bùwàngchūxīnlàojìshǐmìng: 不忘初心，牢记使命 - Never forget the original aspiration, keep the mission firmly in mind

• Keywords: buwang chuxin lao ji shiming, 不忘初心牢记使命, never forget original aspiration, stay true to the mission, Chinese political slogan, Xi Jinping, CPC motto, original intention, founding principles, Chinese Dream
• Summary: “不忘初心，牢记使命” (bù wàng chū xīn, láo jì shǐ mìng) is a key political slogan in modern China, meaning “Never forget the original aspiration, keep the mission firmly in mind.” Popularized by President Xi Jinping, it urges the nation and its people to remember their founding principles while diligently working towards future goals, specifically the “great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” While deeply political, the phrase is also widely used in business and personal contexts to inspire perseverance and commitment to one's original purpose.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): bù wàng chū xīn, láo jì shǐ mìng
• Part of Speech: Phrase / Political Slogan
• HSK Level: N/A
• Concise Definition: Stay true to the original aspiration and keep the mission firmly in mind.
• In a Nutshell: This is a powerful and formal call to action that functions as a guiding principle. It's composed of two parallel ideas: first, to remember the pure, initial reason *why* you started a journey (your 初心, “original heart”). Second, to constantly and firmly hold onto your ultimate goal or duty (your 使命, “mission”). It’s a reminder to resist corruption, distraction, and hardship to fulfill a greater, long-term purpose.

• 不 (bù): not; a simple negation.
• 忘 (wàng): to forget. Together, “不忘” (bù wàng) means “do not forget.”
• 初 (chū): beginning, initial, first.
• 心 (xīn): heart, mind, intention. “初心” (chū xīn) literally translates to “original heart” and refers to one's founding aspiration or initial intention.
• 牢 (láo): firm, secure, sturdy.
• 记 (jì): to remember, to keep in mind. “牢记” (láo jì) means to “firmly remember” or “bear in mind.”
• 使 (shǐ): to cause, to send, to use. In this context, it's part of the word “mission.”
• 命 (mìng): life, destiny, command. “使命” (shǐ mìng) means “mission,” often one that feels destined or commanded.

The phrase is perfectly balanced: “Do not forget the original heart” is paired with “Firmly remember the mission.” The first part looks back to the source of motivation, while the second part looks forward to the ultimate goal.

This phrase became a cornerstone of Chinese political discourse after being heavily emphasized by Xi Jinping at the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 2017. The “original aspiration” and “mission” for the CPC is defined as “seeking happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation.” The slogan is now ubiquitous in China, seen on everything from massive propaganda banners in cities to official documents and news broadcasts. While the full phrase is modern and political, the core concepts are not new. 初心 (chūxīn) has roots in Buddhist texts, where it describes the initial, pure aspiration to seek enlightenment (Bodhicitta). This gives the term a deeper, more personal resonance beyond its political usage. A Western comparison might be a corporate or personal “mission statement.” However, there's a key difference. A Western mission statement is often a self-created guide. “不忘初心，牢记使命” is presented as a collective, historical, and almost sacred duty. It's less like “our company's goal is to maximize shareholder value” and more like a nation's “manifest destiny” or a deeply held “calling.” It connects individual effort to a grand, national narrative.

While its origin is political, the phrase has been adopted into various aspects of daily life.

• Political and Official Context: This is its primary usage. It appears in government reports, political study sessions, and speeches by officials to signal alignment with the Party's agenda and to call for discipline and dedication.
• Business and Corporate Culture: Companies use the slogan (or more commonly, just “不忘初心”) to motivate employees. A CEO might say, “We must not forget our 'chūxīn' of making technology accessible for everyone,” reminding the team of the company's founding vision beyond just making a profit.
• Personal Motivation: Individuals use it in a more personal, reflective way. On social media, someone might post about their career struggles with a caption like, “No matter how hard it gets, I must 不忘初心.” It serves as a personal motto to stay true to one's life goals, whether in art, science, or personal relationships.

The full eight-character phrase is very formal. In more casual conversation or writing, people often just use the first part, 不忘初心 (bù wàng chū xīn), to convey the core idea of staying true to oneself.

