xuǎnjǔ: 选举 - Election, To Elect

• Keywords: xuanju, xuǎnjǔ, 选举, Chinese election, to elect in Chinese, voting in China, Chinese politics, Chinese vocabulary, HSK 5, elect a representative in Chinese
• Summary: Learn the Chinese word 选举 (xuǎnjǔ), which means “election” or “to elect”. This guide explores its use in both political and everyday contexts, such as electing a class president. Discover the character breakdown, cultural significance of elections in China compared to the West, and see practical examples. This page is an essential resource for understanding how the concept of formal voting and selection is expressed in Mandarin Chinese.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): xuǎnjǔ
• Part of Speech: Noun / Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: A formal process of choosing a person for a position or office by voting; an election.
• In a Nutshell: 选举 (xuǎnjǔ) is the formal term for “election.” While it directly translates to the English word, its application in China carries different cultural and political weight. It's used for everything from national-level political processes to electing a student representative in a classroom. Think of it as any formal process where a group selects an individual for a role through a structured choice, often by voting.

• 选 (xuǎn): To choose, to select, to pick. The character is composed of the 辶 (chuò) radical, meaning “to walk,” and a phonetic component. It implies the action of going out and making a selection.
• 举 (jǔ): To lift, to raise, to recommend. The character is a pictograph of a hand (or hands) lifting a heavy object. In the context of an election, it evokes the ancient practice of raising one's hand to vote or “lifting up” a candidate for a position.
• The two characters combine to mean “to select by raising up” or “to choose by raising hands,” which perfectly captures the essence of a formal election or vote.

The term 选举 (xuǎnjǔ) offers a fascinating window into the differences between Chinese and Western political and social structures. In the West, particularly in the US, “election” immediately brings to mind large-scale, multi-party campaigns for public office, like the presidential election. It's fundamentally tied to the idea of competitive, popular democracy where citizens directly choose their top leaders. In modern China, 选举 (xuǎnjǔ) has a more nuanced meaning. While China holds elections for local People's Congresses, the process is different. It operates within a single-party system, and candidates are typically vetted and approved by the Communist Party. The concept is framed within “socialist democracy” or “consultative democracy,” which emphasizes consensus and orderly selection over direct, multi-party competition for the highest offices. Therefore, while the word is the same, the scope, competitiveness, and societal expectation surrounding a national political 选举 are vastly different. However, outside of high-level politics, 选举 is used in a way that is very familiar to Westerners. A school 选举 for class president (选举班长) or a homeowners' association 选举 for its committee involves nominations, speeches, and voting. In these micro-contexts, the word functions almost identically to its English counterpart. For a learner, it's crucial to understand that the meaning of 选举 is heavily dependent on whether the context is national politics or a local/organizational vote.

选举 (xuǎnjǔ) is a formal term used in specific contexts. You would not use it to “choose” or “select” a restaurant for dinner.

• Political Context: This is the most formal usage. It refers to official elections for government positions, most commonly for local People's Congress delegates (人民代表大会代表选举). News reports and official documents will use this term.
  • Example: `全国人民代表大会选举 (Quánguó Rénmín Dàibiǎo Dàhuì xuǎnjǔ)` - National People's Congress election.
• Organizational & Community Context: This is a very common and practical usage for learners. It applies to any formal vote within a group to select a leader or representative.
  • Example: `学生会主席选举 (xuéshēnghuì zhǔxí xuǎnjǔ)` - Student council president election.
  • Example: `公司董事会选举 (gōngsī dǒngshìhuì xuǎnjǔ)` - Company board of directors election.
• As a Verb: 选举 can be used directly as a verb meaning “to elect.”
  • Example: `我们选举他当班长。(Wǒmen xuǎnjǔ tā dāng bānzhǎng.)` - We elected him to be the class president.

The connotation is generally neutral and formal. It simply describes the process of election.

