zīchǎn jiējí: 资产阶级 - Bourgeoisie, Capitalist Class

• Keywords: zīchǎn jiējí, zī chǎn jiē jí, 资产阶级, bourgeoisie in Chinese, what is zichan jieji, Chinese for capitalist class, proletariat vs bourgeoisie Chinese, Chinese political terms, Marxist terms in Chinese, class struggle in China.
• Summary: 资产阶级 (zīchǎn jiējí) is the formal Chinese term for the “bourgeoisie” or the “capitalist class.” Rooted in Marxist theory, it refers to the social class that owns the means of production. This term carries immense historical and political weight in China, particularly from the Mao era and the Cultural Revolution, where it was used to label class enemies. While less common in daily conversation today, understanding 资产阶级 is essential for grasping modern Chinese history, politics, and the ideological foundations of the Communist Party.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zīchǎn jiējí
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: N/A
• Concise Definition: The social class that owns capital and the means of production, deriving its power from property and wealth; the bourgeoisie.
• In a Nutshell: Think of “资产阶级” not just as “rich people,” but as a specific political label from Communist ideology. It refers to the owners of factories, land, and capital—the class that the proletariat (the working class) was meant to overthrow. In 20th-century China, being labeled as “资产阶级” was a serious political condemnation with severe consequences. Today, it's mostly used in historical, academic, or formal political contexts.

• 资 (zī): Refers to resources, capital, or assets. Think of it as the money and material needed to start a business.
• 产 (chǎn): Means property, estate, or to produce. It's the “stuff” that is owned or made.
• –> 资产 (zīchǎn): Together, these two characters form the word for “assets” or “capital.”
• 阶 (jiē): Originally meant “stairs” or “steps,” but here it means a rank or social stratum.
• 级 (jí): Means a level, grade, or rank.
• –> 阶级 (jiējí): Together, these two mean “(social) class.”
• The whole term, 资产阶级 (zīchǎn jiējí), literally translates to the “assets class” or “capital class,” a very direct and descriptive name for the bourgeoisie.

The term 资产阶级 (zīchǎn jiējí) is a direct import from Marxist-Leninist thought and has no ancient roots in Chinese philosophy. Its significance is almost entirely tied to the history of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). During the Mao Zedong era (1949-1976), Chinese society was radically reorganized around the concept of 阶级斗争 (jiējí dòuzhēng), or “class struggle.” The 资产阶级 was defined as the primary enemy of the revolution, alongside landlords. They were seen as exploiters of the 无产阶级 (wúchǎn jiējí), the proletariat or working class. This wasn't just an economic theory; it was a political identity. Families were designated as “bourgeois” or “proletarian,” and this label could determine one's access to education, jobs, and even their personal safety, especially during the Cultural Revolution. A crucial comparison is with the Western concept of “bourgeoisie” or its slang term “bougie.” In English, “bourgeois” can sometimes be used lightly to describe a conventional, middle-class lifestyle or a taste for consumer comforts. This is not the case in Chinese. 资产阶级 is a heavy, formal, and politically-charged term. You would never use it to tease a friend for liking expensive coffee. It exclusively refers to the ownership of capital and the corresponding political status. The modern, more neutral term for an affluent, professional lifestyle is 中产阶级 (zhōngchǎn jiējí), or “middle class.”

In contemporary China, 资产阶级 is rarely used in everyday conversation. Its usage is confined to specific, formal contexts:

• Historical and Academic Discussions: When discussing the Mao era, the Cultural Revolution, or Marxist theory, this term is standard and necessary.
• Official Party Rhetoric: You might see it in official documents or speeches from Party leaders when critiquing Western capitalism or warning against “bourgeois liberalization” (资产阶级自由化) — the adoption of Western political and social values.
• Negative Connotation: Due to its historical baggage, the term carries a strong negative connotation. Calling a person or an idea “资产阶级” is a criticism, implying it is exploitative, decadent, or politically incorrect from a socialist perspective. It is not a neutral descriptor.

