zhōngjiān lìliàng: 中坚力量 - Backbone, Core Strength, Mainstay

• Keywords: zhongjian liliang, zhōngjiān lìliàng, 中坚力量, Chinese word for backbone, mainstay definition, core strength in Chinese, core members of a team, pillar of a company, key personnel, Chinese business vocabulary.
• Summary: “中坚力量” (zhōngjiān lìliàng) is a Chinese term that translates to “backbone,” “core strength,” or “mainstay.” It refers to the reliable, experienced, and essential group of individuals who form the stable foundation of an organization, team, or society. Unlike a single star player or top leader, the 中坚力量 is the collective force that ensures stability, executes key tasks, and drives consistent progress, making it a vital concept in Chinese business and social culture.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zhōngjiān lìliàng
• Part of Speech: Noun Phrase
• HSK Level: Advanced (HSK 6+)
• Concise Definition: The primary, dependable individuals who form the backbone or core operational strength of a group.
• In a Nutshell: Imagine a sports team. You have the star players who get all the attention, and the rookie newcomers full of potential. The “中坚力量” are the veteran players in their prime—not the captain, perhaps, but the ones you can always count on to perform consistently, guide the younger players, and hold the team together during tough times. They are the solid, dependable center that makes everything else possible.

• 中 (zhōng): Means “center,” “middle.” Think of the center of a target or the middle kingdom (中国).
• 坚 (jiān): Means “firm,” “solid,” “strong,” or “unyielding.” It evokes a sense of stability and resilience.
• 力 (lì): Means “strength,” “power,” or “force.” It is often depicted as a plow, representing physical effort.
• 量 (liàng): Means “quantity” or “capacity.” When combined with 力, it forms 力量 (lìliàng), which means “strength” or “force” in a more abstract or collective sense.

The characters combine beautifully: `中坚 (zhōngjiān)` literally means “center-firm,” creating the idea of a solid core. `力量 (lìliàng)` is “strength.” Together, `中坚力量` means the “firm, central strength”—the backbone that supports the entire structure.

The concept of `中坚力量` is deeply rooted in China's collectivist culture. It places a high value on the group's stability and long-term success over the flashy achievements of a single individual. In Western business culture, there is often a strong focus on the “MVP” (Most Valuable Player) or the “star employee”—a single individual who is exceptionally brilliant. The `中坚力量`, by contrast, is almost always a group. It's the team of senior engineers, the group of experienced middle managers, or the dedicated civil servants who, together, keep the system running smoothly. This highlights a cultural preference for collective reliability over individual genius. It's not about the person who hits the home run, but the entire infield that prevents the other team from scoring. This term champions quiet competence, experience, and dedication to the group's goals.

`中坚力量` is a formal and highly positive term used across various domains.

• In Business: It's frequently used to describe experienced employees, middle managers, or technical experts who are crucial for a company's daily operations and long-term development. A CEO might say, “Our R&D team is the `中坚力量` of our company's innovation.”
• In Society and Politics: The term can refer to the middle class, skilled workers, or young professionals as the `中坚力量` driving social progress and economic stability. It carries a sense of responsibility and importance to the nation's future.
• In Sports: It describes the team's core group of experienced players who provide stability and guide younger teammates, distinct from the star player (`明星球员`) or the rookies (`新秀`).

The connotation is always one of respect and praise, acknowledging the indispensable role this group plays.

