chūshēnglǜ: 出生率 - Birth Rate, Fertility Rate

• Keywords: 出生率, chushenglv, Chinese birth rate, China fertility rate, one-child policy, population decline China, demographics in China, what is chushenglv, how to say birth rate in Chinese, population aging
• Summary: Learn the meaning and cultural significance of 出生率 (chūshēnglǜ), the Chinese term for “birth rate.” This entry explores how 出生率 is more than just a statistic; it's a critical topic in modern China, reflecting major policy shifts like the one-child policy and current concerns about population decline and an aging society. Understand how to use chūshēnglǜ in context, from news reports to everyday conversations about family, economics, and the future.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): chūshēnglǜ
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: The rate at which births occur in a population, usually expressed as the number of live births per 1,000 people per year.
• In a Nutshell: 出生率 (chūshēnglǜ) is the direct Chinese word for “birth rate.” It's a compound word that literally combines “to be born” (出生) with “rate” (率). You will encounter this term constantly in news articles, economic reports, and government discussions about China's population trends. While it is a formal, statistical term, the topic of the low 出生率 is one of the most significant social and economic challenges facing China today.

• 出 (chū): To go out, to exit, to emerge. Pictographically, you can imagine it as a plant sprouting up from the ground, exiting the earth.
• 生 (shēng): To be born, to live, to grow. This character also often depicts a plant growing from the earth, signifying life and generation.
• 率 (lǜ): Rate, ratio, or proportion. This character is a standard suffix for statistical rates in Chinese, like 效率 (xiàolǜ - efficiency) or 汇率 (huìlǜ - exchange rate).

Together, 出生 (chūshēng) means “to be born.” Adding 率 (lǜ) turns it into the statistical concept of “birth rate,” a very logical construction.

The term 出生率 in China is deeply loaded with over 70 years of political and social history. It's not just a demographic data point; it's a reflection of national policy, family structure, and collective anxiety. Traditionally, Chinese culture valued large families, encapsulated in the saying 多子多福 (duō zǐ duō fú), meaning “more sons, more happiness.” However, this changed dramatically with the “Family Planning Policy” (计划生育, jìhuà shēngyù), commonly known as the One-Child Policy, implemented from around 1980 to 2015. This policy drastically lowered the 出生率 but also created immense social pressures and a generation of only children (独生子女, dúshēng zǐnǚ). Today, the pendulum has swung in the opposite direction. The government is now facing a demographic crisis characterized by a plummeting 出生率 and a rapidly aging population (老龄化, lǎolínghuà). This has led to the introduction of two-child and now three-child policies, along with various incentives to encourage childbirth. The key difference from the West is the role of the state. In Western countries, discussions about the birth rate are often framed around individual choice, economic factors, and social trends. In China, the 出生率 has been, and continues to be, treated as a matter of top-down national strategy and social engineering, making it a much more politicized and centrally-managed concept.

出生率 is a formal term, but its subject matter is a part of everyday life.

• In the News and Formal Settings: You will see and hear 出生率 constantly in news reports, government documents, and academic discussions about China's economy and future. The tone is typically neutral, analytical, and often concerned. Example: “China's National Bureau of Statistics announced that last year's 出生率 hit a new low.”
• In Everyday Conversation: While people might not use the formal term 出生率 when chatting with friends, they will definitely discuss the reasons behind it. Young people frequently talk about the immense pressure (压力, yālì) of raising children, the high cost of education and housing, and the personal sacrifice required. A common sentiment is “生不起” (shēng bù qǐ) - “can't afford to have a child.”
• On Social Media: The topic of the low 出生率 is a massive point of discussion, debate, and often dark humor on platforms like Weibo. Hashtags related to new demographic data often trend, with millions of comments from young netizens expressing their anxieties and frustrations about the prospect of starting a family.

