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March 24, 2026
主义(主義)zhǔyì(zhu3yi4)
主义 (zhǔyì) refers to a system of beliefs or principles, often associated with political or philosophical ideologies. It commonly appears in contexts discussing various 'isms' like socialism (社会主义), capitalism (资本主义), or nationalism (民族主义). The term emphasizes the guiding ideas that shape movements or theories.
Frequency#2979DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese history, the term 主义 has played a significant role in the context of the 20th-century ideological struggles, particularly during the rise of communism and nationalism. It reflects the importance of ideology in shaping modern Chinese society.
Memory Tip
Think of 主义 as the 'root' (主) of a tree (义) that supports the entire ideology. Imagine a tree labeled with different 'isms' growing from a strong trunk, representing how various beliefs stem from a foundational idea.
Meanings of 主义
zhǔyì(zhu3yi4)
1-ism
2ideology
Exercise 1 of 2
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Choose the correct answer:
About 主义
主义Simplified
主義Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#2979Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 主义
Podcast: 主义
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AI Study Notes for 主义
Quick Contrast
社会主义 (socialism) vs 资本主义 (capitalism) — choose 主义 (zhǔyì) when discussing the general concept of 'ism' rather than a specific ideology.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 主义 as the 'root' (主) of a tree (义) that supports the entire ideology. Imagine a tree labeled with different 'isms' growing from a strong trunk, representing how various beliefs stem from a foundational idea.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 主义; the third tone (主) and the fourth tone (义) must be clear to avoid confusion with other words. It is often used in formal contexts, especially in academic discussions or political debates. Common collocations include 社会主义 (socialism) and 资本主义 (capitalism).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 6 word, 主义 connects with other advanced vocabulary related to politics and philosophy. Students should focus on how it interacts with different prefixes, like 社会 (social) or 民族 (national), to form specific ideologies.
Cultural Note
In Chinese history, the term 主义 has played a significant role in the context of the 20th-century ideological struggles, particularly during the rise of communism and nationalism. It reflects the importance of ideology in shaping modern Chinese society.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 主义 with similar sounding terms like 直义 (zhí yì), which means 'straightforward meaning.' A correction would be to remember that 主义 specifically refers to ideologies, not just meanings.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 主义
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Grammar Patterns of 主义
主义 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
为什么像大学这样人才济济的社区要害怕虚无____呢？
Why should a great community like a university be afraid of nihilism?
Example Sentences for 主义 (10)
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1
为什么像大学这样人才济济的社区要害怕虚无主义呢？
wéi shí mó xiàng dà xué zhè yàng rén cái jì jì de shè qū yào hài pà xū wú zhǔ yì ne？
Why should a great community like a university be afraid of nihilism?
2
他们关注的是公开的歧视，而不是种族主义的一些潜在问题。
tā mén guān zhù de shì gōng kāi de qí shì， ， ér bù shì zhǒng zú zhǔ yì de yī xiē qián zài wèn。
They focus on overt discrimination rather than insidious aspects of racism.
3
戈德温变成政治激进主义者主要是受他的影响。
gē dé wēn biàn chéng zhèng zhì jī jìn zhǔ yì zhě zhǔ yào shì shòu tā de yǐng xiǎng。
He was a major influence in converting Godwin to political radicalism.
4
这篇修正主义的论文更加偏离了马克思主义的主张。
zhè piān xiū zhèng zhǔ yì de lùn wén gēng jiā piān lí le mǎ kè sī zhǔ yì de zhǔ zhāng。
This revisionist thesis departs even further from Marxist assertions.
5
这位航海家的名誉受到了历史修正主义者的攻击。
zhè wèi háng hǎi jiā de míng yù shòu dào le lì shǐ xiū zhèng zhǔ yì zhě de gōng jī。
The reputation of the navigator is under assault from historical revisionists.
The building is impeccably modernist: glass, aluminium and grey.
9
即便是作为一次人道主义行动，它也不过是取得了有限的成功。
jí biàn shì zuò wéi yī cì rén dào zhǔ yì háng dòng， ， tā yě bù guò shì qǔ dé le yǒu xiàn de chéng。
Even as a humanitarian mission it has been only a qualified success.
10
后来他就变成了一位知名的和平主义者。
hòu lái tā jiù biàn chéng le yī wèi zhī míng de hé píng zhǔ yì zhě。
Later he was to become famous as a pacifist.
Cultural Notes for 主义
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese history, the term 主义 has played a significant role in the context of the 20th-century ideological struggles, particularly during the rise of communism and nationalism. It reflects the importance of ideology in shaping modern Chinese society.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
While 'ism' in English often refers to a broad spectrum of beliefs, in Chinese culture, 主义 carries a more formal weight, implying a structured and often state-endorsed ideology.
Frequently Asked Questions about 主义
Common phrases include 社会主义 (socialism), 资本主义 (capitalism), and 民族主义 (nationalism).
Not always, but it is most commonly associated with political ideologies; it can also refer to philosophical or cultural beliefs.
Yes, it can describe personal or group ideologies, but it's often used in more formal or collective contexts.
