lìfǎ: 立法 - To Legislate, Legislation

• Keywords: 立法, lifa, Chinese law, to make a law, legislate, legislation in China, Chinese government, National People's Congress, what is lifa, law-making process, Chinese politics, 制定法律, fǎlǜ vs lìfǎ
• Summary: Learn the meaning of 立法 (lìfǎ), a key term in Chinese politics and law that means “to legislate” or “legislation.” This page breaks down the characters 立 (lì) and 法 (fǎ), explains the formal process of law-making in China by the National People's Congress, and provides practical examples to help you understand its use in news and formal discussions. Discover the cultural context and avoid common mistakes, like confusing it with 法律 (fǎlǜ), the word for “law.”

• Pinyin (with tone marks): lìfǎ
• Part of Speech: Verb / Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: To enact laws; the process of making laws; legislation.
• In a Nutshell: 立法 (lìfǎ) is the formal, official act of creating and passing laws. Think of it as the “verb” for what a congress or parliament does. It's a serious term you'll encounter in news reports, government documents, and discussions about politics. It can refer to the action of legislating (“they are legislating a new rule”) or the concept of legislation itself (“good legislation is important”).

• 立 (lì): To stand, to set up, to establish. Imagine planting a flag firmly in the ground. It signifies creating something solid and official that is meant to stand for a long time.
• 法 (fǎ): Law, method, standard. The character originally depicted water (氵) flowing away (去), suggesting the “removal” of what is unjust, leaving a fair standard. It represents the rules and legal codes that govern a society.

When combined, 立法 (lìfǎ) literally means “to establish law.” The two characters create a powerful and formal image of the foundational act of building a legal framework for a country.

In China, 立法 (lìfǎ) is intrinsically linked to the structure of the state and the role of the Communist Party of China (CPC). The highest state body with legislative power is the National People's Congress (全国人民代表大会 - Quánguó Rénmín Dàibiǎo Dàhuì). Unlike the legislative process in many multi-party Western democracies, which can be characterized by public partisan debate, the 立法 process in China is generally viewed as a mechanism for implementing national policy and the strategic goals set by the CPC. A proposed law (草案 - cǎo'àn) is typically drafted and vetted extensively within the government and party apparatus before being presented to the NPC for deliberation and a vote. While in the West “legislation” might evoke images of filibusters and floor debates between opposing parties, in the Chinese context, 立法 emphasizes a more top-down, consensus-driven (within the system) process aimed at achieving national objectives like economic development, social stability, or environmental protection. It's less about ideological conflict and more about the technical and administrative implementation of a pre-determined policy direction. Therefore, understanding 立法 requires understanding its role as a tool of state governance within a single-party political system.

立法 is a formal term. You will almost never hear it in casual, everyday conversation with friends unless the topic is specifically politics or current events.

• As a Verb (To Legislate): Used to describe the action of making a law.
  • e.g., “国家正在为环境保护立法。” (The country is legislating for environmental protection.)
• As a Noun (Legislation): Used to refer to the body of laws or the process itself.
  • e.g., “这个领域的立法还不够完善。” (The legislation in this area is not yet perfect.)
• In Formal Contexts: It's standard vocabulary in news broadcasts (like on CCTV), government reports, legal textbooks, and academic papers.
• Common Collocations:
  • 立法机关 (lìfǎ jīguān): Legislature / Legislative body
  • 立法程序 (lìfǎ chéngxù): Legislative process
  • 立法权 (lìfǎ quán): Legislative power