• Example 1:
  • 美国总统选举每四年举行一次。
  • Pinyin: Měiguó zǒngtǒng xuǎnjǔ měi sì nián jǔxíng yī cì.
  • English: The U.S. presidential election is held once every four years.
  • Analysis: A straightforward, factual sentence using 选举 as a noun in a political context familiar to English speakers.
• Example 2:
  • 我们班下周要选举新的班长。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen bān xià zhōu yào xuǎnjǔ xīn de bānzhǎng.
  • English: Our class is going to elect a new class president next week.
  • Analysis: This shows 选举 used as a verb in a common, non-political school setting. This is a very practical usage for students to learn.
• Example 3:
  • 在民主国家，公民有选举权和被选举权。
  • Pinyin: Zài mínzhǔ guójiā, gōngmín yǒu xuǎnjǔquán hé bèi xuǎnjǔquán.
  • English: In democratic countries, citizens have the right to vote and the right to be elected.
  • Analysis: This introduces two key related terms: `选举权 (xuǎnjǔquán)` - the right to elect, and `被选举权 (bèi xuǎnjǔquán)` - the right to be elected.
• Example 4:
  • 他成功当选，成为了我们村的第一位民选村长。这次选举很成功。
  • Pinyin: Tā chénggōng dāngxuǎn, chéngwéi le wǒmen cūn de dì-yī wèi mínxuǎn cūnzhǎng. Zhè cì xuǎnjǔ hěn chénggōng.
  • English: He was successfully elected and became our village's first popularly elected village chief. This election was very successful.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows the result of an 选举 and uses the related term `当选 (dāngxuǎn)` - to be elected. It refers to local, grassroots elections that happen in China.
• Example 5:
  • 所有候选人都需要为即将到来的选举做准备。
  • Pinyin: Suǒyǒu hòuxuǎnrén dōu xūyào wèi jíjiāng dàolái de xuǎnjǔ zuò zhǔnbèi.
  • English: All the candidates need to prepare for the upcoming election.
  • Analysis: This sentence introduces the important related noun `候选人 (hòuxuǎnrén)`, meaning “candidate.”
• Example 6:
  • 这次选举的投票率非常高。
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì xuǎnjǔ de tóupiàolǜ fēicháng gāo.
  • English: The voter turnout for this election was very high.
  • Analysis: This example connects 选举 with the concept of voting and turnout, using the term `投票率 (tóupiàolǜ)`.
• Example 7:
  • 工会正在选举新的领导团队。
  • Pinyin: Gōnghuì zhèngzài xuǎnjǔ xīn de lǐngdǎo tuánduì.
  • English: The labor union is currently electing a new leadership team.
  • Analysis: This shows the word's use in an organizational context, outside of government or school.
• Example 8:
  • 他们选举李女士作为公司的代表。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen xuǎnjǔ Lǐ nǚshì zuòwéi gōngsī de dàibiǎo.
  • English: They elected Ms. Li as the company's representative.
  • Analysis: A clear example of 选举 used as a verb, with the structure `选举 + Person + 作为 (zuòwéi) + Position`.
• Example 9:
  • 选举过程必须是公平和透明的。
  • Pinyin: Xuǎnjǔ guòchéng bìxū shì gōngpíng hé tòumíng de.
  • English: The election process must be fair and transparent.
  • Analysis: This sentence describes the ideal characteristics of an 选举, using common adjectives `公平 (gōngpíng)` and `透明 (tòumíng)`.
• Example 10:
  • 他对选举结果表示怀疑。
  • Pinyin: Tā duì xuǎnjǔ jiéguǒ biǎoshì huáiyí.
  • English: He expressed doubts about the election results.
  • Analysis: Shows how to talk about the outcome or “results” `(结果 jiéguǒ)` of an 选举, including in a negative or questioning context.

• `选举 (xuǎnjǔ)` vs. `选择 (xuǎnzé)`: This is the most common point of confusion for learners.
  • 选举 (xuǎnjǔ) is a formal process of electing a person to a position, usually through a vote. It's about selecting a representative or leader.
  • 选择 (xuǎnzé) means “to choose” or “to select” in a general sense. It can be used for anything: food, clothes, a movie, a career path, a life partner.
  • Incorrect: `我选举了红色的衬衫。` (Wǒ xuǎnjǔ le hóngsè de chènshān.) - I “elected” the red shirt.
  • Correct: `我选择了红色的衬衫。` (Wǒ xuǎnzé le hóngsè de chènshān.) - I chose the red shirt.
  • Rule of Thumb: If you are choosing a *person* for an *official role* through a *formal process* (like voting), use 选举. For all other choices, use 选择.
• Assuming Identical Political Context: A major pitfall is assuming a Chinese 选举 functions exactly like a presidential election in a Western country. As explained in the cultural context section, the political systems are different, which changes the nature of national-level elections. Be mindful of this when discussing politics to avoid misunderstandings.

• 投票 (tóupiào) - To vote; to cast a ballot. This is the primary action performed during an 选举.
• 候选人 (hòuxuǎnrén) - Candidate. The person or people who are running in an 选举.
• 选民 (xuǎnmín) - Voter; constituent. The people who are eligible to vote in an 选举.
• 竞选 (jìngxuǎn) - To campaign; to run for office. The competitive process of trying to win an 选举.
• 当选 (dāngxuǎn) - To be elected; to win an election. The successful outcome of an 选举 for a candidate.
• 民主 (mínzhǔ) - Democracy. The political ideology most often associated with the concept of 选举.
• 代表 (dàibiǎo) - Representative; delegate. A common position that is filled through an 选举.
• 主席 (zhǔxí) - Chairman; president. A leadership title often decided by an 选举.
• 政府 (zhèngfǔ) - Government. The institution often formed and populated through 选举.
• 选择 (xuǎnzé) - To choose; to select. A general-purpose verb and noun that is often confused with the more specific 选举.