jièdú: 戒毒 - To Quit Drugs, Drug Rehabilitation

• Keywords: 戒毒, jièdú, quit drugs, drug rehabilitation in China, drug detox, overcome addiction, get clean, Chinese term for rehab, drug treatment in China, opiate crisis China.
• Summary: 戒毒 (jièdú) is the primary Chinese term for quitting drugs or undergoing drug rehabilitation. It combines the characters 戒 (jiè), meaning “to abstain from,” and 毒 (dú), meaning “poison” or “drugs.” This page provides a comprehensive guide for English speakers to understand the meaning, cultural significance, and practical usage of 戒毒, exploring its connection to China's history and modern social policies on drug addiction and recovery.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jièdú
• Part of Speech: Verb, Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: To quit using drugs; to undergo drug rehabilitation or detoxification.
• In a Nutshell: 戒毒 (jièdú) refers to the entire process of stopping the use of illicit drugs and overcoming addiction. It's a serious term that covers everything from the initial physical detoxification to the long-term psychological struggle to remain sober. The word carries significant weight in China and is used in formal contexts like medical treatment and legal proceedings, as well as in personal conversations about someone's journey to recovery.

• 戒 (jiè): This character means “to guard against,” “to abstain from,” or a “precept/commandment.” It often relates to refraining from a negative habit or behavior, such as quitting smoking (戒烟 jièyān) or drinking (戒酒 jièjiǔ).
• 毒 (dú): This character means “poison,” “toxin,” or, in modern usage, “narcotics/illicit drugs.” Its composition often includes the radical for “plant” (艹), hinting at its origins in poisonous herbs.
• Combined Meaning: Together, 戒毒 literally and powerfully translates to “to abstain from poison.” This highlights the Chinese perspective of drugs as a destructive poison to both the individual and society.

In China, the concept of 戒毒 is deeply intertwined with national history and social values. Drug addiction is not merely seen as a personal health issue but carries a heavy social stigma and is often viewed through the lens of moral failing and societal harm. This perspective is rooted in the “Century of Humiliation” (百年国耻 bǎinián guóchǐ), which began with the Opium Wars in the mid-19th century. Widespread opium addiction, encouraged by foreign powers, is historically remembered as a key factor that weakened the nation. Consequently, modern China has a zero-tolerance policy towards drug trafficking and a deep-seated cultural aversion to narcotics.

• Comparison with Western Concepts: While Western cultures increasingly frame addiction as a medical disease, the Chinese view often blends medical, social, and moral dimensions. The Western approach offers a wide array of private rehab facilities and therapeutic models (like 12-step programs) that emphasize individual choice. In contrast, China's system for 戒毒 is more state-controlled, featuring both voluntary and compulsory (强制戒毒 qiángzhì jièdú) rehabilitation centers. The focus is often on restoring social order and productivity, not just individual well-being.

戒毒 is the standard term used across all levels of formality.

• Formal/Official Contexts: You will frequently encounter 戒毒 in news reports, government policies, and legal documents. For example, laws regarding drug use will specify terms for compulsory rehabilitation.
  • e.g., 《中华人民共和国禁毒法》 (The Anti-Drug Law of the People's Republic of China).
• Medical Settings: Doctors, counselors, and staff at a rehabilitation center (戒毒所 jièdúsuǒ) will use this term to discuss treatment plans and patient progress.
• Everyday Conversation: While a sensitive topic, people use 戒毒 to describe someone's situation. The connotation is serious. Talking about someone successfully completing 戒毒 is a positive and hopeful statement, acknowledging a great struggle overcome.

