chūzhēng: 出征 - To go on an expedition, To set out for battle/competition

• Keywords: chuzheng, 出征, go on expedition, go to war, set out for battle, Chinese military term, Chinese sports team, embark on a campaign, Chinese competition.
• Summary: 出征 (chūzhēng) is a powerful Chinese verb that means “to go on an expedition” or “to set out for battle.” While its roots are in military campaigns, its modern usage has expanded dramatically. Today, you'll frequently hear it used for sports teams embarking on a major competition like the Olympics, business teams launching into a new market, or even online gamers starting a tournament. The term carries a grand, formal tone, evoking a sense of collective purpose, determination, and the high stakes of the mission ahead.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): chū zhēng
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: N/A
• Concise Definition: To set out (as a group) on a military expedition or to embark on a major competition or campaign.
• In a Nutshell: Think of “marching off to battle.” The “battle” could be literal, like in ancient history, or metaphorical, like a World Cup match, a crucial business negotiation abroad, or a national science fair. The key elements are: a group, leaving a home base, with a serious goal or challenge to face elsewhere. It’s not just “going somewhere”; it's embarking on a mission.

• 出 (chū): This character means “to go out,” “to exit,” or “to leave.” You can visualize it as a foot (止) stepping out of a container or boundary (凵). It signifies movement from inside to outside.
• 征 (zhēng): This character means “to journey,” “to expedition,” or “to conquer.” The left radical (彳) is associated with walking or movement over a distance. The right part (正) can mean “correct” or “to attack.” Together, they suggest a purposeful journey, often with a goal of conquest or fulfillment of a duty.

When combined, 出征 (chūzhēng) literally means “to go out on an expedition.” The characters reinforce each other to create a vivid image of a group formally departing on a significant and challenging journey.

Historically, `出征` is a term steeped in thousands of years of Chinese history, evoking images of legendary generals, epic battles, and dynasties rising and falling. It's the word used to describe the pivotal moment an army leaves the capital, blessed by the emperor, to defend the borders or expand the empire. The famous Ballad of Mulan features the line “旦辞爷娘去，暮宿黄河边” (dàn cí yé niáng qù, mù sù huánghé biān), describing her departure to join the army—the very essence of `出征`. This historical weight gives the word a sense of gravity, sacrifice, and national honor. In a Western context, a term like “deploy” is a close military equivalent, but it lacks the poetic and metaphorical breadth of `出征`. An American might say, “The team is heading to the championship,” which is functional and direct. The Chinese equivalent, “球队出征冠军赛” (qiúduì chūzhēng guànjūn sài), frames the same event with much more drama and significance. It's not just a game; it's a campaign. This reflects a cultural tendency to imbue collective efforts, especially those representing a larger group (a company, a city, the nation), with a sense of historical importance and shared destiny.

`出征` has found a powerful second life in modern, non-military contexts. Its formal and dramatic tone makes it a favorite for news headlines and motivational speeches.

• Sports: This is the most common modern usage. When a national team leaves for the Olympics, the World Cup, or the Asian Games, the media will almost exclusively use `出征`. It paints the athletes as warriors fighting for national glory.
• Business: A company might announce that its elite team is set to `出征` a major international tech conference or to launch a new product in a competitive overseas market. It frames the business venture as a strategic campaign.
• Social Media and Fandom: Fans use `出征` to cheer on their favorite esports teams, pop idols entering a competition, or even when organizing to “battle” for their favorite star on social media rankings. It's often used with a tone of passionate support.
• Other Group Efforts: It can be applied to any group with a serious mission, such as a medical team being dispatched to a disaster zone or a scientific team embarking on an Antarctic expedition.

The connotation is almost always positive, heroic, and inspiring. It implies that the group is united, determined, and carries the hopes of those they leave behind.

