biǎojué: 表决 - To Vote, Decide by Vote

• Keywords: biǎojué, 表决, how to say vote in Chinese, Chinese word for vote, voting in China, decide by vote, formal vote, put to a vote, HSK 5 vocabulary, Chinese business meetings, formal decision making.
• Summary: Learn the Chinese word 表决 (biǎojué), the formal term for “to vote” or “decide by vote.” This page explains its use in official contexts like business meetings and government proceedings, differentiating it from the more casual act of voting. Discover the cultural significance behind formal decision-making in China and master its usage with 10 practical example sentences, making it a key part of your advanced Chinese vocabulary.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): biǎojué
• Part of Speech: Verb / Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To decide on a formal matter by casting a vote.
• In a Nutshell: 表决 (biǎojué) is the word for a formal, structured vote to make a binding decision within a group. Think of a board meeting, a committee, or a legislative body, not friends deciding where to eat dinner. It carries a sense of procedure, formality, and collective resolution.

• 表 (biǎo): This character means “to show,” “to express,” or “a surface.” Think of it as making something internal (like an opinion) visible on the outside.
• 决 (jué): This character means “to decide” or “to determine.” It carries a strong sense of finality and resolution.
• The two characters combine to literally mean “to express a decision.” This perfectly captures the essence of a formal vote: each member expresses their stance, and the sum of these expressions forms the group's final, binding decision.

In many Western contexts, a vote is often the primary tool for resolving disagreement and discovering the majority opinion, sometimes in a confrontational way. While 表决 (biǎojué) serves the same function, its cultural application in China can differ. There is often a strong cultural emphasis on achieving 共识 (gòngshí), or consensus, before a formal vote takes place. Lengthy discussions and negotiations may happen behind the scenes to ensure that by the time a matter is put to a 表决, the outcome is already largely known and agreed upon. The vote, in this case, becomes a procedural formality to ratify the collective will, rather than a battle to win a majority. This process prioritizes group harmony (和谐 (héxié)) and avoids open conflict, which is highly valued. The act of 表决 is therefore less about conflict resolution and more about formalizing a unified decision.

表决 (biǎojué) is almost exclusively used in formal, official, or procedural settings. You will encounter it frequently in these contexts:

• Business Meetings: A board of directors (董事会) will 表决 on a new proposal (提案) or budget (预算).
• Government & Politics: Legislative bodies, like the National People's Congress (全国人民代表大会), will 表决 on laws and resolutions. The UN Security Council (安理会) will 表决 on international matters.
• Committees and Organizations: Any formal group, from a student union committee to a local council, will use 表决 to make official decisions.

The process of voting can be specified, for example:

• 举手表决 (jǔ shǒu biǎojué): To vote by a show of hands.
• 投票表决 (tóupiào biǎojué): To vote by ballot.
• 鼓掌通过 (gǔzhǎng tōngguò): “Passed by applause.” This is a unique form of acclamation sometimes seen in highly unified political settings, effectively a form of 表决.

The term is neutral in connotation and highly formal. Using it for casual situations sounds strange and overly serious.

