qīngnián: 青年 - Youth, Young Person, Young People

• Keywords: 青年, qingnian, Chinese for youth, young person in Chinese, young adult in China, what does qingnian mean, 五四青年节 (May Fourth Youth Day), Chinese youth culture, 年轻人 vs 青年, HSK 4 vocabulary.
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 青年 (qīngnián), the formal Chinese term for “youth” or “young people.” More than just an age bracket (typically late teens to early 30s), 青年 is a word rich with cultural and historical significance, often evoking images of idealism, social responsibility, and the nation's future. This page explores its roots in the May Fourth Movement, its difference from the more casual 年轻人 (niánqīngrén), and its use in describing modern Chinese youth, from national heroes to “Buddhist youth” (佛系青年).

• Pinyin (with tone marks): qīngnián
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: Youth; a young person or young people, generally referring to the age group from the late teens to the early thirties.
• In a Nutshell: 青年 (qīngnián) is the term you'd see in a newspaper headline or a formal speech about the “youth of today.” It's not just about being young; it carries a sense of purpose, potential, and societal role. While 年轻人 (niánqīngrén) is what you'd casually call a group of young people on the street, 青年 frames them as a distinct social group with specific responsibilities and characteristics, often tied to the progress and future of the nation.

• 青 (qīng): This character can mean blue, green, or black, but in this context, it signifies “green” or “verdant,” like a young, fresh plant shoot. It represents the vitality and newness of youth.
• 年 (nián): This character means “year” or “age.”

When combined, 青年 (qīngnián) literally translates to “green years” or “the age of vitality.” It paints a vivid picture of a person in the springtime of their life, full of energy and potential.

The term 青年 is deeply embedded in modern Chinese history, primarily due to the May Fourth Movement (五四运动 - Wǔsì Yùndòng) of 1919. This was a massive anti-imperialist and cultural movement led by students and young intellectuals. Because of this event, 青年 became forever associated with patriotism, intellectualism, social change, and the power of young people to shape the nation's destiny. This historical weight distinguishes it from the Western concept of “youth.” While in the West, “youth” might evoke images of individual self-discovery, rebellion, or counter-culture, the Chinese concept of 青年 is often more collectivist. A 青年 is implicitly expected to fèndòu (奋斗, strive) not just for personal success, but for the betterment of society and the country. The ideal 青年 is seen as an engine of national progress, carrying the hopes of previous generations. Today, China even celebrates May Fourth Youth Day (五四青年节 - Wǔsì Qīngnián Jié), a public holiday that honors the contributions of young people.

青年 is primarily used in more formal, written, or official contexts. You're unlikely to hear someone say, “Look at that 青年 over there!” in casual conversation.

• Formal and Media Usage: It's standard in news articles, government reports, academic discussions, and formal speeches when discussing demographics, social trends, or policies related to young people. For example, “青年就业问题” (qīngnián jiùyè wèntí) - the problem of youth employment.
• Describing a Collective Group: It's used to refer to “youth” as a social class or generation. It has a slightly more literary and respectful tone than 年轻人 (niánqīngrén).
• Modern Social Labels: The term is flexible enough to be part of modern slang and social commentary to describe different types of young people, often with a slightly ironic or analytical tone.
  • 佛系青年 (fóxì qīngnián): “Buddhist youth,” referring to young people who are calm, detached, and seemingly apathetic about the rat race.
  • 斜杠青年 (xiégàng qīngnián): “Slash youth,” referring to young people with multiple jobs and identities (e.g., programmer/photographer/blogger).

