng xiǎokāng shèhuì dédào rénmín rènkě, jīngdéqǐ lìshǐ jiǎnyàn.
- English: Ensure that completing the building of a moderately prosperous society gains the people's recognition and stands the test of history.
- Deep Analysis: This sentence is significant because it introduces the criteria of legitimacy: 人民认可 (the people's recognition) and 历史检验 (the test of history). These phrases implicitly acknowledge that official claims must be validated by popular experience and historical outcome. The sentence often appears in contexts discussing the need to address genuine problems rather than merely claiming achievement.
Example 9:
- Sentence: 从全面建成小康社会到基本实现社会主义现代化,再到全面建成社会主义现代化强国,这是一个接续奋斗的过程。
- Pinyin: Cóng quánmiàn jiànchéng xiǎokāng shèhuì dào jīběn shíxiàn shèhuì zhǔyì xiàndàihuà, zài dào quánmiàn jiànchéng shèhuì zhǔyì xiàndàihuà qiángguó, zhè shì yīgè jiēxù fèndòu de guòchéng.
- English: From completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects to basically realizing socialist modernization, and then to comprehensively building a great modern socialist country—this is a process of continuous struggle.
- Deep Analysis: This sentence maps the complete development timeline. The phrase 接续奋斗 (continuous struggle) is crucial—it tells the audience that completing xiaokang is not an endpoint but one stage in an ongoing project. This framing manages expectations: there is always a next goal, a higher aspiration.
Example 10:
- Sentence: 我们比历史上任何时期都更接近、更有信心和能力实现全面建成小康社会的目标。
- Pinyin: Wǒmen bǐ lìshǐ shàng rènhé shíqī dōu gèng jiējìn, gèng yǒu xìnxīn hé nénglì shíxiàn quánmiàn jiànchéng xiǎokāng shèhuì de mùbiāo.
- English: We are closer than at any time in history to achieving the goal of completing the building of a moderately prosperous society, with greater confidence and capability.
- Deep Analysis: This sentence uses historical comparison to build confidence. The phrase 比历史上任何时期 (closer than at any time in history) draws on the narrative of national rejuvenation—the long march from humiliation to prosperity. The term 目标 (goal) reminds listeners that the achievement is not accidental but planned and earned.
Example 11:
- Sentence: 全面建成小康社会,是中国人民和中huá民族伟大复兴征程上的重要里程碑。
- Pinyin: Quánmiàn jiànchéng xiǎokāng shèhuì, shì Zhōngguó rénmín hé Zhōnghuá mínzú wěidà fùxīng zhēngchéng shàng de zhòngyào lǐchéngbēi.
- English: Completing the building of a moderately prosperous society is an important milestone on the journey of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation.
- Deep Analysis: This sentence explicitly connects xiaokang to the larger national narrative of 中华民族伟大复兴 (the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation). The phrase 重要里程碑 (important milestone) frames the achievement as a waypoint, not a terminus. This integration with the China Dream discourse shows how specific policy goals are woven into the broader story of national revival.
Example 12:
- Sentence: 我们要全面建成经济更加发展、民主更加健全、科教更加进步、文化更加繁荣、社会更加和谐、人民生活更加殷实的小康社会。
- Pinyin: Wǒmen yào quánmiàn jiànchéng jīngjì gèngjiā fāzhǎn, mínzhǔ gèngjiā jiànquán, kējiào gèngjiā jìnbù, wénhuà gèngjiā fánróng, shèhuì gèngjiā héxié, rénmín shēnghuó gèngjiā yīnshí de xiǎokāng shèhuì.
- English: We must comprehensively build a moderately prosperous society with more developed economy, more sound democracy, more advanced science and education, more flourishing culture, more harmonious society, and more prosperous people's lives.
- Deep Analysis: This comprehensive sentence unpacks the “six mores” that define xiaokang: 1) 经济更加发展 (more developed economy), 2) 民主更加健全 (more sound democracy), 3) 科教更加进步 (more advanced science and education), 4) 文化更加繁荣 (more flourishing culture), 5) 社会更加和谐 (more harmonious society), 6) 人民生活更加殷实 (more prosperous people's lives). This is essential vocabulary for understanding the multidimensional nature of xiaokang.
Part 5: Nuances and Common "Laowai" Mistakes
“False Friends” — Terms That Seem Equivalent But Are Not
Many English speakers assume they understand this term based on superficial translations, but important nuances are lost:
- “Moderately prosperous society” vs. “developed society”: The English phrase sounds like a modest achievement—maybe middle-income status. In Chinese, 小康 carries connotations of comfort, security, and cultural refinement that go beyond mere economic metrics. It is aspirational, not minimalist.
- “Building” (建成) vs. “having built”: The Chinese term emphasizes the process and effort, not just the outcome. The word 建成 means “to construct until completion”—it implies effort and achievement, not passive possession. The English gerund form “completing” captures some of this, but the ongoing nature is easier to miss.
