kēxuéjiā: 科学家 - Scientist

• Keywords: kēxuéjiā, 科学家, scientist in Chinese, Chinese for scientist, kexue, kexuejia, how to say scientist in Chinese, Chinese science, Chinese expert
• Summary: Learn how to say “scientist” in Chinese with the word 科学家 (kēxuéjiā). This guide breaks down the characters 科 (branch), 学 (study), and 家 (expert), exploring the deep cultural respect for scientists in China. Discover practical examples, common mistakes, and related terms like `科学 (kēxué)` (science) and `工程师 (gōngchéngshī)` (engineer) to master this essential vocabulary.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): kēxuéjiā
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: A person who studies or has expert knowledge of one or more of the natural or physical sciences.
• In a Nutshell: 科学家 (kēxuéjiā) is the direct and standard word for “scientist.” It's a compound word formed from 科学 (kēxué), meaning “science,” and the suffix 家 (jiā), which indicates an expert or specialist in a field. The term carries a strong sense of respect, intelligence, and significant contribution to society.

• 科 (kē): This character's original meanings include “a division,” “a branch,” or “a department.” In this context, it represents a specific branch of knowledge.
• 学 (xué): Meaning “to study” or “to learn.” The character itself can be seen as depicting a child learning under a roof, symbolizing education.
• 家 (jiā): While its primary meaning is “home” or “family,” when used as a suffix, it elevates a profession to a level of mastery or expertise. It's similar to the English suffixes “-ist,” “-er,” or “-ian,” denoting a specialist (e.g., 艺术家, yìshùjiā - artist; 作家, zuòjiā - writer).

Combining them, 科学 (kēxué) literally translates to “branch of study,” a very fitting term for “science.” Adding 家 (jiā) transforms the word into “a person who is an expert in the branch of study,” or simply, a scientist.

In China, the 科学家 (kēxuéjiā) is a figure of immense prestige and respect. This stems from a combination of traditional Confucian values that prize education and a modern national emphasis on scientific and technological advancement as the key to national strength and rejuvenation. Unlike in some Western cultures where the image of a “scientist” might occasionally include archetypes like the eccentric “mad scientist” or be overshadowed by the celebrity of tech entrepreneurs, the Chinese cultural image of a scientist is almost uniformly positive. They are often portrayed in state media as selfless patriots and national heroes, working diligently for the good of the country. Figures like Yuan Longping (袁隆平), the “father of hybrid rice,” or Tu Youyou (屠呦呦), the Nobel laureate who developed a key anti-malarial drug, are household names revered by all generations. This respect is tied to the value of 报国 (bàoguó), or “serving the country,” which is seen as a noble life goal. For many Chinese students, aspiring to become a 科学家 (kēxuéjiā) is not just a career choice but a way to contribute to the nation's progress and earn the highest form of social respect.

科学家 (kēxuéjiā) is a somewhat formal and highly respectful term. It's most appropriate in the following contexts:

• News and Media: Used frequently in news reports, documentaries, and articles about scientific breakthroughs.
• Formal and Academic Settings: The standard term used in schools, universities, and conferences.
• Discussing Professions and Aspirations: When a child says they want to be a scientist, this is the word they use. It's also used when respectfully describing someone's profession.

In very casual, everyday conversation, people might be more specific. Instead of saying “He is a scientist,” they might say “He does physics research” (他搞物理研究, tā gǎo wùlǐ yánjiū) or specify the exact profession, like 物理学家 (wùlǐxuéjiā) - physicist. The connotation is overwhelmingly positive, associated with intelligence, rigor, perseverance, and contribution.

