liùsì shìjiàn: 六四事件 - The June Fourth Incident / Tiananmen Square Massacre

• Keywords: liusi shijian, 六四事件, June Fourth Incident, Tiananmen Square Massacre, 1989 Tiananmen Protests, 89 Democracy Movement, China censorship, Tank Man, what is liu si, Chinese history
• Summary: The term 六四事件 (liùsì shìjiàn), or the “June Fourth Incident,” refers to the 1989 pro-democracy student-led protests in Beijing's Tiananmen Square and the subsequent violent military crackdown. This pivotal event in modern Chinese history remains one of the most heavily censored topics within mainland China. For learners, understanding “liusi” is crucial not only for its historical importance but also as a key to understanding modern Chinese politics, censorship, and the difference between official narratives and memories held outside of China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): liù sì shì jiàn
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: N/A
• Concise Definition: A term for the military suppression of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests on June 4th.
• In a Nutshell: “六四事件” literally translates to “Six-Four Incident,” a name derived from its date (June 4th). While the name sounds neutral and factual, it refers to a deeply traumatic and politically sensitive event. It encompasses weeks of student-led demonstrations advocating for political and economic reform, which ended with the government declaring martial law and using military force against its own citizens in the heart of Beijing. Today, the term is synonymous with political taboo and censorship in China.

• 六 (liù): The number six, representing June, the sixth month.
• 四 (sì): The number four, representing the fourth day.
• 事 (shì): An event, matter, affair, or incident. It's a general-purpose character for “thing” in an abstract sense.
• 件 (jiàn): A measure word, often for events, documents, or clothing.
• The characters combine quite literally. 六四 (liùsì) is “6/4” or June 4th. 事件 (shìjiàn) is a standard compound word for “incident.” The name “June Fourth Incident” is a direct, almost clinical, description of the event by its date, which contrasts sharply with its violent and emotional nature.

The 六四事件 is arguably the most significant political scar in the People's Republic of China since the Cultural Revolution. Its cultural significance lies not just in the event itself, but in its subsequent erasure from public discourse within mainland China. A useful comparison for a Western learner is to contrast the public commemoration of a national tragedy like 9/11 in the United States with the state-enforced amnesia surrounding June 4th in China. In the U.S., 9/11 is memorialized, taught in schools, and openly discussed as a moment of national trauma and unity. In China, the government has systematically scrubbed the 六四事件 from textbooks, media, and the internet. An entire generation has grown up with little to no knowledge of it. This highlights a core value of the modern Chinese state: 维稳 (wéiwěn), or “maintaining stability.” The official narrative is that the protests were a “counter-revolutionary riot” (反革命暴乱) that threatened the nation's stability and economic progress. Therefore, suppressing the memory of the event is seen as necessary to maintain social harmony and the Party's authority. For those outside China, however, it represents a tragic loss of life and a critical turning point where China chose authoritarian control over political liberalization.

Direct usage of this term is a textbook example of a political taboo. How it is (or isn't) used reveals a great deal about China's information environment.

• Inside Mainland China:

You will almost never hear 六四事件 used in public conversation, media, or education. Any direct mention of it on social media platforms like Weibo or WeChat is instantly censored by automated systems and human moderators. To get around this, netizens have historically developed a rich vocabulary of euphemisms and code words, such as:

• “May 35th” (五月三十五日)
• “that day” (那天)
• “89-64” or simply “64”
• Using images (like the “Tank Man” photo) or obscure references.

Using the term directly can lead to account suspension or, in serious cases, a “visit from the police” (被请喝茶, bèi qǐng hēchá - literally “to be invited to drink tea”).

• Outside Mainland China:

Among the Chinese diaspora, in Hong Kong (historically), Taiwan, and international academic or journalistic circles, the term 六四事件 is used freely and openly. It is the standard, formal name for the event. In these contexts, it is used to discuss history, politics, and human rights in China.