• Example 1:
  • 穆桂英率领大军出征。
  • Pinyin: Mù Guìyīng shuàilǐng dàjūn chūzhēng.
  • English: Mu Guiying led the grand army to set out on the expedition.
  • Analysis: A classic, historical usage. Mu Guiying is a legendary female general in Chinese folklore, making this sentence feel like it's from a story or play.
• Example 2:
  • 中国女排今天上午出征奥运会，希望能取得好成绩。
  • Pinyin: Zhōngguó nǚpái jīntiān shàngwǔ chūzhēng Àoyùnhuì, xīwàng néng qǔdé hǎo chéngjì.
  • English: The Chinese women's volleyball team set out for the Olympics this morning, hoping to achieve good results.
  • Analysis: This is a quintessential modern usage in sports journalism. It elevates the team's departure to a national event.
• Example 3:
  • 我们的销售团队下周将出征欧洲市场。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen de xiāoshòu tuánduì xiàzhōu jiāng chūzhēng Ōuzhōu shìchǎng.
  • English: Our sales team will embark on a campaign into the European market next week.
  • Analysis: A common business usage. It makes the market entry sound like a strategic, coordinated effort rather than just a series of business trips.
• Example 4:
  • 粉丝们在机场为即将出征的电竞战队加油。
  • Pinyin: Fěnsīmen zài jīchǎng wèi jíjiāng chūzhēng de diànjìng zhànduì jiāyóu.
  • English: The fans were at the airport cheering for the esports team that was about to set out for their competition.
  • Analysis: This shows the term's adoption in modern subcultures like gaming and fandom.
• Example 5:
  • 每次出征前，将军都要检查士兵们的装备。
  • Pinyin: Měi cì chūzhēng qián, jiāngjūn dōu yào jiǎnchá shìbīngmen de zhuāngbèi.
  • English: Before setting out on every expedition, the general would inspect the soldiers' equipment.
  • Analysis: This sentence emphasizes the preparation and seriousness associated with the act of `出征`.
• Example 6:
  • 这支医疗队被派往灾区，可以说是临危受命，即刻出征。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhī yīliáo duì bèi pài wǎng zāiqū, kěyǐ shuō shì línwēi shòumìng, jíkè chūzhēng.
  • English: This medical team was sent to the disaster area; you could say they accepted the mission in a crisis and set out immediately.
  • Analysis: Here, `出征` conveys a sense of urgency, duty, and heroism in a non-military, humanitarian context.
• Example 7:
  • 祝你们出征顺利，凯旋归来！
  • Pinyin: Zhù nǐmen chūzhēng shùnlì, kǎixuán guīlái!
  • English: Wish you a successful expedition and a triumphant return!
  • Analysis: A very common and powerful blessing or farewell phrase for a group leaving on a mission. It pairs `出征` with its “opposite,” `凯旋` (to return in triumph).
• Example 8:
  • 在古代，皇帝会亲自为出征的军队践行。
  • Pinyin: Zài gǔdài, huángdì huì qīnzì wèi chūzhēng de jūnduì jiànxíng.
  • English: In ancient times, the emperor would personally hold a farewell ceremony for the army setting out on an expedition.
  • Analysis: This sentence provides cultural and historical context, highlighting the formality and ceremony surrounding `出征`.
• Example 9:
  • 随着队长的口令，科考船正式出征南极。
  • Pinyin: Suízhe duìzhǎng de kǒulìng, kēkǎo chuán zhèngshì chūzhēng Nánjí.
  • English: Following the captain's command, the scientific research vessel officially set sail for Antarctica.
  • Analysis: This usage extends the concept to a scientific mission, emphasizing the challenging and pioneering nature of the journey.
• Example 10:
  • 少年，当你为梦想出征时，我们都会支持你。
  • Pinyin: Shàonián, dāng nǐ wèi mèngxiǎng chūzhēng shí, wǒmen dōu huì zhīchí nǐ.
  • English: Young man, when you embark on the journey for your dreams, we will all support you.
  • Analysis: A highly metaphorical and poetic usage. Here, a personal pursuit of a dream is framed as a heroic campaign. This is more literary but shows the term's flexibility.

• Group, Not Individual: The most common mistake is using `出征` for an individual's casual travel. It almost always refers to a group or an individual representing a group.
  • Incorrect: 我明天要出征去北京旅游。(I will set out on an expedition to Beijing for tourism tomorrow.)
  • Reason: Tourism is a personal, leisurely activity, not a mission. You should use `去 (qù)` or `出发 (chūfā)`.
• Serious Mission, Not a Mundane Task: `出征` implies a significant challenge or high stakes. Using it for everyday errands sounds sarcastic or ridiculous.
  • Incorrect: 我们出征去超市买菜吧。(Let's go on a campaign to the supermarket to buy groceries.)
  • Reason: This task lacks the gravity required for the word. It's meant to be humorous if used this way.
• `出征` vs. `出差` (chūchāi): Don't confuse `出征` with `出差` (to go on a business trip). `出差` is a neutral, routine term for work travel. `出征` is used for a major business campaign, like launching in a new country, and carries a much more epic tone. You go on `出差` many times a year; you only `出征` for a critical mission.

• 凯旋 (kǎixuán) - To return in triumph. This is the successful conclusion to a `出征`. They are often used together as a pair.
• 远征 (yuǎnzhēng) - A long-distance expedition. This term is similar but specifically emphasizes the great distance of the journey (远 = far).
• 出差 (chūchāi) - To go on a business trip. A much more common, neutral, and less dramatic term for work-related travel.
• 上阵 (shàngzhèn) - To go into battle; to enter the field. This describes the moment of engagement with the enemy or opponent, whereas `出征` describes the departure for the campaign.
• 征战 (zhēngzhàn) - To be at war; to campaign. A more general term describing the continuous act of fighting in wars or battles.
• 出动 (chūdòng) - To dispatch or to send out. This is often used from the perspective of the authority sending the group, e.g., “The police dispatched 100 officers.” (警察出动了一百人).
• 征服 (zhēngfú) - To conquer or to subjugate. This is often the ultimate goal of a military `出征`.
• 出发 (chūfā) - To set out; to depart. This is a neutral, all-purpose verb for starting any kind of journey, for individuals or groups. `出征` is a very specific and formal type of `出发`.