When combined, 超级 (chāojí) acts as an adjective modifying 大国 (dàguó), elevating a “great country” to the ultimate status of “superpower.”
The term 超级大国 (chāojí dàguó) is straightforward in its definition but complex in its cultural application, especially concerning China itself. Historically and in modern media, the term is most frequently and neutrally applied to the United States. During the Cold War, it was used to describe both the U.S. and the Soviet Union as the world's two competing superpowers (两个超级大国). The most significant nuance arises when discussing China's own status. While many in the West and even some citizens within China might consider the country's economic and military might to have reached superpower levels, the official stance of the Chinese government is one of modesty and rejection of the label. Comparison to Western View: In the United States, being called a “superpower” is often seen as a statement of fact or a source of national pride, implying leadership and responsibility (or dominance, depending on perspective). In contrast, the Chinese government actively avoids the 超级大国 label because it is closely associated with 霸权主义 (bàquán zhǔyì) - “hegemony.” Beijing's foreign policy emphasizes non-interference and a “peaceful rise” (和平崛起), and adopting the superpower title could be seen by other nations as an admission of hegemonic ambition, contradicting its official narrative. Instead of 超级大国, Chinese officials prefer terms like “负责任的大国” (fùzérèn de dàguó) - “a responsible great power” or simply stating that China is the world's largest “发展中国家” (fāzhǎn zhōng guójiā) - “developing country.”