• Example 1:
  • 党员干部必须不忘初心，牢记使命，全心全意为人民服务。
  • Pinyin: Dǎngyuán gànbù bìxū bù wàng chū xīn, láo jì shǐ mìng, quánxīnquányì wèi rénmín fúwù.
  • English: Party members and officials must never forget their original aspiration, keep their mission firmly in mind, and serve the people wholeheartedly.
  • Analysis: This is a classic example of the phrase used in its primary political context. It is formal, serious, and prescriptive.
• Example 2:
  • 我们公司的成功，关键在于我们始终不忘初心。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī de chénggōng, guānjiàn zàiyú wǒmen shǐzhōng bù wàng chū xīn.
  • English: The key to our company's success is that we always stay true to our original aspiration.
  • Analysis: Here, the shortened version “不忘初心” is used in a business context. It's still formal but less politically charged, focusing on the company's founding vision.
• Example 3:
  • 即使他现在成了大明星，也依然不忘初心，对粉丝非常亲切。
  • Pinyin: Jíshǐ tā xiànzài chéngle dà míngxīng, yě yīrán bù wàng chū xīn, duì fěnsī fēicháng qīnqiè.
  • English: Even though he is a big star now, he still hasn't forgotten where he came from and is very kind to his fans.
  • Analysis: This personal example shows how “不忘初心” can mean staying humble and remembering one's roots. It's a highly positive description of someone's character.
• Example 4:
  • 这次活动的主题是“不忘初心，牢记使命”，旨在激励青年一代。
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì huódòng de zhǔtí shì “bù wàng chū xīn, láo jì shǐ mìng”, zhǐ zài jīlì qīngnián yīdài.
  • English: The theme of this event is “Never forget the original aspiration, keep the mission firmly in mind,” aiming to inspire the younger generation.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates the phrase being used as an official theme for an event, often educational or state-sponsored.
• Example 5:
  • 作为一名医生，我的初心就是救死扶伤，我必须牢记使命。
  • Pinyin: Zuòwéi yī míng yīshēng, wǒ de chūxīn jiùshì jiùsǐfúshāng, wǒ bìxū láo jì shǐ mìng.
  • English: As a doctor, my original intention is to heal the sick and save the dying, and I must keep my mission firmly in mind.
  • Analysis: This sentence breaks the phrase apart, showing how the two components can be used to structure a personal reflection on professional duty.
• Example 6:
  • 毕业多年后，他反思自己是否还不忘初心。
  • Pinyin: Bìyè duō nián hòu, tā fǎnsī zìjǐ shìfǒu hái bù wàng chū xīn.
  • English: Many years after graduation, he reflected on whether he had stayed true to his original goals.
  • Analysis: A common, introspective use of the phrase. It prompts self-assessment about one's life path.
• Example 7:
  • 我们的团队需要不忘初心，牢记使命，才能克服眼前的困难。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen de tuánduì xūyào bù wàng chū xīn, láo jì shǐ mìng, cáinéng kèfú yǎnqián de kùnnán.
  • English: Our team needs to stay true to our original aspiration and keep our mission in mind in order to overcome the current difficulties.
  • Analysis: A motivational usage in a team or corporate setting, framing a challenge as a test of commitment.
• Example 8:
  • 这位老教授一生都在践行“不忘初心”这四个字。
  • Pinyin: Zhè wèi lǎo jiàoshòu yīshēng dōu zài jiànxíng “bù wàng chū xīn” zhè sì gè zì.
  • English: This old professor has spent his entire life putting the principle of “staying true to his original aspiration” into practice.
  • Analysis: The phrase itself is being referred to as a principle or motto (“这四个字” - these four characters). This highlights its status as a well-known concept.
• Example 9:
  • 任何时候，我们都不能忘记为什么出发，这正是“不忘初心”的意义。
  • Pinyin: Rènhé shíhòu, wǒmen dōu bùnéng wàngjì wèishéme chūfā, zhè zhèngshì “bù wàng chū xīn” de yìyì.
  • English: At no time can we forget why we set out; this is precisely the meaning of “not forgetting the original aspiration.”
  • Analysis: This sentence explains the concept itself, making it perfect for a speech or a written piece reflecting on purpose and motivation.
• Example 10:
  • 他提醒自己要不忘初心，方得始终。
  • Pinyin: Tā tíxǐng zìjǐ yào bù wàng chū xīn, fāng dé shǐzhōng.
  • English: He reminded himself: “Only by staying true to your original aspiration can you achieve your ultimate goal.”
  • Analysis: This example pairs “不忘初心” with a related classical saying, “方得始终” (fāng dé shǐzhōng), which means “only then can you reach the end.” This is a very common and elegant pairing.

• Not Just Nostalgia: A common mistake is to interpret “不忘初心” as simply “don't forget where you came from” in a nostalgic sense. The addition of “牢记使命” (keep the mission in mind) makes it an active, forward-looking command. It's about channeling the purity of the past to drive future action, not just reminiscing.
• Awareness of Political Overtones: As a beginner, be aware that using the full, eight-character phrase can sound very formal and may align you with official state ideology. In casual conversation, sticking to the more flexible “不忘初心” is often safer and more natural.
• Avoid Trivialization: This phrase is reserved for serious, significant aspirations (a career, a national goal, a lifelong passion). Using it for trivial matters would be incorrect and sound sarcastic.
  • Incorrect: 我今天减肥的初心是想吃蛋糕，我一定不忘初心！ (My original goal for dieting today was to eat cake, I will definitely stay true to my goal!)
  • Reason: This is humorous/sarcastic because it applies a grand concept to a trivial, contradictory desire.

• 初心 (chūxīn) - The core concept of the first half of the phrase; one's original intention or aspiration.
• 使命 (shǐmìng) - The core concept of the second half; a mission, a calling, a sense of duty.
• 中国梦 (Zhōngguó mèng) - The Chinese Dream. This slogan is the guiding principle for achieving the Chinese Dream.
• 为人民服务 (wèi rénmín fúwù) - “Serve the people.” This is often cited as the fundamental “初心” of the Communist Party of China.
• 奋斗 (fèndòu) - To struggle, to strive. The physical and mental effort required to fulfill one's mission.
• 复兴 (fùxīng) - Rejuvenation or renaissance. The ultimate “mission” is the “great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation” (中华民族伟大复兴).
• 理想 (lǐxiǎng) - An ideal, an aspiration. A person's “初心” is often closely tied to their personal ideals.
• 座右铭 (zuòyòumíng) - A motto or maxim. This phrase often functions as a personal or organizational motto.
• 坚持不懈 (jiānchí bùxiè) - To persevere unremittingly. This describes the attitude needed to “牢记使命”.