Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== xíngzhèng: 行政 - Administration, Executive ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** xingzheng, 行政, administration in Chinese, executive in Chinese, Chinese government, Chinese bureaucracy, administrative, executive power, civil service, HSK 5 * **Summary:** The Chinese term **行政 (xíngzhèng)** refers to **administration** or the **executive** functions of an organization, most commonly the government. It describes the system and actions involved in implementing laws, policies, and managing public or corporate affairs. Understanding **行政** is key to grasping concepts of Chinese governance, bureaucracy, and the structure of large companies. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** xíngzhèng * **Part of Speech:** Noun, Adjective * **HSK Level:** HSK 5 * **Concise Definition:** The act or process of administering; the branch of government responsible for implementing laws and policies. * **In a Nutshell:** Think of **行政 (xíngzhèng)** as the "how-to" of running a country or a big company. It's the machinery that puts plans and laws into action. The term feels formal, official, and is closely tied to the structure of government, civil service, and corporate management. It's about process, authority, and execution. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **行 (xíng):** This character's original pictograph showed a crossroads, representing movement or walking. Over time, its meaning expanded to include "to do," "to carry out," or "to implement." In this context, it signifies action and execution. * **政 (zhèng):** This character relates to government, politics, and policy. It's made of 正 (zhèng), meaning "correct" or "proper," and a radical (攵) that implies action or enforcement. Together, they suggest the act of enforcing what is correct and orderly, which is the core of governance. When combined, **行政 (xíngzhèng)** literally means "to carry out governance" or "to implement policy." This perfectly encapsulates its modern meaning of "administration" or "executive" functions. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== The concept of **行政 (xíngzhèng)** is deeply rooted in Chinese history. For over two millennia, China was governed by a sophisticated and powerful bureaucracy. The ideal, stemming from Confucian thought, was a stable society managed by educated, ethical scholar-officials who carried out the emperor's will. This created a strong cultural respect for the administrative state as the primary force for order and prosperity. A useful comparison is to the American/Western concept of "administration." In the West, "administration" can often be a neutral term for management, but it can also carry a negative connotation of "red tape" or inefficient bureaucracy that gets in the way. In China, while the frustration with bureaucracy (**官僚主义, guānliáo zhǔyì**) certainly exists, **行政** itself carries a much stronger weight of state authority and legitimacy. It is seen as the essential framework that allows the state to function and society to remain stable. It's less about "paper-pushing" and more about the "execution of state will." This reverence for a strong, centralized administrative system is a key cultural value that distinguishes it from more individualistic Western political traditions. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== **行政 (xíngzhèng)** is a formal term used in specific, official contexts. You won't hear it in casual daily conversation. * **In Government and Law:** This is its primary domain. It's used to describe government bodies, actions, and divisions. * **行政部门 (xíngzhèng bùmén):** Administrative department * **行政区 (xíngzhèngqū):** Administrative region/district * **行政处罚 (xíngzhèng chǔfá):** Administrative penalty (e.g., a fine from a government agency) * **行政命令 (xíngzhèng mìnglìng):** Executive order * **In the Corporate World:** Large companies use **行政** to refer to their internal administration departments that handle logistics, office management, and support services. * **行政部 (xíngzhèngbù):** Administration Department ("Admin") * **行政助理 (xíngzhèng zhùlǐ):** Administrative Assistant * **行政总监 (xíngzhèng zǒngjiān):** Director of Administration The term is always neutral-to-formal. It simply describes a function; whether that function is efficient or not is a separate matter. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 这个城市的**行政**部门效率很高。 * Pinyin: Zhège chéngshì de **xíngzhèng** bùmén xiàolǜ hěn gāo. * English: The administrative departments in this city are very efficient. * Analysis: A common, neutral statement discussing the function of local government. **行政** here acts as an adjective modifying "部门" (departments). * **Example 2:** * 他因为违反交通规则受到了**行政**处罚。 * Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi wéifǎn jiāotōng guīzé shòudào le **xíngzhèng** chǔfá. * English: He received an administrative penalty for violating traffic rules. * Analysis: This shows its use in a legal context. The penalty (like a fine) is not from a criminal court but from an administrative body like the traffic police. * **Example 3:** * 公司的**行政**部负责采购办公用品。 * Pinyin: Gōngsī de **xíngzhèng**bù fùzé cǎigòu bàngōng yòngpǐn. * English: The company's administration department is responsible for purchasing office supplies. * Analysis: A typical example of the term's usage in a corporate setting. * **Example 4:** * 中国的首都北京是一个直辖市，有自己独立的**行政**管理体系。 * Pinyin: Zhōngguó de shǒudū Běijīng shì yīgè zhíxiáshì, yǒu zìjǐ dúlì de **xíngzhèng** guǎnlǐ tǐxì. * English: China's capital, Beijing, is a municipality with its own independent administrative management system. * Analysis: Here, **行政** is used to describe the system of governance for a major administrative division. * **Example 5:** * 作为一名**行政**助理，她需要处理很多琐碎的事务。 * Pinyin: Zuòwéi yī míng **xíngzhèng** zhùlǐ, tā xūyào chǔlǐ hěn duō suǒsuì de shìwù. * English: As an administrative assistant, she needs to handle many trivial matters. * Analysis: This illustrates a specific job title that includes the term. * **Example 6:** * 新总统上任后发布了第一项**行政**命令。 * Pinyin: Xīn zǒngtǒng shàngrèn hòu fābùle dì yī xiàng **xíngzhèng** mìnglìng. * English: After taking office, the new president issued his first executive order. * Analysis: This highlights the "executive" meaning of **行政**, referring to the power of a head of state. * **Example 7:** * 任何**行政**权力都应该受到法律的约束。 * Pinyin: Rènhé **xíngzhèng** quánlì dōu yīnggāi shòudào fǎlǜ de yuēshù. * English: All executive power should be constrained by the law. * Analysis: A more abstract and formal use of the term, discussing political theory. * **Example 8:** * 这次改革旨在简化**行政**审批流程。 * Pinyin: Zhè cì gǎigé zhǐ zài jiǎnhuà **xíngzhèng** shěnpī liúchéng. * English: This reform aims to simplify the administrative approval process. * Analysis: This touches on the "bureaucracy" aspect, where simplifying **行政** procedures is a common goal. * **Example 9:** * 香港和澳门是中国的特别**行政**区。 * Pinyin: Xiānggǎng hé Àomén shì Zhōngguó de tèbié **xíngzhèng**qū. * English: Hong Kong and Macau are Special Administrative Regions of China. * Analysis: A very specific and famous usage in geopolitics. "SAR" is literally "Special Administrative Region." * **Example 10:** * 公司的**行政**开支太高，我们需要想办法降低成本。 * Pinyin: Gōngsī de **xíngzhèng** kāizhī tài gāo, wǒmen xūyào xiǎng bànfǎ jiàngdī chéngběn. * English: The company's administrative expenses are too high; we need to find a way to reduce costs. * Analysis: This shows the term used in a business finance context, similar to "overhead" or "administrative costs" in English. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **行政 (xíngzhèng) vs. 管理 (guǎnlǐ):** This is a crucial distinction for learners. * **行政 (xíngzhèng)** is formal and refers to the established systems of government or large corporations. It's about implementing policies and official procedures. * **管理 (guǎnlǐ)** means "management" or "to manage." It is a much broader and more common word. You can manage a project, manage your time, manage a small team, or manage a restaurant. * **Incorrect Usage:** 你应该**行政**你的时间。 (Nǐ yīnggāi **xíngzhèng** nǐ de shíjiān.) -> This is wrong. * **Correct Usage:** 你应该**管理**你的时间。 (Nǐ yīnggāi **guǎnlǐ** nǐ de shíjiān.) -> "You should manage your time." * **"Administration" vs. 政府 (zhèngfǔ):** * English speakers might be tempted to use **行政 (xíngzhèng)** to refer to a specific leader's government (e.g., "the Biden administration"). This is incorrect. **行政** is the *function* or *system* of administration. * The entity itself is called **政府 (zhèngfǔ)**, which means "government." * **Correct Usage:** 拜登**政府** (Bàidēng **zhèngfǔ**) -> The Biden administration/government. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[政府]] (zhèngfǔ) - Government. The actual entity or body that carries out **行政**. * [[管理]] (guǎnlǐ) - Management. A broader, more general, and less formal term for overseeing things. * [[政策]] (zhèngcè) - Policy. The plans and rules that the **行政** system is designed to implement. * [[权力]] (quánlì) - Power/Authority. **行政权力 (xíngzhèng quánlì)** is "executive power." * [[部门]] (bùmén) - Department/Branch. Often combined as **行政部门 (xíngzhèng bùmén)**. * [[官员]] (guānyuán) - Government Official. A person who works within the **行政** system. * [[法律]] (fǎlǜ) - Law. **行政** is concerned with the enforcement and implementation of laws. * [[官僚主义]] (guānliáo zhǔyì) - Bureaucratism / Red Tape. The negative stereotype often associated with an inefficient **行政** system.