• Example 1:
  • 中国的未来掌握在当代青年手中。
  • Pinyin: Zhōngguó de wèilái zhǎngwò zài dāngdài qīngnián shǒu zhōng.
  • English: The future of China is in the hands of today's youth.
  • Analysis: This is a classic example of 青年 used in a formal, patriotic context, treating “youth” as a collective group responsible for the nation.
• Example 2:
  • 这本杂志是为广大青年读者服务的。
  • Pinyin: Zhè běn zázhì shì wèi guǎngdà qīngnián dúzhě fúwù de.
  • English: This magazine serves the broad readership of young people.
  • Analysis: Here, 青年 is used as a target demographic, common in marketing or media contexts. It sounds more formal than saying “for young readers.”
• Example 3:
  • 五月四日是中国的青年节。
  • Pinyin: Wǔ yuè sì rì shì Zhōngguó de Qīngnián Jié.
  • English: May 4th is China's Youth Day.
  • Analysis: This directly links the term to its most important cultural event, the May Fourth Youth Day.
• Example 4:
  • 作为一名新时代的青年，我们应该有理想，有担当。
  • Pinyin: Zuòwéi yī míng xīn shídài de qīngnián, wǒmen yīnggāi yǒu lǐxiǎng, yǒu dāndāng.
  • English: As a youth of the new era, we should have ideals and a sense of responsibility.
  • Analysis: This sentence reflects the societal expectations placed on 青年—to be idealistic and responsible.
• Example 5:
  • 很多青年选择离开家乡去大城市奋斗。
  • Pinyin: Hěn duō qīngnián xuǎnzé líkāi jiāxiāng qù dà chéngshì fèndòu.
  • English: Many young people choose to leave their hometowns to strive in big cities.
  • Analysis: A common topic in discussions about social trends. Using 青年 here frames it as a significant demographic phenomenon.
• Example 6:
  • 他是一位有为青年，在自己的领域取得了很大成就。
  • Pinyin: Tā shì yī wèi yǒuwéi qīngnián, zài zìjǐ de lǐngyù qǔdéle hěn dà chéngjiù.
  • English: He is a promising young person who has made great achievements in his field.
  • Analysis: “有为青年” (yǒuwéi qīngnián) is a common positive collocation, meaning “promising/accomplished youth.”
• Example 7:
  • 解决青年失业问题是政府当前的重要任务。
  • Pinyin: Jiějué qīngnián shīyè wèntí shì zhèngfǔ dāngqián de zhòngyào rènwù.
  • English: Solving the problem of youth unemployment is a current key task for the government.
  • Analysis: This shows the term's use in formal policy and economic discussions.
• Example 8:
  • 他加入了中国共产主义青年团。
  • Pinyin: Tā jiārùle Zhōngguó Gòngchǎnzhǔyì Qīngnián Tuán.
  • English: He joined the Communist Youth League of China.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates the official, political use of the term in the name of a major organization.
• Example 9:
  • 现在的“佛系青年”对什么都好像不太在乎。
  • Pinyin: Xiànzài de “fóxì qīngnián” duì shénme dōu hǎoxiàng bù tài zàihū.
  • English: The current “Buddhist youth” don't seem to care much about anything.
  • Analysis: An example of 青年 being used in a modern social label to describe a specific subculture.
• Example 10:
  • 这部电影真实地反映了当代青年的精神面貌。
  • Pinyin: Zhè bù diànyǐng zhēnshí de fǎnyìngle dāngdài qīngnián de jīngshén miànmào.
  • English: This film truly reflects the spirit and outlook of contemporary youth.
  • Analysis: This is a typical sentence you might read in a film review or cultural analysis.

• 青年 (qīngnián) vs. 年轻人 (niánqīngrén): This is the most critical distinction.
  • 青年 (qīngnián): Formal, written, carries historical/cultural weight. Refers to a specific age group (e.g., 15-30) as a social category. Use it in essays, news, or formal speeches.
  • 年轻人 (niánqīngrén): Colloquial, general, used in everyday speech. Refers to “young people” in a casual way. Use it when talking to friends.
  • Incorrect Usage: 你看，那个青年穿的衣服很奇怪。(Nǐ kàn, nàge qīngnián chuān de yīfú hěn qíguài.) - “Look, that youth's clothes are very strange.” This sounds overly formal and unnatural. You should say: 你看，那个年轻人… (Nǐ kàn, nàge niánqīngrén…).
• Age Specificity: 青年 is not for children or young teens.
  • 儿童 (értóng): Child (approx. up to 12)
  • 少年 (shàonián): Young adolescent/teenager (approx. 12-17)
  • 青年 (qīngnián): Youth/Young Adult (approx. late teens to early 30s)
  • Incorrect Usage: 我十岁的弟弟是一个好青年。(Wǒ shí suì de dìdi shì yīgè hǎo qīngnián.) - “My 10-year-old brother is a good youth.” This is wrong. You should call him a 好孩子 (hǎo háizi - good child) or 好学生 (hǎo xuéshēng - good student).

• 年轻人 (niánqīngrén) - The most common and colloquial term for “young person/people.” It's the everyday equivalent of 青年.
• 青春 (qīngchūn) - The abstract concept of “youth” or “youthfulness.” 青年 is the person; 青春 is the time or quality of being young (e.g., “my youth was wonderful”).
• 少年 (shàonián) - An adolescent or teenager, typically younger than a 青年. Think of the stage between childhood and young adulthood.
• 五四青年节 (Wǔsì Qīngnián Jié) - May Fourth Youth Day, the holiday that commemorates the 1919 student movement and celebrates Chinese youth.
• 共青团 (Gòngqīngtuán) - The Communist Youth League of China. The official name demonstrates the formal and political weight of the term 青年.
• 奋斗 (fèndòu) - To strive; to struggle for a goal. A core value often expected of the 青年 generation in China.
• 理想 (lǐxiǎng) - An ideal or aspiration. 青年 are often described as being full of ideals.
• 佛系青年 (fóxì qīngnián) - “Buddhist youth.” A modern social label for young people who are detached from the pressures of a competitive society.
• 斜杠青年 (xiégàng qīngnián) - “Slash youth.” A modern term for young people who have multiple careers or identities, separated by a “slash” (/).