书记

shūji: 书记 - Secretary (Party Secretary), Clerk

Quick Summary

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  • Summary: In Chinese, 书记 (shūji) translates to “secretary,” but it denotes a role of immense political power, not an administrative assistant. The shūji is the leading official of a Communist Party of China (CPC) committee, effectively the most powerful person in any government body, state-owned enterprise, or university in China. Understanding the term shūji is crucial for grasping how power and authority are structured in modern China, from the local village secretary (`村支书 cūn zhī shū`) to the General Secretary (`总书记 zǒngshūjì`), the country's top leader.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): shūji
  • Part of Speech: Noun
  • HSK Level: HSK 6
  • Concise Definition: A secretary, specifically the leading administrative and political official of a Communist Party of China (CPC) committee at any given level.
  • In a Nutshell: Forget the Western idea of a secretary who takes notes and manages schedules. In China, the `书记 (shūji)` is the real boss. In any major organization—a city government, a university, a state-owned company—there is a parallel leadership structure: the administrative head (like a mayor or university president) and the Party Secretary (`书记`). The `书记` is responsible for political and ideological alignment with the Communist Party and almost always holds the ultimate decision-making power, especially on important matters like personnel appointments and strategic direction.

Character Breakdown

  • 书 (shū): This character means “book,” “document,” or “to write.” Its ancient form was a pictogram of a hand holding a writing brush, symbolizing written records.
  • 记 (jì): This character means “to record,” “to remember,” or a “mark.” It's a combination of the “speech” radical (言 yán) and “self” (己 jǐ), suggesting the act of recording one's thoughts or spoken words.
  • Combined Meaning: Literally, `书记` means “document recorder” or “clerk.” This original meaning points to a scribe responsible for official records. Over the last century, this bureaucratic title evolved within the CPC to signify the head of a Party committee, the person with ultimate authority.

Cultural Context and Significance

  • The Dual-Command System: The role of the `书记` is the most telling example of the Party's control over all aspects of Chinese society. In nearly every state-run or state-influenced entity, there are two leaders: the administrative expert and the political leader. For example, a city has a `市长 (shìzhǎng)` (Mayor) and a `市委书记 (shìwěi shūjì)` (Municipal Party Secretary). While the mayor manages daily operations, the Party Secretary is higher in rank and has the final say. This ensures that every level of government and key industry aligns with the Party's goals.
  • Comparison to Western Concepts: The `书记` is not a “secretary.” A better, though imperfect, comparison would be a combination of a Chairman of the Board and a Political Commissar. Like a Chairman, they oversee long-term strategy and top-level appointments. Like a Commissar, they ensure ideological loyalty and political correctness. This concept is alien to Western governance models, which emphasize the separation of political parties from state administration.
  • Related Values: The significance of the `书记` reflects the core principle of 党政合一 (dǎng zhèng hé yī)—the fusion of the Party and the government. It demonstrates a system built on centralized authority and collective action directed by the CPC, rather than on individual administrative leadership.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • The term `书记` is used constantly in news, formal settings, and daily life when referring to officials. It is a title of respect and power.
  • Addressing a Secretary: You always address a Party Secretary by their surname followed by their title. For example, “Secretary Wang” is 王书记 (Wáng Shūji). Using their first name would be highly inappropriate.
  • Hierarchy of Secretaries: The title is used across all levels of the Party structure.
    • `总书记 (zǒngshūjì)`: General Secretary, the leader of the entire Communist Party of China.
    • `省委书记 (shěngwěi shūjì)`: Provincial Party Secretary, the leader of a province.
    • `市委书记 (shìwěi shūjì)`: Municipal Party Secretary, the leader of a city.
    • `党委书记 (dǎngwěi shūjì)`: Party Committee Secretary, a general term for the secretary of a specific organization (e.g., a university or company).
    • `村支书 (cūn zhī shū)`: A common, colloquial abbreviation for `村党支部书记 (cūn dǎngzhībù shūjì)`, the Village Party Branch Secretary. This person is often the most powerful figure in a rural village.

