shēngqí: 升旗 - To Raise a Flag, Flag-Raising

• Keywords: shengqi, 升旗, raise the flag in Chinese, Chinese flag raising, Tiananmen Square flag raising, flag ceremony China, Chinese patriotism, national flag of China
• Summary: Learn how to use 升旗 (shēngqí), the Chinese term for “to raise a flag.” This entry explores how this simple phrase represents more than just an action; it's a key part of daily life and national identity in China. From solemn school ceremonies to the world-famous daily Tiananmen Square flag raising, understanding 升旗 (shēngqí) offers a deep insight into modern Chinese culture and patriotism.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): shēngqí
• Part of Speech: Verb-Object phrase (functions as a verb)
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To raise or hoist a flag.
• In a Nutshell: 升旗 (shēngqí) is the formal act of raising a flag, usually the national flag, up a flagpole. While it translates directly, the term is packed with ceremonial weight. It's not about casually hanging a flag on a wall; it's about a structured, respectful ritual that signifies patriotism, order, and collective identity, performed everywhere from schools to the heart of the nation in Beijing.

• 升 (shēng): This character means “to rise,” “to ascend,” or “to go up.” You can think of it as depicting something moving upwards from a base.
• 旗 (qí): This character means “flag” or “banner.”
• The characters combine in a very direct and logical way: 升 (shēng) “to rise” + 旗 (qí) “flag” = to make the flag rise, or “to raise the flag.”

The act of 升旗 (shēngqí) is a deeply significant ritual in modern China, acting as a constant and visible reinforcement of national pride and unity. The most iconic example is the daily flag-raising ceremony in 天安门广场 (Tiān'ānmén Guǎngchǎng), Tiananmen Square, in Beijing. Performed by a specially trained, elite guard of soldiers, the flag is raised precisely at the moment of sunrise and lowered at sunset. Thousands of tourists and citizens gather in the pre-dawn cold every day to witness this solemn, highly choreographed event, which is also broadcast nationally. It's a powerful symbol of state power, national dignity, and collective identity. This can be contrasted with flag-raising in Western countries like the United States. While Americans display patriotism by raising the flag at homes, schools, and sporting events, it is often a more decentralized and individual act. The Tiananmen ceremony, by contrast, is a centralized, state-run ritual that the entire nation can watch and participate in vicariously. It reflects a more collectivist value, where patriotism is expressed through shared, organized, and uniform public ceremony. In China, especially for the younger generation, the weekly school 升旗仪式 (shēngqí yíshì), or flag-raising ceremony, is a formative experience that instills a sense of national identity and discipline from an early age.

升旗 (shēngqí) is used in formal and official contexts. It's not a casual term.

• In Schools: Nearly every school in China, from elementary to university, holds a flag-raising ceremony, typically every Monday morning. Students and teachers gather in the schoolyard to watch the flag be raised while singing the national anthem. It is a mandatory part of the school week.
• Government and Military: All government buildings and military bases conduct daily flag-raising ceremonies.
• National Holidays: On holidays like National Day (国庆节 Guóqìngjié), 升旗 (shēngqí) ceremonies are held nationwide with extra pomp and circumstance.
• As a Noun: The term can also refer to the event itself. For example, “去看升旗 (qù kàn shēngqí)” means “to go watch the flag-raising.”

The connotation is always one of solemnity, respect, and seriousness. Joking during a 升旗 (shēngqí) ceremony would be considered highly inappropriate.