• Example 1:
  • 中国的最高立法机关是全国人民代表大会。
  • Pinyin: Zhōngguó de zuìgāo lìfǎ jīguān shì Quánguó Rénmín Dàibiǎo Dàhuì.
  • English: China's highest legislative body is the National People's Congress.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses 立法 as part of a compound noun, 立法机关 (lìfǎ jīguān), meaning “legislative body.” This is a fundamental fact about the Chinese political system.
• Example 2:
  • 政府正在考虑为人工智能的发展进行立法。
  • Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ zhèngzài kǎolǜ wèi réngōng zhìnéng de fāzhǎn jìnxíng lìfǎ.
  • English: The government is considering legislating for the development of artificial intelligence.
  • Analysis: Here, 立法 is used as a verb in the formal structure “进行立法” (jìnxíng lìfǎ), which means “to carry out legislation.” This is common in formal written Chinese.
• Example 3:
  • 完善的立法是保障公民权利的基础。
  • Pinyin: Wánshàn de lìfǎ shì bǎozhàng gōngmín quánlì de jīchǔ.
  • English: Sound legislation is the foundation for protecting citizens' rights.
  • Analysis: In this example, 立法 is used as a noun meaning “legislation.” The adjective 完善的 (wánshàn de) means “perfect” or “sound,” describing the quality of the legislation.
• Example 4:
  • 这项新立法旨在减少塑料污染。
  • Pinyin: Zhè xiàng xīn lìfǎ zhǐ zài jiǎnshǎo sùliào wūrǎn.
  • English: This new piece of legislation aims to reduce plastic pollution.
  • Analysis: 立法 is used as a noun, and 项 (xiàng) is a measure word for items, policies, and legislation. This shows how to refer to a specific piece of legislation.
• Example 5:
  • 地方政府也有一定的立法权。
  • Pinyin: Dìfāng zhèngfǔ yě yǒu yīdìng de lìfǎ quán.
  • English: Local governments also have certain legislative powers.
  • Analysis: This sentence introduces the compound noun 立法权 (lìfǎ quán), “legislative power,” showing that the concept can apply at different levels of government.
• Example 6:
  • 整个立法过程可能需要好几个月。
  • Pinyin: Zhěnggè lìfǎ guòchéng kěnéng xūyào hǎo jǐ gè yuè.
  • English: The entire legislative process might take several months.
  • Analysis: Paired with 过程 (guòchéng), 立法过程 (lìfǎ guòchéng) means “legislative process.” This is useful for talking about the timeline of making a law.
• Example 7:
  • 这部法律的立法背景很复杂。
  • Pinyin: Zhè bù fǎlǜ de lìfǎ bèijǐng hěn fùzá.
  • English: The legislative background of this law is very complex.
  • Analysis: This shows the relationship between 法律 (fǎlǜ - law) and 立法 (lìfǎ). The sentence is discussing the “legislative background” (the context and reasons for its creation) of a specific law.
• Example 8:
  • 许多专家参与了该法案的立法工作。
  • Pinyin: Xǔduō zhuānjiā cānyù le gāi fǎ'àn de lìfǎ gōngzuò.
  • English: Many experts participated in the legislative work for that bill.
  • Analysis: 立法工作 (lìfǎ gōngzuò) refers to the “legislative work” or tasks involved in drafting and passing a law. 法案 (fǎ'àn) is the word for a “bill” or “draft law.”
• Example 9:
  • 数据安全立法是当前全球关注的焦点。
  • Pinyin: Shùjù ānquán lìfǎ shì dāngqián quánqiú guānzhù de jiāodiǎn.
  • English: Data security legislation is currently a focus of global attention.
  • Analysis: Here, 立法 is used as a noun to describe a category of legislation, “data security legislation.” This pattern is common in news headlines.
• Example 10:
  • 我们需要推动科学立法、民主立法。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen xūyào tuīdòng kēxué lìfǎ、mínzhǔ lìfǎ.
  • English: We need to promote scientific legislation and democratic legislation.
  • Analysis: This is a common political slogan in China, using 立法 to refer to the principles that should guide the law-making process. It shows how the term can be used in an ideological or philosophical context.

The most common point of confusion for learners is the difference between 立法 (lìfǎ) and 法律 (fǎlǜ).

• 立法 (lìfǎ): The process or action of making a law. (Verb: to legislate; Noun: legislation).
• 法律 (fǎlǜ): The result of that process; the law itself. (Noun: law).

Think of it like baking:

• 立法 (lìfǎ) is the process of mixing ingredients and baking the cake.
• 法律 (fǎlǜ) is the finished cake that you can eat.

Incorrect Usage:

• Incorrect: 我必须遵守这个立法。(Wǒ bìxū zūnshǒu zhège lìfǎ.) → “I must obey this legislation (process).”
• Correct: 我必须遵守这个法律。(Wǒ bìxū zūnshǒu zhège fǎlǜ.) → “I must obey this law.”
  • Explanation: You obey the law (法律), not the process of making the law (立法).

Correct Usage:

• Correct: 这个法律的立法过程很长。(Zhège fǎlǜ de lìfǎ guòchéng hěn cháng.) → “The legislative process of this law was very long.”
  • Explanation: This sentence correctly uses both terms. 立法过程 (lìfǎ guòchéng) is the process that created the final 法律 (fǎlǜ).

• 法律 (fǎlǜ) - Law. The product created through the process of 立法.
• 法规 (fǎguī) - Laws and regulations. A broader term that includes both national laws and lower-level administrative regulations.
• 宪法 (xiànfǎ) - Constitution. The supreme law of a country, which governs the 立法 process itself.
• 立法机关 (lìfǎ jīguān) - Legislature; legislative body. The institution, like the NPC, that has the power to 立法.
• 立法程序 (lìfǎ chéngxù) - Legislative procedure. The specific steps and rules for creating a law.
• 立法权 (lìfǎ quán) - Legislative power. The authority to make laws.
• 草案 (cǎo'àn) - Draft (of a law); bill. A proposed law before it is officially passed.
• 通过 (tōngguò) - To pass (a bill, a resolution). The verb for when a 草案 successfully becomes a 法律.
• 制定 (zhìdìng) - To formulate; to draft (a law, a plan). A verb often used with law, similar to 立法 but can also be used for plans and policies.
• 全国人民代表大会 (Quánguó Rénmín Dàibiǎo Dàhuì) - The National People's Congress (NPC). The most important 立法机关 in China.