• Example 1:
  • 中国的出生率近年来持续下降。
  • Pinyin: Zhōngguó de chūshēnglǜ jìnniánlái chíxù xiàjiàng.
  • English: China's birth rate has continued to decline in recent years.
  • Analysis: A very common and neutral sentence you would find in a news article.
• Example 2:
  • 政府正在采取措施提高出生率。
  • Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ zhèngzài cǎiqǔ cuòshī tígāo chūshēnglǜ.
  • English: The government is taking measures to increase the birth rate.
  • Analysis: This sentence reflects the current policy direction in China. 措施 (cuòshī) means “measures.”
• Example 3:
  • 经济压力是导致出生率低的主要原因之一。
  • Pinyin: Jīngjì yālì shì dǎozhì chūshēnglǜ dī de zhǔyào yuányīn zhīyī.
  • English: Economic pressure is one of the main reasons for the low birth rate.
  • Analysis: This explains a cause-and-effect relationship, a common discussion point.
• Example 4:
  • 很多欧洲国家的出生率也非常低。
  • Pinyin: Hěn duō Ōuzhōu guójiā de chūshēnglǜ yě fēicháng dī.
  • English: The birth rate in many European countries is also very low.
  • Analysis: Used for making comparisons between different countries.
• Example 5:
  • 专家预测，未来的出生率可能还会进一步下降。
  • Pinyin: Zhuānjiā yùcè, wèilái de chūshēnglǜ kěnéng hái huì jìnyībù xiàjiàng.
  • English: Experts predict that the future birth rate may fall even further.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates how the term is used in forward-looking statements or predictions (预测, yùcè).
• Example 6:
  • 低出生率会给养老金体系带来巨大挑战。
  • Pinyin: Dī chūshēnglǜ huì gěi yǎnglǎojīn tǐxì dàilái jùdà tiǎozhàn.
  • English: A low birth rate will bring huge challenges to the pension system.
  • Analysis: This connects the birth rate to its real-world consequences. 养老金体系 (yǎnglǎojīn tǐxì) is “pension system.”
• Example 7:
  • 你怎么看待中国现在的出生率问题？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ zěnme kàndài Zhōngguó xiànzài de chūshēnglǜ wèntí?
  • English: What do you think about China's current birth rate problem?
  • Analysis: A typical question to start a discussion on this topic. 看待 (kàndài) means “to view” or “to look upon.”
• Example 8:
  • 计划生育政策显著地影响了中国的出生率。
  • Pinyin: Jìhuà shēngyù zhèngcè xiǎnzhù de yǐngxiǎng le Zhōngguó de chūshēnglǜ.
  • English: The Family Planning Policy significantly influenced China's birth rate.
  • Analysis: This sentence places the term in its historical context.
• Example 9:
  • 高昂的教育成本抑制了年轻人的生育意愿，从而影响了出生率。
  • Pinyin: Gāo'áng de jiàoyù chéngběn yìzhì le niánqīngrén de shēngyù yìyuàn, cóng'ér yǐngxiǎng le chūshēnglǜ.
  • English: The high cost of education suppresses young people's willingness to have children, thus affecting the birth rate.
  • Analysis: A more complex sentence showing a chain of causation. 生育意愿 (shēngyù yìyuàn) means “desire/willingness to give birth.”
• Example 10:
  • 为了稳定出生率，一些地方政府开始发放生育补贴。
  • Pinyin: Wèile wěndìng chūshēnglǜ, yīxiē dìfāng zhèngfǔ kāishǐ fāfàng shēngyù bǔtiē.
  • English: In order to stabilize the birth rate, some local governments have begun to issue maternity subsidies.
  • Analysis: This sentence provides a concrete example of a government measure. 生育补贴 (shēngyù bǔtiē) is “maternity subsidy.”

• 出生率 (chūshēnglǜ) vs. 生育率 (shēngyùlǜ): This is the most important distinction and a common point of confusion.
  • 出生率 (chūshēnglǜ): Crude Birth Rate. This is the number of live births per 1,000 people in the entire population (including men, children, and the elderly) in a year. It's a general measure of population growth.
  • 生育率 (shēngyùlǜ): Fertility Rate. This is the average number of children a woman is expected to have in her lifetime. It's a more precise measure of reproductive behavior.
  • Mistake: While news headlines and casual speakers sometimes use them interchangeably, they are distinct statistical terms. Using 生育率 is more accurate when you're talking about the average number of children per woman, whereas 出生率 is for the overall population's birth statistics. For a learner, it's good to know the difference, but in most non-technical conversations, people will understand your meaning either way.
• Pronunciation of 率: The character 率 has two main pronunciations: shuài (as in 率领, shuàilǐng - to lead) and lǜ (as in 效率, xiàolǜ - efficiency). When it means “rate” or “ratio,” it is always pronounced lǜ. Mistaking it for “shuài” is a common beginner error.

• 生育率 (shēngyùlǜ) - Fertility rate. The most closely related term, measuring children per woman.
• 人口 (rénkǒu) - Population. The base number from which the birth rate is calculated.
• 老龄化 (lǎolínghuà) - Population aging. A direct social consequence of a long-term low birth rate.
• 死亡率 (sǐwánglǜ) - Death rate. The demographic counterpart to the birth rate.
• 计划生育 (jìhuà shēngyù) - Family Planning Policy. The official name for the policy that included the “One-Child Policy.”
• 独生子女 (dúshēng zǐnǚ) - Only child. The generation born under the One-Child Policy.
• 三孩政策 (sānhái zhèngcè) - Three-child policy. The current government policy aimed at increasing the birth rate.
• 人口红利 (rénkǒu hónglì) - Demographic dividend. The economic growth potential from having a large working-age population, which is now shrinking in China due to the low birth rate.
• 丁克 (dīngkè) - “DINK” (Dual Income, No Kids). A loanword from English describing a lifestyle choice that contributes to the low birth rate.