hóngbǎoshū: 红宝书 - The Little Red Book

• Keywords: 红宝书, hóng bǎo shū, Little Red Book, Quotations from Chairman Mao, Mao's Little Red Book, Cultural Revolution, Chinese history, propaganda, red book China, Mao Zedong, Mao Tse-tung.
• Summary: The term 红宝书 (hóng bǎo shū) is the common Chinese name for “Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung,” known worldwide as “The Little Red Book.” This pocket-sized book was one of the most printed books in history and became a powerful symbol of Mao Zedong's ideology and the Cultural Revolution in China (1966-1976). Today, it is both a significant historical artifact and a term used metaphorically to describe any influential guidebook or “bible” in a particular field.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): hóng bǎo shū
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: N/A
• Concise Definition: “The Little Red Book,” a book of selected quotations from Mao Zedong.
• In a Nutshell: “红宝书” literally translates to “Red Treasure Book.” This name perfectly captures its status during the Cultural Revolution. It wasn't just a book; it was a sacred political text that every citizen was expected to carry, study, and live by. Its red cover symbolized revolution and communism, while “treasure” signified its perceived ideological value. It was the ultimate source of wisdom and guidance for all aspects of life, from farming to fighting.

• 红 (hóng): Red. This is the color of communism, revolution, and the Chinese flag. It immediately signals the book's political nature.
• 宝 (bǎo): Treasure, precious, jewel. This character elevates the book's status from a mere object to something of immense value and importance.
• 书 (shū): Book.
• The characters combine to mean “Red Treasure Book,” a name that conveys both its political alignment (Red) and its sacred, invaluable status (Treasure Book) in the eyes of the Party and its followers during that era.

The 红宝书 is arguably one of the most significant cultural and political artifacts of 20th-century China. Its influence during the Cultural Revolution (文化大革命, wénhuà dàgémìng) cannot be overstated. During this period, the book was a mandatory accessory. People were expected to carry it with them at all times. Red Guards would stop people on the street and quiz them on its contents. Work meetings, classes, and even daily meals would begin with group readings of Mao's quotations. The ability to quote the right passage at the right time could resolve disputes, prove one's political loyalty, or even save one's life. It was the absolute authority on all matters, moral, political, and practical. To draw a Western comparison, imagine if a single political leader's book of quotes held the same societal authority as a sacred religious text like the Bible or Quran, but was enforced by the state with immense political pressure. While religious texts are based on faith, the 红宝书 was a tool of state-enforced political ideology and a key component in building the massive personality cult around Mao Zedong. Its purpose was to create a unified, revolutionary mindset across a nation of hundreds of millions.

The usage of 红宝书 has evolved dramatically since the end of the Cultural Revolution.

• Historical Discussion: The primary use of the term today is in a historical context. People use it when talking or learning about Mao Zedong, the Cultural Revolution, or modern Chinese history. It is seen as a symbol of that tumultuous era.
• Kitsch and Tourism: Replicas of the 红宝书 are now commonly sold in tourist markets as memorabilia. For many younger Chinese and foreigners, it is a piece of historical kitsch, a retro pop-culture icon detached from its original, intense political meaning.
• Metaphorical Usage: In a modern, often ironic or humorous context, “红宝书” can refer to any essential guidebook or manual. It's the “go-to” source of information for a specific topic. For example, a classic stock market guide might be called the “investor's little red book.” This metaphorical usage strips the term of its political weight and focuses on its role as an authoritative guide.

The connotation of the term is complex. For older generations who lived through the Cultural Revolution, it can evoke strong and often painful memories. For younger people, the connection is more academic or symbolic.

