jūnshì: 军事 - Military, Military Affairs, Martial

• Keywords: junshi, 军事, Chinese for military, military affairs, Chinese army, PLA, martial affairs, Chinese national defense, military strategy in Chinese, junshi meaning
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese term 军事 (jūnshì), which means “military” or “military affairs.” This comprehensive guide covers its meaning, cultural significance in China, and practical usage. From understanding news about the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to discussing historical strategy, mastering 军事 (jūnshì) is key to comprehending modern Chinese society and its approach to national defense.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jūnshì
• Part of Speech: Noun, Adjective
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: Pertaining to the military, armed forces, or warfare.
• In a Nutshell: 军事 (jūnshì) is the formal and broad term for anything related to the “military.” Think of it as an umbrella concept covering strategy, technology, personnel, and operations. While a word like 军队 (jūnduì) refers to the physical army, 军事 (jūnshì) refers to the entire field and concept of “military affairs.” It's the word you'll see in news headlines, historical texts, and official discussions about national security.

• 军 (jūn): This character originally depicted a chariot (车) under a covering (冖), symbolizing a military unit. Today, its core meaning is “army,” “military,” or “troops.”
• 事 (shì): This character means “matter,” “affair,” “business,” or “thing.” It refers to an event or a field of activity.
• When combined, 军事 (jūnshì) literally translates to “army affairs” or “military matters,” which perfectly captures its modern meaning as the all-encompassing term for the military field.

In China, the concept of 军事 (jūnshì) is deeply intertwined with national sovereignty, history, and political identity. The People's Liberation Army (解放军, Jiěfàngjūn) is not just a national defense force but an integral institution of the Communist Party of China (CPC). The principle “the Party commands the gun” (党指挥枪, dǎng zhǐhuī qiāng) underscores the military's role in upholding the Party's leadership. This contrasts with the Western ideal of a strictly apolitical military that serves the state regardless of the ruling party. In China, 军事 strength is often viewed as a direct measure of national rejuvenation and a guarantee against the “Century of Humiliation” (百年国耻, bǎinián guóchǐ), a period of foreign intervention in the 19th and 20th centuries. Therefore, discussions about 军事 are often imbued with a sense of national pride, historical gravity, and strategic foresight, influenced by classic texts like Sun Tzu's “The Art of War” (《孙子兵法》).

军事 (jūnshì) is primarily used in formal or neutral contexts. You will encounter it constantly in news, government reports, academic papers, and documentaries.

• As an Adjective: It's most frequently used to modify other nouns to mean “military [noun]”.
  • 军事基地 (jūnshì jīdì): Military base
  • 军事演习 (jūnshì yǎnxí): Military exercise
  • 军事预算 (jūnshì yùsuàn): Military budget
  • 军事技术 (jūnshì jìshù): Military technology
• As a Noun: It can stand alone to mean the field of “military affairs.”
  • “He is an expert on 军事.” (他是一位军事专家。)
  • “Let's discuss China's 军事.” (我们来谈谈中国的军事。)

The term is neutral in connotation. Its tone (pride, concern, aggression) is determined entirely by the surrounding context.