• Example 1:
  • 我们现在开始表决。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen xiànzài kāishǐ biǎojué.
  • English: We will now begin the vote.
  • Analysis: A simple, direct phrase used by a chairperson to start a formal voting process in a meeting.
• Example 2:
  • 这项提案需要经过委员会表决才能通过。
  • Pinyin: Zhè xiàng tí'àn xūyào jīngguò wěiyuánhuì biǎojué cáinéng tōngguò.
  • English: This proposal needs to be passed by a committee vote before it can be approved.
  • Analysis: Here, 表决 is used as a noun, meaning “a vote” or “the act of voting.”
• Example 3:
  • 董事会表决通过了新的投资计划。
  • Pinyin: Dǒngshìhuì biǎojué tōngguò le xīn de tóuzī jìhuà.
  • English: The board of directors passed the new investment plan by vote.
  • Analysis: A very common structure: 表决通过 (biǎojué tōngguò), meaning “to pass by vote.”
• Example 4:
  • 反对的人请举手表决。
  • Pinyin: Fǎnduì de rén qǐng jǔ shǒu biǎojué.
  • English: Those who are opposed, please vote by raising your hand.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows the method of voting, 举手表决 (jǔ shǒu biǎojué), being combined with the verb.
• Example 5:
  • 联合国安理会未能就该决议进行表决。
  • Pinyin: Liánhéguó Ānlǐhuì wèi néng jiù gāi juéyì jìnxíng biǎojué.
  • English: The UN Security Council failed to hold a vote on the resolution.
  • Analysis: The phrase 进行表决 (jìnxíng biǎojué) means “to carry out a vote” or “to hold a vote,” emphasizing the formal procedure.
• Example 6:
  • 每个成员国都有一票表决权。
  • Pinyin: Měi ge chéngyuánguó dōu yǒu yī piào biǎojué quán.
  • English: Every member state has one voting right.
  • Analysis: 表决权 (biǎojué quán) is a set phrase meaning “voting rights.”
• Example 7:
  • 会议主席宣布表决结果。
  • Pinyin: Huìyì zhǔxí xuānbù biǎojué jiéguǒ.
  • English: The chairman of the meeting announced the results of the vote.
  • Analysis: 表决结果 (biǎojué jiéguǒ) means “the outcome/result of the vote.”
• Example 8:
  • 由于意见分歧太大，他们决定推迟表决。
  • Pinyin: Yóuyú yìjiàn fēnqí tài dà, tāmen juédìng tuīchí biǎojué.
  • English: Due to major disagreements, they decided to postpone the vote.
  • Analysis: This example shows that 表决 is a distinct event that can be postponed.
• Example 9:
  • 最终，议案以微弱优势表决通过。
  • Pinyin: Zuìzhōng, yì'àn yǐ wēiruò yōushì biǎojué tōngguò.
  • English: In the end, the bill was passed by a narrow margin.
  • Analysis: This shows 表决 used in a legislative context and describes the nature of the outcome.
• Example 10:
  • 在付诸表决之前，我们需要更多的讨论。
  • Pinyin: Zài fùzhū biǎojué zhīqián, wǒmen xūyào gèng duō de tǎolùn.
  • English: Before putting it to a vote, we need more discussion.
  • Analysis: The phrase 付诸表决 (fùzhū biǎojué) is a formal way to say “to put something to a vote.”

The most common mistake for English speakers is using 表决 (biǎojué) in casual situations. It's a “false friend” with the English word “vote,” which is used much more broadly. Incorrect:

• “Let's vote on which movie to watch.”
• 我们表决看哪部电影吧。(Wǒmen biǎojué kàn nǎ bù diànyǐng ba.)
• Why it's wrong: This is far too formal and sounds comical, like calling a formal meeting to decide on a movie.

Correct (and more natural) ways to say this:

• 我们投票决定看哪部电影吧。(Wǒmen tóupiào juédìng kàn nǎ bù diànyǐng ba.) - Using 投票 (tóupiào), the general word for “casting a vote,” is much better.
• 大家选一下吧。(Dàjiā xuǎn yīxià ba.) - “Everyone, let's choose.” (Most natural and casual).

Key Distinction:

• 表决 (biǎojué): The formal, procedural act of decision-making by vote on a specific motion or proposal. It's about the entire event.
• 投票 (tóupiào): The more general action of casting a vote or ballot. It can be formal (in an election) or informal (among friends).

Think of it this way: During a 表决, each person will 投票.

• 投票 (tóupiào) - To cast a vote; a ballot. The general action, while 表决 is the formal event of decision-making.
• 通过 (tōngguò) - To pass, to adopt (a resolution). Often the result of a successful 表决.
• 否决 (fǒujué) - To veto, to reject by vote. The opposite outcome of 通过.
• 选举 (xuǎnjǔ) - An election; to elect. Used for choosing people (representatives, leaders), not for deciding on issues.
• 决议 (juéyì) - A resolution. The formal proposal or statement that is being voted on.
• 赞成 (zànchéng) - To approve of; to be in favor of. The “yes” vote.
• 反对 (fǎnduì) - To oppose. The “no” vote.
• 弃权 (qìquán) - To abstain from voting.
• 共识 (gòngshí) - Consensus. A key cultural concept, as a 表决 in China often serves to formalize a pre-existing consensus.
• 提案 (tí'àn) - A proposal; a motion. The specific item that is put forward for a 表决.