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 习近平是中共中央总书记。
    • Pinyin: Xí Jìnpíng shì Zhōnggòng Zhōngyāng zǒngshūjì.
    • English: Xi Jinping is the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPC.
    • Analysis: This sentence uses the highest form of the title, `总书记 (zǒngshūjì)`, to refer to the paramount leader of China.
  • Example 2:
    • 我们需要得到王书记的批准才能启动这个项目。
    • Pinyin: Wǒmen xūyào dédào Wáng Shūji de pīzhǔn cáinéng qǐdòng zhège xiàngmù.
    • English: We need to get Secretary Wang's approval before we can start this project.
    • Analysis: This demonstrates how the `书记` is the ultimate decision-maker and how to formally address one.
  • Example 3:
    • 他被任命为上海市委书记。
    • Pinyin: Tā bèi rènmìng wéi Shànghǎi shìwěi shūji.
    • English: He was appointed as the Party Secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Committee.
    • Analysis: A typical sentence you might read in Chinese news, highlighting a major political appointment.
  • Example 4:
    • 在中国，大学校长要向党委书记汇报工作。
    • Pinyin: Zài Zhōngguó, dàxué xiàozhǎng yào xiàng dǎngwěi shūji huìbào gōngzuò.
    • English: In China, a university president must report to the Party Committee Secretary.
    • Analysis: This sentence clearly illustrates the power dynamic between the administrative head (president) and the political head (`书记`).
  • Example 5:
    • 村里的路灯坏了，我们得去找村支书解决。
    • Pinyin: Cūnlǐ de lùdēng huài le, wǒmen děi qù zhǎo cūn zhī shū jiějué.
    • English: The streetlights in the village are broken, we have to go find the Village Party Secretary to solve it.
    • Analysis: This uses the common colloquial term `村支书 (cūn zhī shū)` and shows the `书记`'s role in handling practical, local issues.
  • Example 6:
    • 会议由书记主持，市长做了工作报告。
    • Pinyin: Huìyì yóu shūji zhǔchí, shìzhǎng zuò le gōngzuò bàogào.
    • English: The meeting was chaired by the Secretary, and the mayor gave the work report.
    • Analysis: This again highlights the hierarchy. The `书记` presides over the meeting, while the mayor reports to the committee.
  • Example 7:
    • 每个国有企业都有一个党委书记。
    • Pinyin: Měi ge guóyǒu qǐyè dōu yǒu yí ge dǎngwěi shūji.
    • English: Every state-owned enterprise has a Party Committee Secretary.
    • Analysis: This points to the pervasiveness of the Party's role in the Chinese economy.
  • Example 8:
    • 李书记强调了学习党史的重要性。
    • Pinyin: Lǐ shūji qiángdiào le xuéxí dǎngshǐ de zhòngyàoxìng.
    • English: Secretary Li emphasized the importance of studying Party history.
    • Analysis: This shows a key responsibility of the `书记`: ensuring ideological and political education.
  • Example 9:
    • 他年轻时在县政府当过书记员。
    • Pinyin: Tā niánqīng shí zài xiàn zhèngfǔ dāngguo shūjìyuán.
    • English: When he was young, he worked as a clerk in the county government.
    • Analysis: This example uses a related term `书记员 (shūjìyuán)`, which means “clerk” or “scribe.” It helps differentiate the modern, powerful `书记` from its more literal, historical roots.
  • Example 10:
    • 公司的书记否决了CEO的提议。
    • Pinyin: Gōngsī de shūji fǒujué le CEO de tíyì.
    • English: The company's Party Secretary vetoed the CEO's proposal.
    • Analysis: A stark example of the `书记`'s ultimate authority, even over a C-level executive in a state-affiliated company.

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • The Ultimate “False Friend”: The single biggest mistake is equating `书记 (shūji)` with the English word “secretary.”
    • DO NOT SAY: “My secretary will book you a ticket.”
    • WHY IT'S WRONG: This implies your administrative assistant. A `书记` is a high-level political leader. The correct word for an administrative assistant is `秘书 (mìshū)`.
    • Correct Usage: `我的秘书会帮你订票。` (Wǒ de mìshū huì bāng nǐ dìngpiào.) - My secretary/assistant will help you book a ticket.
  • Power, Not Paperwork: The `书记 (shūji)` holds power over personnel, strategy, and political direction. The `秘书 (mìshū)` handles paperwork, scheduling, and administrative tasks. Confusing the two is not just a translation error; it's a fundamental misunderstanding of the Chinese power structure.

Related Terms and Concepts

  • 秘书 (mìshū) - The actual word for a personal/administrative assistant. The most critical term to distinguish from `书记`.
  • 总书记 (zǒngshūjì) - General Secretary. The highest rank of `书记`, the leader of the CPC.
  • 党委 (dǎngwěi) - Party Committee. The governing body that a `书记` is in charge of.
  • 领导 (lǐngdǎo) - Leader; Leadership. A `书记` is a very important `领导`.
  • 干部 (gànbù) - Cadre; Official. A general term for a government or party official. A `书记` is a high-ranking `干部`.
  • 市长 (shìzhǎng) - Mayor. The administrative head of a city, who ranks below the `市委书记 (shìwěi shūjì)`.
  • 主席 (zhǔxí) - Chairman. A title for a head of state (`国家主席`) or a company. While powerful, `书记` is a title exclusive to the Party leadership structure.
  • 村支书 (cūn zhī shū) - A very common, informal name for the Village Party Branch Secretary, the key figure in rural China.