• Example 1:
  • 他对军事历史非常感兴趣。
  • Pinyin: Tā duì jūnshì lìshǐ fēicháng gǎn xìngqù.
  • English: He is very interested in military history.
  • Analysis: Here, 军事 acts as an adjective modifying “history” (历史). This is a common and straightforward usage.
• Example 2:
  • 两国将举行联合军事演习。
  • Pinyin: Liǎng guó jiāng jǔxíng liánhé jūnshì yǎnxí.
  • English: The two countries will hold a joint military exercise.
  • Analysis: A typical sentence you would read in international news. 军事演习 is a fixed phrase for “military exercise/drill.”
• Example 3:
  • 这个国家的军事实力很强。
  • Pinyin: Zhège guójiā de jūnshì shílì hěn qiáng.
  • English: This country's military strength is very powerful.
  • Analysis: 军事实力 (military strength/power) is another common collocation. 军事 here defines the type of strength being discussed.
• Example 4:
  • 他接受了严格的军事训练。
  • Pinyin: Tā jiēshòu le yángé de jūnshì xùnliàn.
  • English: He received strict military training.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses 军事 to describe the nature of the training (训练).
• Example 5:
  • 这是一项重大的军事机密。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shì yí xiàng zhòngdà de jūnshì jīmì.
  • English: This is a major military secret.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates the use of 军事 in the context of intelligence and security.
• Example 6:
  • 政府因紧急情况实行了军事管制。
  • Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ yīn jǐnjí qíngkuàng shíxíng le jūnshì guǎnzhì.
  • English: The government imposed military control (martial law) due to the emergency.
  • Analysis: Shows a more severe and authoritative use of the term. 军事管制 is the standard term for “martial law.”
• Example 7:
  • 《孙子兵法》是一部经典的军事著作。
  • Pinyin: “Sūnzǐ Bīngfǎ” shì yí bù jīngdiǎn de jūnshì zhùzuò.
  • English: “The Art of War” is a classic work of military literature.
  • Analysis: Connects 军事 to the intellectual and strategic side of military affairs, not just physical conflict.
• Example 8:
  • 那个岛屿有极高的军事价值。
  • Pinyin: Nàge dǎoyǔ yǒu jí gāo de jūnshì jiàzhí.
  • English: That island has extremely high military value.
  • Analysis: This sentence is common in geopolitical discussions, where 军事 describes a type of strategic value.
• Example 9:
  • 许多高科技最初都是用于军事目的。
  • Pinyin: Xǔduō gāokējì zuìchū dōu shì yòng yú jūnshì mùdì.
  • English: A lot of high-tech was initially used for military purposes.
  • Analysis: Shows how 军事 can be used to talk about the application or purpose of something.
• Example 10:
  • 他是这所军事学院的毕业生。
  • Pinyin: Tā shì zhè suǒ jūnshì xuéyuàn de bìyèshēng.
  • English: He is a graduate of this military academy.
  • Analysis: 军事学院 (military academy) is a standard term for an institution that trains military officers.

The most common mistake for learners is confusing 军事 (jūnshì) with 军队 (jūnduì).

• 军事 (jūnshì): The abstract concept or field of “military affairs.” Usually an adjective.
  • Correct: 军事新闻 (jūnshì xīnwén) - Military news
  • Incorrect: 军队新闻 (jūnduì xīnwén)
• 军队 (jūnduì): The concrete entity of “the army,” “the troops,” or “the armed forces.” A noun.
  • Correct: 中国军队 (Zhōngguó jūnduì) - The Chinese army
  • Incorrect: 中国军事 (Zhōngguó jūnshì) - This would mean “China's military affairs,” not the army itself.

Think of it like “medical” vs. “doctors.” You watch “medical news” (军事新闻) about what “the doctors” (军队) are doing. Another point of confusion is 军事 (jūnshì) vs. 战争 (zhànzhēng).

• 军事 (jūnshì): The entire military system, including in peacetime. It's about readiness, structure, and strategy.
• 战争 (zhànzhēng): Specifically “war” or “warfare,” the act of fighting.

You can have a strong 军事 to prevent 战争.

• 军队 (jūnduì) - The army, troops. The physical body of soldiers and equipment, whereas `军事` is the abstract field.
• 国防 (guófáng) - National defense. The primary purpose and justification for having a military.
• 战争 (zhànzhēng) - War, warfare. The ultimate, though not sole, application of military force.
• 武器 (wǔqì) - Weapon, arms. The tools used in military affairs.
• 军人 (jūnrén) - Military personnel, serviceman. A general term for any person serving in the military.
• 士兵 (shìbīng) - Soldier. Specifically refers to an enlisted member, often a private.
• 战略 (zhànlüè) - Strategy. High-level, long-term planning, a key aspect of `军事`.
• 战术 (zhànshù) - Tactics. The specific methods and maneuvers used to achieve strategic goals.
• 解放军 (jiěfàngjūn) - The People's Liberation Army (PLA). The official name of the armed forces of the People's Republic of China.
• 司令 (sīlìng) - Commander. A high-ranking military officer in charge of a unit or command.