• Example 1:
  • 年轻的专业人才是我们公司的中坚力量。
  • Pinyin: Niánqīng de zhuānyè réncái shì wǒmen gōngsī de zhōngjiān lìliàng.
  • English: Young professionals are the backbone of our company.
  • Analysis: This is a common phrase in a corporate setting, highlighting the importance of the skilled younger generation in driving the company forward.
• Example 2:
  • 在任何一个成功的团队里，都有一批默默奉献的中坚力量。
  • Pinyin: Zài rènhé yīgè chénggōng de tuánduì lǐ, dōu yǒuyī pī mòmò fèngxiàn de zhōngjiān lìliàng.
  • English: In any successful team, there is a group of quietly dedicated individuals who form the core strength.
  • Analysis: This sentence emphasizes the “quietly dedicated” nature often associated with the `中坚力量`. They aren't always the ones in the spotlight.
• Example 3:
  • 他虽然不是队长，但绝对是球队的中坚力量之一。
  • Pinyin: Tā suīrán bùshì duìzhǎng, dàn juéduì shì qiúduì de zhōngjiān lìliàng zhī yī.
  • English: Although he's not the captain, he is definitely one of the key players (mainstays) of the team.
  • Analysis: This directly contrasts the role of a leader (captain) with the role of a reliable core member.
• Example 4:
  • 中产阶级被认为是社会稳定和消费的中坚力量。
  • Pinyin: Zhōngchǎn jiējí bèi rènwéi shì shèhuì wěndìng hé xiāofèi de zhōngjiān lìliàng.
  • English: The middle class is considered the mainstay of social stability and consumption.
  • Analysis: A sociological example showing the term's application to broad societal groups.
• Example 5:
  • 公司需要培养更多的技术骨干，让他们成为未来的中坚力量。
  • Pinyin: Gōngsī xūyào péiyǎng gèng duō de jìshù gǔgàn, ràng tāmen chéngwéi wèilái de zhōngjiān lìliàng.
  • English: The company needs to cultivate more technical experts and let them become the future backbone.
  • Analysis: This shows that `中坚力量` is something an organization actively seeks to develop for its future success.
• Example 6:
  • 这家工厂的老师傅们是生产线的中坚力量。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngchǎng de lǎo shīfù men shì shēngchǎn xiàn de zhōngjiān lìliàng.
  • English: The veteran craftsmen in this factory are the backbone of the production line.
  • Analysis: `老师傅 (lǎo shīfù)` refers to experienced masters/craftsmen, a perfect real-world example of a `中坚力量`.
• Example 7:
  • 失去了中坚力量，这个项目很难继续下去。
  • Pinyin: Shīqùle zhōngjiān lìliàng, zhège xiàngmù hěn nán jìxù xiàqù.
  • English: Having lost its core members, this project will be difficult to continue.
  • Analysis: A negative example demonstrating the critical importance of this group. Its absence leads to failure.
• Example 8:
  • 作为部门的中坚力量，他承担了很多关键任务。
  • Pinyin: Zuòwéi bùmén de zhōngjiān lìliàng, tā chéngdānle hěn duō guānjiàn rènwù.
  • English: As the mainstay of the department, he shouldered many key tasks.
  • Analysis: While the term often refers to a group, here it's used with a singular subject (“he”) to emphasize his central, reliable role within the group context. This is acceptable usage.
• Example 9:
  • 国家的未来取决于能否培养出一代有理想、有本领的中坚力量。
  • Pinyin: Guójiā de wèilái qǔjué yú néng fǒu péiyǎng chū yī dài yǒu lǐxiǎng, yǒu běnlǐng de zhōngjiān lìliàng.
  • English: The country's future depends on whether we can cultivate a generation of core talents with ideals and skills.
  • Analysis: A large-scale, formal use of the term in the context of national development.
• Example 10:
  • 在家庭中，父母是维系家庭和谐的中坚力量。
  • Pinyin: Zài jiātíng zhōng, fùmǔ shì wéixì jiātíng héxié de zhōngjiān lìliàng.
  • English: In a family, parents are the core strength that maintains family harmony.
  • Analysis: This brings the concept to a personal, relatable level, showing its versatility.

• “Backbone” vs. “Leader”: A common mistake for learners is to equate `中坚力量` with `领导 (lǐngdǎo - leader)` or `核心 (héxīn - core leader)`. The `中坚力量` are the pillars that support the leadership and the organization. The leader sets the direction; the `中坚力量` ensures the journey is stable and successful. A CEO is the `核心`, while her senior managers are the `中坚力量`.
• Group vs. Individual: While you can say an individual is a member of the `中坚力量`, the term's essence is collective. It refers to a stratum or group of people. Using it for a single, standout genius is often less appropriate than a term like `栋梁 (dòngliáng - pillar of the state)`.
• Incorrect Usage Example:
  • Incorrect: 苹果公司的中坚力量是史蒂夫·乔布斯。 (Apple's backbone was Steve Jobs.)
  • Why it's awkward: Jobs was the visionary leader, the soul, the `核心 (héxīn)`. The `中坚力量` would be the group of brilliant engineers and designers like Jony Ive and his team who consistently executed that vision.
  • Better: 苹果公司的核心人物是史蒂夫·乔布斯。 (Apple's core figure was Steve Jobs.)

• * 骨干 (gǔgàn) - Literally “backbone.” A very close synonym, often interchangeable with `中坚力量`. `骨干` can be used a bit more readily for individuals.
• * 主力 (zhǔlì) - “Main force.” Emphasizes the primary group responsible for achieving an objective, common in sports or military contexts. It's about offensive power, whereas `中坚力量` is about stability.
• * 栋梁 (dòngliáng) - “Ridgepole and beam,” meaning “pillar of the state.” A more poetic and high-praise term, usually for a single, indispensable person of great talent.
• * 核心 (héxīn) - “Core” or “nucleus.” Refers to the absolute center of leadership or importance, like the CPU of a computer.
• * 精英 (jīngyīng) - “Elite.” Refers to a group with the highest talent, wealth, or privilege. An elite is not necessarily the backbone; they might be strategists or financiers rather than the ones doing the core work.
• * 支柱 (zhīzhù) - “Pillar,” “mainstay.” Very similar and often used for people, but also commonly used for industries or abstract concepts (e.g., “科技是国家的经济支柱” - Technology is the nation's economic pillar).