• Example 1:
  • 我长大以后想当一名科学家。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zhǎng dà yǐhòu xiǎng dāng yī míng kēxuéjiā.
  • English: I want to be a scientist when I grow up.
  • Analysis: A classic example of a childhood dream. The measure word for a scientist (and many professions) is `名 (míng)`, which adds a sense of respect.
• Example 2:
  • 阿尔伯特·爱因斯坦是历史上最伟大的科学家之一。
  • Pinyin: Ā'ěrbótè·Àiyīnsītǎn shì lìshǐ shàng zuì wěidà de kēxuéjiā zhī yī.
  • English: Albert Einstein is one of the greatest scientists in history.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses `之一 (zhī yī)` meaning “one of,” a common structure for making such statements.
• Example 3:
  • 科学家们正在实验室里进行一项重要的实验。
  • Pinyin: Kēxuéjiāmen zhèngzài shíyànshì lǐ jìnxíng yī xiàng zhòngyào de shíyàn.
  • English: The scientists are conducting an important experiment in the laboratory.
  • Analysis: The suffix `们 (men)` makes 科学家 plural. `进行 (jìnxíng)` is a formal verb for “to carry out” or “to conduct,” often used with experiments or research.
• Example 4:
  • 成为一名科学家需要多年的努力和奉献。
  • Pinyin: Chéngwéi yī míng kēxuéjiā xūyào duōnián de nǔlì hé fèngxiàn.
  • English: Becoming a scientist requires many years of hard work and dedication.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the virtues associated with the profession, using the words `努力 (nǔlì)` (effort) and `奉献 (fèngxiàn)` (dedication/contribution).
• Example 5:
  • 这次会议吸引了来自世界各地的顶尖科学家。
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì huìyì xīyǐnle láizì shìjiè gèdì de dǐngjiān kēxuéjiā.
  • English: This conference attracted top scientists from all over the world.
  • Analysis: `顶尖 (dǐngjiān)` is a great word for “top-tier” or “leading,” often used to describe experts or scientists.
• Example 6:
  • 一位科学家的责任是探索未知，追求真理。
  • Pinyin: Yī wèi kēxuéjiā de zérèn shì tànsuǒ wèizhī, zhuīqiú zhēnlǐ.
  • English: A scientist's responsibility is to explore the unknown and pursue the truth.
  • Analysis: Note the use of the highly respectful measure word `位 (wèi)` instead of `个 (gè)`. `追求真理 (zhuīqiú zhēnlǐ)` (to pursue truth) is a very formal and noble phrase.
• Example 7:
  • 政府应该增加对科学家研究项目的资助。
  • Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ yīnggāi zēngjiā duì kēxuéjiā yánjiū xiàngmù de zīzhù.
  • English: The government should increase funding for scientists' research projects.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows the term used in a political or policy context. `资助 (zīzhù)` means “funding” or “to subsidize.”
• Example 8:
  • 她不仅是一位杰出的科学家，也是一位优秀的老师。
  • Pinyin: Tā bùjǐn shì yī wèi jiéchū de kēxuéjiā, yěshì yī wèi yōuxiù de lǎoshī.
  • English: She is not only an outstanding scientist, but also an excellent teacher.
  • Analysis: Uses the common `不仅…也… (bùjǐn… yě…)` structure, meaning “not only… but also…”. `杰出 (jiéchū)` means “outstanding.”
• Example 9:
  • 每位科学家都必须具备严谨的逻辑思维能力。
  • Pinyin: Měi wèi kēxuéjiā dōu bìxū jùbèi yánjǐn de luójí sīwéi nénglì.
  • English: Every scientist must possess rigorous logical thinking skills.
  • Analysis: `严谨 (yánjǐn)` means “rigorous” or “strict,” a key quality attributed to scientists.
• Example 10:
  • 那部电影讲述了一位女科学家的奋斗故事。
  • Pinyin: Nà bù diànyǐng jiǎngshùle yī wèi nǚ kēxuéjiā de fèndòu gùshì.
  • English: That movie tells the story of a female scientist's struggles and efforts.
  • Analysis: You can specify gender by adding `女 (nǚ)` for female or `男 (nán)` for male before 科学家.

• Mistake 1: Confusing `家 (jiā)` with “home”.
  • A beginner might see `家 (jiā)` and think “science home.” It's crucial to remember that as a suffix, `家` means “expert” or “-ist”. This pattern applies to many professions.
• Mistake 2: Overusing `科学家` for all technical roles.
  • `科学家 (kēxuéjiā)` is not a catch-all term for anyone in a lab coat or working with computers. It implies someone engaged in scientific discovery, often in fundamental fields like physics, chemistry, or biology.
  • Incorrect: 他是一名软件科学家。(Tā shì yī míng ruǎnjiàn kēxuéjiā.)
  • Why it's wrong: The term for a software professional is “engineer,” not “scientist.”
  • Correct: 他是一名软件工程师。(Tā shì yī míng ruǎnjiàn gōngchéngshī.) - He is a software engineer.
• Distinction from `研究员 (yánjiūyuán)` - “Researcher”:
  • `科学家 (kēxuéjiā)` is more prestigious and specific. All scientists are researchers, but not all researchers are scientists. A `研究员 (yánjiūyuán)` could be a market researcher or a researcher in the social sciences. `科学家` is almost exclusively for the hard sciences.

• 科学 (kēxué) - Science. The foundational word from which 科学家 is derived.
• 技术 (jìshù) - Technology. Science and technology are often linked as `科技 (kējì)`.
• 工程师 (gōngchéngshī) - Engineer. A related but distinct profession focused on applying scientific principles to design and build things.
• 研究员 (yánjiūyuán) - Researcher. A broader term for someone who conducts research in any field, including social sciences. Less prestigious than `科学家`.
• 学者 (xuézhě) - Scholar; Academic. A broad term for an intellectual, often used for those in the humanities and social sciences.
• 专家 (zhuānjiā) - Expert; Specialist. A general term for an expert in any field (e.g., a financial expert, an education expert). 科学家 is a type of 专家.
• 物理学家 (wùlǐxuéjiā) - Physicist. A specific type of scientist.
• 化学家 (huàxuéjiā) - Chemist. A specific type of scientist.
• 生物学家 (shēngwùxuéjiā) - Biologist. A specific type of scientist.
• 院士 (yuànshì) - Academician. The highest honor for a scientist or engineer in China, a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences or Chinese Academy of Engineering.