• Example 1:
  • 很多外国记者都写过关于六四事件的书。
  • Pinyin: Hěn duō wàiguó jìzhě dōu xiěguò guānyú liùsì shìjiàn de shū.
  • English: Many foreign journalists have written books about the June Fourth Incident.
  • Analysis: This is a factual statement you might encounter in a context outside of mainland China, such as in a university library or on a news website.
• Example 2:
  • 在中国，六四事件是一个非常敏感的话题。
  • Pinyin: Zài Zhōngguó, liùsì shìjiàn shì yī ge fēicháng mǐngǎn de huàtí.
  • English: In China, the June Fourth Incident is an extremely sensitive topic.
  • Analysis: This sentence explains the social reality of the term itself. It's a meta-commentary on its usage.
• Example 3:
  • 我爷爷说，关于那天发生的事，我们最好不要多问。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ yéye shuō, guānyú nà tiān fāshēng de shì, wǒmen zuìhǎo bùyào duō wèn.
  • English: My grandfather said that regarding what happened on “that day,” it's best we don't ask too much.
  • Analysis: This example shows the indirect way the event might be referenced within a family in China. “那天” (nà tiān - that day) is a common euphemism for June 4th.
• Example 4:
  • 中国政府将六四事件定性为一场“政治风波”。
  • Pinyin: Zhōngguó zhèngfǔ jiāng liùsì shìjiàn dìngxìng wéi yī chǎng “zhèngzhì fēngbō”.
  • English: The Chinese government characterizes the June Fourth Incident as a “political turmoil.”
  • Analysis: This sentence introduces the official government terminology, contrasting it with the term's common international understanding.
• Example 5:
  • 每年六月四号前后，中国的网络审查都会变得更严格。
  • Pinyin: Měi nián liù yuè sì hào qiánhòu, Zhōngguó de wǎngluò shěnchá dōu huì biànde gèng yángé.
  • English: Around June 4th every year, China's internet censorship becomes even stricter.
  • Analysis: This sentence describes a practical consequence of the event's sensitivity. It doesn't use the term 六四事件, but directly references the date.
• Example 6:
  • “坦克人”的照片是六四事件中最具代表性的影像之一。
  • Pinyin: “Tǎnkèrén” de zhàopiàn shì liùsì shìjiàn zhōng zuì jù dàibiǎoxìng de yǐngxiàng zhīyī.
  • English: The “Tank Man” photo is one of the most iconic images of the June Fourth Incident.
  • Analysis: Connects the term to a specific, world-famous visual symbol associated with it.
• Example 7:
  • 一些人通过点燃蜡烛的方式来纪念六四事件的遇难者。
  • Pinyin: Yīxiē rén tōngguò diǎnrán làzhú de fāngshì lái jìniàn liùsì shìjiàn de yànànzhě.
  • English: Some people commemorate the victims of the June Fourth Incident by lighting candles.
  • Analysis: Refers to the vigils and acts of remembrance that happen outside of mainland China.
• Example 8:
  • 由于防火长城的存在，很多中国年轻人对六四事件一无所知。
  • Pinyin: Yóuyú fánghuǒ chángchéng de cúnzài, hěn duō Zhōngguó niánqīngrén duì liùsì shìjiàn yīwúsuǒzhī.
  • English: Due to the existence of the Great Firewall, many young Chinese people know nothing about the June Fourth Incident.
  • Analysis: This sentence explains the direct impact of censorship on collective memory within China.
• Example 9:
  • 老师，课本里为什么没有提到六四事件？
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī, kèběn lǐ wèishéme méiyǒu tídào liùsì shìjiàn?
  • English: Teacher, why is the June Fourth Incident not mentioned in the textbook?
  • Analysis: A hypothetical but powerful question a curious student (perhaps one learning abroad) might ask, highlighting the educational vacuum around the topic.
• Example 10:
  • 他因为在网上讨论六四事件而被封号了。
  • Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi zài wǎngshàng tǎolùn liùsì shìjiàn ér bèi fēnghào le.
  • English: His account was suspended because he discussed the June Fourth Incident online.
  • Analysis: A very practical sentence illustrating the direct consequences of breaking the taboo in China's digital space.

• Mistake 1: Using it in the wrong context.
  • A beginner's most critical mistake is to bring up 六四事件 casually in conversation in mainland China or post about it on Chinese social media. This is not just a faux pas; it can put your Chinese friends in an extremely awkward or even dangerous position and will get your digital content deleted instantly. This is the single most important rule: do not use this term openly within the Great Firewall.
• Mistake 2: Confusing the term with its meaning.
  • The term 六四事件 (liùsì shìjiàn) is phonetically neutral (“June Fourth Incident”). It is less emotionally charged than the English “Tiananmen Square Massacre.” However, do not mistake its neutral phrasing for a lack of significance. The event it describes is deeply controversial and violent.
• Nuance: Neutral Term vs. Loaded Terms.
  • 六四事件 is the most standard, semi-formal term. More critical commentators might use 六四屠杀 (liùsì túshā), the “June Fourth Massacre.” The Chinese government, when forced to refer to it, uses phrases like 八九政治风波 (bājiǔ zhèngzhì fēngbō), the “'89 Political Turmoil.” Knowing which term is being used tells you a lot about the speaker's political stance.

• 天安门广场 (Tiān'ānmén Guǎngchǎng) - Tiananmen Square. The geographical location of the protests, but the name itself is not censored as it's a major landmark.
• 八九学运 (bājiǔ xuéyùn) - The '89 Student Movement. A more specific term focusing on the student-led nature of the pro-democracy protests.
• 坦克人 (tǎnkèrén) - Tank Man. The nickname for the unidentified man who stood in front of a column of tanks on June 5, 1989.
• 维稳 (wéiwěn) - To maintain stability. The government's core policy principle, often used to justify censorship and crackdowns on dissent, with the memory of 六四 as a key motivator.
• 防火长城 (fánghuǒ chángchéng) - The Great Firewall. The system of internet censorship in China that blocks access to foreign websites and censors sensitive terms like 六四事件.
• 政治风波 (zhèngzhì fēngbō) - Political turmoil. The official, euphemistic term used by the CCP to describe the events, downplaying the violence and its significance.
• 敏感词 (mǐngǎn cí) - Sensitive word. A term for any word or phrase, like 六四, that is subject to censorship on the Chinese internet.
• 五月三十五日 (wǔ yuè sānshíwǔ rì) - May 35th. A well-known internet code word for June 4th, created to evade automated censorship.