- “Xiaokang” vs. “affluent society”: 小康 is deliberately not 富裕 (affluent). Deng Xiaoping made this choice in 1979 to set achievable targets for a poor country. Promising “affluent society” would have seemed unrealistic; “xiaokang” felt reachable. Even today, when China has the world's second-largest economy, officials still use 小康 rather than 富裕 to describe the development level—this is strategic humility, not understatement.
Wrong vs. Right: Common Learner Errors
Error 1: Treating it as a simple synonym for “development” or “progress”
- Wrong: 全面建成小康社会就是中国经济发展的意思。(This is wrong because it reduces a multidimensional concept to economic growth alone.)
- Right: 全面建成小康社会意味着经济、政治、文化、社会、生态文明建设的全面进步。(Correct because it acknowledges the six-dimensional nature of xiaokang.)
Error 2: Using it in casual conversation
- Wrong: 我的朋友说今天天气真好,全面建成小康社会。(Completely inappropriate—using political slogans in casual small talk sounds like propaganda recitation.)
- Right: In casual conversation, people rarely mention this term directly. If you want to discuss China's development, use more concrete terms: 生活水平提高 (living standards improved), 经济发展迅速 (economic development was rapid).
Error 3: Confusing the timeline
- Wrong: 全面建成小康社会预计在2035年实现。(This is incorrect—xianxiaokang was declared achieved in 2020, not 2035.)
- Right: 全面建成小康社会已于2020年实现,现在的目标是基本实现社会主义现代化。(Accurately places xiaokang as a past achievement, with modernization as the current goal.)
Error 4: Missing the cultural resonance
- Wrong: 邓小平用小康社会指人均GDP 1000美元。(Technically not wrong, but misses the deeper cultural choice to invoke Confucius and classical Chinese ideals.)
- Right: 邓小平选择“小康社会”这个词,是因为它在中国传统文化中有深厚根基,体现了对和平稳定生活的向往。(Acknowledges the deliberate cultural framing.)
Error 5: Translating it identically every time
- Wrong: Always translating as “completing the building of a moderately prosperous society” regardless of context.
- Right: Depending on context, sometimes “building a decent life for all” or “creating a society where everyone enjoys moderate prosperity” better captures the spirit. The Chinese term is flexible; so should be the English rendering.
Cultural Competence Note:
Understanding 全面建成小康社会 requires understanding that Chinese political discourse often operates through cultural codes and historical allusions that are invisible to outsiders. When Deng Xiaoping chose 小康 over other possible development terms, he was making a statement about Chinese identity and continuity with the past. Foreign observers who miss these cultural layers often misinterpret Chinese policy as purely technical when it is actually deeply narrative and civilizational.
Related Terms and Concepts
- 中国梦 (Zhōngguó Mèng) - The China Dream: A broad national rejuvenation vision encompassing the “great renewal of the Chinese nation.” 全面建成小康社会 is often described as a prerequisite for achieving the China Dream.
- 两个一百年 (Liǎng Gè Yībǎi Nián) - The Two Centenary Goals: The first goal (established xiaokang by 2021, the Party's centennial) has been achieved; the second aims for basic socialist modernization by 2049, the PRC's centennial.
- 四个全面 (Sì Gè Quánmiàn) - The Four Comprehensives: Strategic framework including “comprehensively build a modern socialist country,” with 全面建成小康社会 as the first.
- 脱贫攻坚 (Tuōpín gōngjiān) - Poverty alleviation: A major component of xiaokang—the official declaration that absolute poverty has been eliminated in China (2020).
- 共同富裕 (Gòngtóng Fùyù) - Common Prosperity: The next development phase after xiaokang, emphasizing equitable wealth distribution and addressing inequality.
- 社会主义现代化 (Shèhuì Zhǔyì Xiàndàihuà) - Socialist Modernization: The post-xiaokang development goal, with targets for 2035 and 2050.
- 中华民族伟大复兴 (Zhōnghuá Mínzú Wěidà Fùxīng) - Great National Rejuvenation: The overarching narrative that positions xiaokang as a stage in China's return to civilizational prominence.
- 新时代中国特色社会主义 (Xīn Shídài Zhōngguó Tèsè Shèhuì Zhǔyì) - Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era: The current ideological framework in which xiaokang is declared achieved.
- 小康社会指标体系 (Xiǎokāng Shèhuì Zhǐbiāo Tǐxì) - Xiaokang Society Indicator System: The official quantitative metrics used to measure progress, including per capita income, life expectancy, and social welfare coverage.
- 乡村振兴战略 (Xiāngcūn Zhènxīng Zhànlüè) - Rural Revitalization Strategy: The post-xiaokang policy framework for addressing urban-rural disparities, identified as a weakness in the xiaokang achievement.