• Example 1:
  • 历史书上说，资产阶级通过剥削无产阶级来积累财富。
  • Pīnyīn: Lìshǐ shū shàng shuō, zīchǎn jiējí tōngguò bōxuē wúchǎn jiējí lái jīlěi cáifù.
  • English: The history books say that the bourgeoisie accumulates wealth by exploiting the proletariat.
  • Analysis: This is a classic, textbook definition illustrating the term's core Marxist meaning.
• Example 2:
  • 在毛泽东时代，很多家庭因为被划为资产阶级而受到迫害。
  • Pīnyīn: Zài Máo Zédōng shídài, hěnduō jiātíng yīnwèi bèi huàwéi zīchǎn jiējí ér shòudào pòhài.
  • English: In the Mao Zedong era, many families were persecuted because they were classified as bourgeoisie.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the serious political and social consequences of the label in 20th-century China.
• Example 3:
  • 他批评这种思想是典型的资产阶级自由化。
  • Pīnyīn: Tā pīpíng zhè zhǒng sīxiǎng shì diǎnxíng de zīchǎn jiējí zìyóuhuà.
  • English: He criticized this kind of thinking as typical bourgeois liberalization.
  • Analysis: This shows the term used in a formal political critique. “资产阶级自由化” was a major political charge in the 1980s against those advocating for Western-style reforms.
• Example 4:
  • 马克思理论的核心是资产阶级和无产阶级之间的斗争。
  • Pīnyīn: Mǎkèsī lǐlùn de héxīn shì zīchǎn jiējí hé wúchǎn jiējí zhījiān de dòuzhēng.
  • English: The core of Marxist theory is the struggle between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat.
  • Analysis: A neutral, academic use of the term when explaining political theory.
• Example 5:
  • 他的生活方式非常奢侈，有人开玩笑说他有资产阶级的作风。
  • Pīnyīn: Tā de shēnghuó fāngshì fēicháng shēchǐ, yǒurén kāiwánxiào shuō tā yǒu zīchǎn jiējí de zuòfēng.
  • English: His lifestyle is very luxurious; some people joke that he has a bourgeois style.
  • Analysis: This is a rare, slightly ironic usage. Note the word “作风” (zuòfēng - style/manner). It's still not calling him “bourgeoisie,” but rather saying he has the *style* of one. This is about as informal as the term gets.
• Example 6:
  • 这部电影描绘了旧上海资产阶级的奢靡生活。
  • Pīnyīn: Zhè bù diànyǐng miáohuìle jiù Shànghǎi zīchǎn jiējí de shēmí shēnghuó.
  • English: This movie depicts the extravagant lives of the bourgeoisie in old Shanghai.
  • Analysis: A common usage in art and historical contexts to describe the pre-revolution upper class.
• Example 7:
  • 一些学者认为，小店主和独立手工业者属于小资产阶级。
  • Pīnyīn: Yīxiē xuézhě rènwéi, xiǎo diànzhǔ hé dúlì shǒugōngyèzhě shǔyú xiǎo zīchǎn jiējí.
  • English: Some scholars believe that small shop owners and independent artisans belong to the petty bourgeoisie.
  • Analysis: This introduces the related term 小资产阶级 (xiǎo zīchǎn jiējí), a more specific sub-category for small-scale owners.
• Example 8:
  • 革命的目标是推翻资产阶级的统治。
  • Pīnyīn: Gémìng de mùbiāo shì tuīfān zīchǎn jiējí de tǒngzhì.
  • English: The goal of the revolution is to overthrow the rule of the bourgeoisie.
  • Analysis: A classic revolutionary slogan, demonstrating the term's role as a political target.
• Example 9:
  • 我们要警惕资产阶级腐朽思想的侵蚀。
  • Pīnyīn: Wǒmen yào jǐngtì zīchǎn jiējí fǔxiǔ sīxiǎng de qīnshí.
  • English: We must be vigilant against the corrosion of decadent bourgeois ideology.
  • Analysis: This is boilerplate language from official CCP documents, showing how the term is used to represent a negative ideological influence.
• Example 10:
  • 从一个工薪族变成一个企业家，他完成了向资产阶级的跨越。
  • Pīnyīn: Cóng yīgè gōngxīnzú biànchéng yīgè qǐyèjiā, tā wánchéngle xiàng zīchǎn jiējí de kuàyuè.
  • English: Going from a salaried worker to an entrepreneur, he made the leap into the capitalist class.
  • Analysis: A more modern, almost metaphorical use of the term in an economic context to describe class mobility, though this phrasing remains very formal.

• Don't confuse it with “rich person” (富人 fùrén). A highly-paid software engineer or a movie star is rich (有钱人 yǒuqiánrén), but in strict Marxist terms, they are not 资产阶级 unless they own the company (the means of production). The key is ownership of capital, not just a high income.
  • Incorrect: 那个歌星是资产阶级。 (Nàge gēxīng shì zīchǎn jiējí.) - “That singer is bourgeoisie.”
  • Correct: 那个歌星很有钱。 (Nàge gēxīng hěn yǒu qián.) - “That singer is very rich.”
• Don't confuse it with “middle class” (中产阶级 zhōngchǎn jiējí). This is the most common pitfall. 资产阶级 is a politically negative historical term for the top owner class. 中产阶级 is the modern, largely neutral term for professionals, managers, and white-collar workers. They are two different concepts.
  • Incorrect: 我想成为资产阶级。 (Wǒ xiǎng chéngwéi zīchǎn jiējí.) - This sounds like you want to become a politically condemned class enemy from a bygone era.
  • Correct: 我的目标是成为中产阶级。 (Wǒ de mùbiāo shì chéngwéi zhōngchǎn jiējí.) - “My goal is to become middle class.”
• “False Friend” with “Bourgeoisie”: While it's the literal translation, the usage differs. In English, you might call a friend “so bourgeois” for enjoying brunch. In Chinese, using 资产阶级 this way would be bizarre and confusing. The Chinese term has shed its cultural/lifestyle meaning and is almost purely political and economic.

• 无产阶级 (wúchǎn jiējí) - The Proletariat. The direct antonym of 资产阶级; the working class that does not own the means of production.
• 阶级斗争 (jiējí dòuzhēng) - Class Struggle. The core Marxist concept describing the conflict between the 资产阶级 and the 无产阶级.
• 资本家 (zīběnjiā) - Capitalist. A specific individual member of the 资产阶级. “家” (-jiā) is a suffix like “-ist.”
• 中产阶级 (zhōngchǎn jiējí) - Middle Class. The modern, neutral term for the social stratum between the working class and the upper class. Often confused with 资产阶级 by learners.
• 小资产阶级 (xiǎo zīchǎn jiējí) - Petty Bourgeoisie. A sub-class of small-scale owners, like shopkeepers or independent professionals, who are not large-scale capitalists.
• 资本主义 (zīběn zhǔyì) - Capitalism. The economic and political system dominated by the 资产阶级.
• 剥削 (bōxuē) - To exploit. In Marxist theory, this is the action that the 资产阶级 performs on the 无产阶级.
• 资产阶级自由化 (zīchǎn jiējí zìyóuhuà) - Bourgeois Liberalization. A key political phrase from the 1980s-90s, referring to the perceived erosion of socialist values by Western political ideas like multi-party systems and freedom of the press.