• Example 1:
  • 他终于下定决心去戒毒了。
  • Pinyin: Tā zhōngyú xiàdìng juéxīn qù jièdú le.
  • English: He finally made up his mind to go get clean.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows 戒毒 used as a verb indicating an action or intention. 下定决心 (xiàdìng juéxīn) emphasizes the difficulty of the decision.
• Example 2:
  • 戒毒是一个漫长而艰难的过程，需要坚强的意志。
  • Pinyin: Jièdú shì yīgè màncháng ér jiānnán de guòchéng, xūyào jiānqiáng de yìzhì.
  • English: Drug rehabilitation is a long and difficult process that requires strong willpower.
  • Analysis: Here, 戒毒 functions as a noun, representing the entire concept or process of rehabilitation.
• Example 3:
  • 他被家人送进了戒毒所。
  • Pinyin: Tā bèi jiārén sòngjìn le jièdúsuǒ.
  • English: He was sent to a drug rehabilitation center by his family.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the passive voice (被 bèi) and introduces the common compound noun 戒毒所 (jièdúsuǒ), a rehab center.
• Example 4:
  • 很多戒毒成功的人都愿意分享他们的故事来鼓励别人。
  • Pinyin: Hěnduō jièdú chénggōng de rén dōu yuànyì fēnxiǎng tāmen de gùshì lái gǔlì biérén.
  • English: Many people who have successfully quit drugs are willing to share their stories to encourage others.
  • Analysis: This shows a positive outcome. 戒毒成功 (jièdú chénggōng) means “to successfully quit drugs.”
• Example 5:
  • 社区为戒毒人员提供心理咨询服务。
  • Pinyin: Shèqū wèi jièdú rényuán tígōng xīnlǐ zīxún fúwù.
  • English: The community provides psychological counseling services for people undergoing drug rehabilitation.
  • Analysis: 戒毒人员 (jièdú rényuán) is a formal term for “people in drug rehab” or “recovering addicts.”
• Example 6:
  • 医生说，家人的支持对戒毒治疗至关重要。
  • Pinyin: Yīshēng shuō, jiārén de zhīchí duì jièdú zhìliáo zhìguān zhòngyào.
  • English: The doctor said that family support is crucial for drug rehabilitation treatment.
  • Analysis: This introduces another related term, 戒毒治疗 (jièdú zhìliáo), meaning “rehab treatment.”
• Example 7:
  • 由于多次复吸，他被要求进行强制戒毒。
  • Pinyin: Yóuyú duōcì fùxī, tā bèi yāoqiú jìnxíng qiángzhì jièdú.
  • English: Due to multiple relapses, he was required to undergo compulsory drug rehabilitation.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the legal and official side of the term, using 强制戒毒 (qiángzhì jièdú) - compulsory rehab - and 复吸 (fùxī) - to relapse.
• Example 8:
  • 这部电影真实地反映了青少年戒毒的挑战。
  • Pinyin: Zhè bù diànyǐng zhēnshí de fǎnyìng le qīngshàonián jièdú de tiǎozhàn.
  • English: This movie realistically reflects the challenges of teenage drug rehabilitation.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates how the term can be used as a topic in media and art.
• Example 9:
  • 自愿戒毒通常比强制的成功率更高。
  • Pinyin: Zìyuàn jièdú tōngcháng bǐ qiángzhì de chénggōng lǜ gèng gāo.
  • English: Voluntary rehabilitation usually has a higher success rate than compulsory rehab.
  • Analysis: This contrasts two types of rehabilitation: 自愿 (zìyuàn) - voluntary, and 强制 (qiángzhì) - compulsory.
• Example 10:
  • 为了彻底戒毒，他换了手机号，搬到了一个新的城市。
  • Pinyin: Wèile chèdǐ jièdú, tā huàn le shǒujī hào, bān dào le yīgè xīn de chéngshì.
  • English: In order to quit drugs for good, he changed his phone number and moved to a new city.
  • Analysis: 彻底戒毒 (chèdǐ jièdú) means “to quit drugs completely” or “for good,” showing the totality of the commitment.

• Not for Everyday Habits: A common mistake for learners is to apply 戒毒 to less severe habits. While the character 戒 (jiè) is used for quitting things like smoking (戒烟 jièyān) or alcohol (戒酒 jièjiǔ), the character 毒 (dú) specifically implies illegal, highly addictive narcotics. You would not use 戒毒 for quitting caffeine or sugar.
  • Incorrect: 我要戒毒可乐。(Wǒ yào jièdú kělè.) - I want to rehab from Coke.
  • Correct: 我要戒可乐。(Wǒ yào jiè kělè.) - I want to quit Coke.
• “Detox” vs. 戒毒: In English, “detox” can refer to a trendy wellness diet (like a juice cleanse). 戒毒 is never used this way. It exclusively refers to medical detoxification from harmful drugs. The Chinese term for a general wellness “detox” is 排毒 (páidú), which literally means “to expel poison.”

• 吸毒 (xīdú) - To take drugs; drug abuse. This is the act that leads to the need for 戒毒.
• 毒品 (dúpǐn) - Drugs, narcotics. The substance that one is trying to quit.
• 上瘾 (shàngyǐn) - To be addicted; addiction. The state of dependency.
• 戒烟 (jièyān) - To quit smoking. A related concept using the same “quit” character.
• 戒酒 (jièjiǔ) - To quit drinking alcohol. Another related concept showing the pattern.
• 戒毒所 (jièdúsuǒ) - A drug rehabilitation center. The physical place where 戒毒 often occurs.
• 强制戒毒 (qiángzhì jièdú) - Compulsory drug rehabilitation. A specific, legally mandated form of rehab in China.
• 复吸 (fùxī) - To relapse (literally “to re-inhale/use”). A major risk during and after the 戒毒 process.
• 排毒 (páidú) - To detoxify. The more general term, often used in health and wellness contexts, as opposed to the specific narcotic context of 戒毒.