• Example 1:
  • 每天早上八点，我们学校都举行升旗仪式。
  • Pinyin: Měitiān zǎoshang bā diǎn, wǒmen xuéxiào dōu jǔxíng shēngqí yíshì.
  • English: Every morning at 8 o'clock, our school holds a flag-raising ceremony.
  • Analysis: This is a very common scenario describing the routine of school life in China. `仪式 (yíshì)` means “ceremony.”
• Example 2:
  • 去北京旅游，我最想看的就是天安门升旗。
  • Pinyin: Qù Běijīng lǚyóu, wǒ zuì xiǎng kàn de jiùshì Tiān'ānmén shēngqí.
  • English: When I travel to Beijing, the thing I want to see most is the Tiananmen flag-raising.
  • Analysis: Here, 升旗 (shēngqí) is used as a noun, referring to the event itself.
• Example 3:
  • 负责升旗的士兵们经过了非常严格的训练。
  • Pinyin: Fùzé shēngqí de shìbīngmen jīngguòle fēicháng yángé de xùnliàn.
  • English: The soldiers responsible for raising the flag have gone through very rigorous training.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the seriousness and professionalism associated with the act, particularly in official contexts.
• Example 4:
  • 国庆节那天，成千上万的人在广场上等待升旗。
  • Pinyin: Guóqìngjié nàtiān, chéngqiān shàngwàn de rén zài guǎngchǎng shàng děngdài shēngqí.
  • English: On National Day, thousands upon thousands of people waited in the square for the flag-raising.
  • Analysis: This sentence paints a picture of the scale and public importance of the event on national holidays.
• Example 5:
  • 奏国歌的时候，所有人都要肃立，向国旗敬礼。然后开始升旗。
  • Pinyin: Zòu guógē de shíhou, suǒyǒu rén dōu yào sùlì, xiàng guóqí jìnglǐ. Ránhòu kāishǐ shēngqí.
  • English: When the national anthem is played, everyone must stand solemnly and salute the flag. Then the flag-raising begins.
  • Analysis: This example shows the sequence of events in a typical ceremony and introduces the related term 敬礼 (jìnglǐ), to salute.
• Example 6:
  • 他很自豪，因为他被选为学校的升旗手。
  • Pinyin: Tā hěn zìháo, yīnwèi tā bèi xuǎn wéi xuéxiào de shēngqí shǒu.
  • English: He is very proud because he was chosen to be the school's flag-raiser.
  • Analysis: `升旗手 (shēngqí shǒu)` literally means “flag-raising hand,” and is the title for the person assigned the honor of raising the flag.
• Example 7:
  • 由于大雨，今天的升旗仪式被取消了。
  • Pinyin: Yóuyú dàyǔ, jīntiān de shēngqí yíshì bèi qǔxiāole.
  • English: Due to heavy rain, today's flag-raising ceremony was canceled.
  • Analysis: A practical sentence showing how the event might be referred to in daily announcements.
• Example 8:
  • 奥运会上，当运动员赢得金牌时，会场会为他们升旗。
  • Pinyin: Àoyùnhuì shàng, dāng yùndòngyuán yíngdé jīnpái shí, huìchǎng huì wèi tāmen shēngqí.
  • English: At the Olympics, when an athlete wins a gold medal, the venue will raise the flag for them.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the use of the term in an international, formal context.
• Example 9:
  • 游客们凌晨三点就起床，为了占据观看升旗的最佳位置。
  • Pinyin: Yóukèmen língchén sān diǎn jiù qǐchuáng, wèile zhànjù guānkàn shēngqí de zuìjiā wèizhì.
  • English: The tourists got up at 3 a.m. in order to get the best spot to watch the flag-raising.
  • Analysis: This illustrates the dedication and popularity of the Tiananmen ceremony.
• Example 10:
  • 每次观看升旗，他都感到一种强烈的民族自豪感。
  • Pinyin: Měi cì guānkàn shēngqí, tā dōu gǎndào yī zhǒng qiángliè de mínzú zìháogǎn.
  • English: Every time he watches the flag-raising, he feels a strong sense of national pride.
  • Analysis: This sentence directly connects the act of 升旗 (shēngqí) to the feeling it is meant to inspire: `民族自豪感 (mínzú zìháogǎn)`, or national pride.

• Formal vs. Casual “Putting up a flag”: The most common mistake for learners is to use 升旗 (shēngqí) for any act of displaying a flag. 升旗 (shēngqí) specifically means the ceremonial raising of a flag on a flagpole. If you are just tacking a flag to a wall or putting a small decorative flag on your desk, you would not use 升旗 (shēngqí). For sticking a flag into the ground or a base, you might use 插旗 (chāqí).
  • Incorrect: 我在我的房间里升旗了。(Wǒ zài wǒ de fángjiān lǐ shēngqí le.) - This sounds very strange, as if you have a formal flagpole ceremony in your bedroom.
  • Correct: 我在墙上挂了一面国旗。(Wǒ zài qiáng shàng guàle yī miàn guóqí.) - “I hung a national flag on the wall.”
• Verb-Object Structure: Remember that 升旗 (shēngqí) is a verb-object phrase. This means you can insert descriptors between the verb and the object. For example:
  • 升五星红旗 (shēng wǔxīng hóngqí) - To raise the Five-star Red Flag.
  • 升一面旗 (shēng yī miàn qí) - To raise a flag.

• 国旗 (guóqí) - National flag. The specific type of flag most often raised during a 升旗 (shēngqí) ceremony.
• 降旗 (jiàngqí) - To lower the flag. The direct antonym of 升旗 (shēngqí), which happens at sunset.
• 仪式 (yíshì) - Ceremony. Very frequently used together: 升旗仪式 (shēngqí yíshì).
• 天安门广场 (Tiān'ānmén Guǎngchǎng) - Tiananmen Square. The most famous and symbolic location for 升旗 (shēngqí) in China.
• 国歌 (guógē) - National anthem. The song that is always played during the raising of the national flag.
• 爱国主义 (àiguózhǔyì) - Patriotism. The core value and emotion that the 升旗 (shēngqí) ceremony is intended to foster.
• 敬礼 (jìnglǐ) - To salute. The formal gesture of respect performed while the flag is being raised.
• 五星红旗 (wǔxīng hóngqí) - The Five-star Red Flag. The official name for the national flag of the People's Republic of China.