• Example 1:
  • 文化大革命期间，几乎人手一本红宝书。
  • Pinyin: Wénhuà Dàgémìng qījiān, jīhū rén shǒu yī běn hóng bǎo shū.
  • English: During the Cultural Revolution, almost everyone had a copy of the Little Red Book.
  • Analysis: This sentence describes the historical reality of the book's ubiquity. “人手一本 (rén shǒu yī běn)” is a common phrase meaning “one copy per person.”
• Example 2:
  • 我爷爷说他年轻时每天都要学习红宝书里的语录。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ yéye shuō tā niánqīng shí měitiān dōu yào xuéxí hóng bǎo shū lǐ de yǔlù.
  • English: My grandfather said that when he was young, he had to study the quotations in the Little Red Book every day.
  • Analysis: This illustrates a personal, historical recollection of the book's role in daily life.
• Example 3:
  • 在北京的古玩市场，你可以买到各种版本的红宝书。
  • Pinyin: Zài Běijīng de gǔwán shìchǎng, nǐ kěyǐ mǎidào gèzhǒng bǎnběn de hóng bǎo shū.
  • English: You can buy various editions of the Little Red Book at the antique markets in Beijing.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights its modern status as a collectible or tourist item.
• Example 4:
  • 这本编程指南被程序员们称为业界的“红宝书”。
  • Pinyin: Zhè běn biānchéng zhǐnán bèi chéngxùyuánmen chēngwéi yèjiè de “hóng bǎo shū”.
  • English: This programming guide is called the “little red book” of the industry by programmers.
  • Analysis: This is a perfect example of the modern, metaphorical usage, where “红宝书” means an essential, authoritative guide.
• Example 5:
  • 领导的讲话被他当成了红宝书，一字不差地执行。
  • Pinyin: Lǐngdǎo de jiǎnghuà bèi tā dàngchéngle hóng bǎo shū, yī zì bù chà de zhíxíng.
  • English: He treated the leader's speech like a little red book, executing it without deviating a single word.
  • Analysis: This is a figurative and slightly critical use, implying blind, unquestioning obedience.
• Example 6:
  • 电影里，红卫兵们挥舞着红宝书，高喊着口号。
  • Pinyin: Diànyǐng lǐ, Hóngwèibīngmen huīwǔzhe hóng bǎo shū, gāo hǎnzhe kǒuhào.
  • English: In the movie, the Red Guards were waving their Little Red Books and shouting slogans.
  • Analysis: This describes the iconic imagery associated with the book and the Cultural Revolution.
• Example 7:
  • 对于想通过考试的学生来说，这本词汇书就是他们的红宝书。
  • Pinyin: Duìyú xiǎng tōngguò kǎoshì de xuéshēng lái shuō, zhè běn cíhuì shū jiùshì tāmen de hóng bǎo shū.
  • English: For students who want to pass the exam, this vocabulary book is their little red book.
  • Analysis: Another clear metaphorical use, common in academic or test-preparation contexts.
• Example 8:
  • 他对红宝书的历史意义有很深的研究。
  • Pinyin: Tā duì hóng bǎo shū de lìshǐ yìyì yǒu hěn shēn de yánjiū.
  • English: He has conducted very deep research into the historical significance of the Little Red Book.
  • Analysis: This shows the term used in a formal, academic context.
• Example 9:
  • 我妈妈的菜谱是我们家的红宝书，没了它我们就不会做饭了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ māma de càipǔ shì wǒmen jiā de hóng bǎo shū, méile tā wǒmen jiù bù huì zuòfàn le.
  • English: My mom's recipe collection is our family's little red book; we wouldn't know how to cook without it.
  • Analysis: A humorous and affectionate metaphorical usage, emphasizing how essential the recipe book is to the family.
• Example 10:
  • 尽管红宝书已经不再流行，但它对中国社会的影响依然存在。
  • Pinyin: Jǐnguǎn hóng bǎo shū yǐjīng bù zài liúxíng, dàn tā duì Zhōngguó shèhuì de yǐngxiǎng yīrán cúnzài.
  • English: Although the Little Red Book is no longer popular, its influence on Chinese society still remains.
  • Analysis: This sentence offers a modern perspective on the book's lasting legacy.

• Don't mistake it for a current government document. The 红宝书 is a historical artifact. Its direct political authority ended with the Mao era. Modern Chinese policy is not based on it, though the legacy of Mao's thought is still part of the Party's official ideology.
• Be aware of its heavy historical context. While it can be used humorously in metaphorical ways (e.g., “the little red book of cooking”), be sensitive to your audience. For those who lived through the Cultural Revolution, the book is a symbol of a deeply traumatic and violent period. Joking about it in the wrong context can be highly inappropriate.
• It's not just a “communist book.” While it is a product of Chinese communism, its function as a tool for a personality cult and a guide for every aspect of daily life was unique. It was distinct from other foundational communist texts like “The Communist Manifesto,” which is a theoretical work rather than a pocket guide for mass mobilization.

• 文化大革命 (wénhuà dàgémìng) - The Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), the political movement and historical period during which the 红宝书 was most prominent.
• 毛主席 (máo zhǔxí) - Chairman Mao. “主席 (zhǔxí)” means chairman, the title by which Mao Zedong was known. The book's full title is “毛主席语录” (Quotations from Chairman Mao).
• 红卫兵 (hóng wèibīng) - The Red Guards. A student-led paramilitary movement during the Cultural Revolution who acted as fanatical proponents of Mao's ideology, famously carrying and waving the 红宝书.
• 语录 (yǔlù) - Quotations, recorded sayings. This term is part of the book's official title.
• 个人崇拜 (gèrén chóngbài) - Personality cult. The 红宝书 was a primary tool used to build and sustain the massive personality cult around Mao Zedong.
• 政治宣传 (zhèngzhì xuānchuán) - Political propaganda. The book is a classic example of political propaganda designed for mass consumption.
• 革命 (gémìng) - Revolution. This is the central theme and goal promoted throughout the book.
• 阶级斗争 (jiējí dòuzhēng) - Class struggle. A core tenet of Maoist thought and a concept frequently discussed in the book's quotations.