fǎnkǒng: 反恐 - Counter-terrorism, Anti-terrorism

• Keywords: fankong, fan kong, 反恐, Chinese counter-terrorism, anti-terrorism in Chinese, terrorism in China, Chinese national security, what does fankong mean, political Chinese vocabulary.
• Summary: Learn the meaning and usage of 反恐 (fǎnkǒng), the primary Chinese term for “counter-terrorism” or “anti-terrorism.” This page breaks down the characters, explores its significant role in modern Chinese politics and media, and provides practical examples. Understand how 反恐 is used in official contexts and how it relates to broader concepts like national security (国家安全) and maintaining stability (维稳) in China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): fǎn kǒng
• Part of Speech: Verb / Noun / Adjective
• HSK Level: N/A (Advanced/Specialized)
• Concise Definition: To fight against or oppose terrorism; counter-terrorism.
• In a Nutshell: 反恐 (fǎnkǒng) is a serious and formal term used almost exclusively in the context of government policy, national security, and news reporting. It's a direct combination of “to oppose” and “terror,” making its meaning very clear. You will encounter this word when reading about Chinese domestic policy, international relations, and security measures, but you will almost never use it in casual conversation.

• 反 (fǎn): This character means “to oppose,” “to counter,” “anti-,” or “reverse.” It's used in words like `反对 (fǎnduì)` - to oppose, and `反正 (fǎnzhèng)` - anyway.
• 恐 (kǒng): This character means “fear,” “terror,” or “to frighten.” It is the root of the word `恐怖 (kǒngbù)`, which means “terror” or “terrible.”

When combined, 反 (fǎn) + 恐 (kǒng) literally translates to “anti-terror,” creating the modern and precise term for “counter-terrorism.”

反恐 (fǎnkǒng) is a term loaded with political and social significance in modern China. While it aligns with the global concept of fighting terrorism, its application and scope within China have unique characteristics. The term gained widespread use in Chinese state media and official discourse following the September 11th attacks in the U.S. and in response to domestic security concerns, particularly related to the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The Chinese government frames its 反恐 efforts as a fight against the “Three Evils” (三股势力; sāngǔ shìlì): terrorism, separatism, and religious extremism. A key difference from Western discourse is how these concepts are bundled. In many Western countries, a distinction might be drawn between political dissent, calls for independence, and violent terrorism. In the official Chinese context, however, these are often linked, and 反恐 measures can be used to address all three. This makes 反恐 a critical component of the broader state priority of 维稳 (wéiwěn), or “maintaining stability,” which is paramount in Chinese governance. Therefore, understanding 反恐 is essential for understanding China's approach to national security and social control.

反恐 (fǎnkǒng) is a formal word. Its usage is almost entirely restricted to official and media contexts.

• In the News and Government: This is where you'll see 反恐 most often. It appears in headlines, policy documents, and speeches by officials. Common collocations include:
  • 反恐行动 (fǎnkǒng xíngdòng): Counter-terrorism operation
  • 反恐部队 (fǎnkǒng bùduì): Counter-terrorism unit/force
  • 反恐法 (fǎnkǒng fǎ): Counter-terrorism Law
  • 反恐演习 (fǎnkǒng yǎnxí): Counter-terrorism drill
• On Social Media: When discussed on platforms like Weibo, it is almost always in the context of a news event or government announcement. It is not used casually.
• Connotation: The term is neutral to positive from a state perspective, signifying protection and security. It carries a heavy, serious weight and is never used lightly or humorously.

• Example 1:
  • 中国政府加强了在边境地区的反恐措施。
  • Pinyin: Zhōngguó zhèngfǔ jiāqiángle zài biānjìng dìqū de fǎnkǒng cuòshī.
  • English: The Chinese government has strengthened counter-terrorism measures in border regions.
  • Analysis: A typical sentence from a news report. 反恐 is used here as an adjective modifying “measures” (措施).
• Example 2:
  • 这次国际会议的主要议题是反恐合作。
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì guójì huìyì de zhǔyào yìtí shì fǎnkǒng hézuò.
  • English: The main topic of this international conference is counter-terrorism cooperation.
  • Analysis: Here, 反恐 acts as an adjective describing the type of “cooperation” (合作).
• Example 3:
  • 反恐特警部队进行了一场实弹演习。
  • Pinyin: Fǎnkǒng tèjǐng bùduì jìnxíngle yī chǎng shídàn yǎnxí.
  • English: The counter-terrorism special police unit conducted a live-fire drill.
  • Analysis: This example shows a common collocation, 反恐特警部队 (fǎnkǒng tèjǐng bùduì), referring to a specific type of elite police force.
• Example 4:
  • 每个国家都必须坚决反恐。
  • Pinyin: Měi ge guójiā dōu bìxū jiānjué fǎnkǒng.
  • English: Every country must resolutely fight terrorism.
  • Analysis: In this sentence, 反恐 is used as a verb, “to fight terrorism.” The adverb `坚决 (jiānjué)` emphasizes the resolve.
• Example 5:
  • 全球反恐形势依然严峻。
  • Pinyin: Quánqiú fǎnkǒng xíngshì yīrán yánjùn.
  • English: The global counter-terrorism situation remains severe.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses 反恐 to describe the “situation” (形势), common in political analysis.
• Example 6:
  • 新颁布的反恐法引起了国际社会的关注。
  • Pinyin: Xīn bānbù de fǎnkǒng fǎ yǐnqǐle guójì shèhuì de guānzhù.
  • English: The newly promulgated Counter-Terrorism Law has attracted the attention of the international community.
  • Analysis: This highlights the legal aspect, with 反恐法 (fǎnkǒng fǎ) being a key term.
• Example 7:
  • 他们正在接受专业的反恐训练。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen zhèngzài jiēshòu zhuānyè de fǎnkǒng xùnliàn.
  • English: They are undergoing professional counter-terrorism training.
  • Analysis: 反恐 modifies “training” (训练), showing its use in the context of skill development for police or military.
• Example 8:
  • 反恐不仅是军事问题，也是一个复杂的社会问题。
  • Pinyin: Fǎnkǒng bùjǐn shì jūnshì wèntí, yě shì yī ge fùzá de shèhuì wèntí.
  • English: Counter-terrorism is not only a military issue, but also a complex social issue.
  • Analysis: Here, 反恐 functions as a noun, the subject of the sentence, referring to the concept of counter-terrorism itself.
• Example 9:
  • 两国将在情报共享方面加强反恐合作。
  • Pinyin: Liǎng guó jiāng zài qíngbào gòngxiǎng fāngmiàn jiāqiáng fǎnkǒng hézuò.
  • English: The two countries will strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation in the area of intelligence sharing.
  • Analysis: Another example of 反恐合作 (fǎnkǒng hézuò), a very common phrase in international relations.
• Example 10:
  • 这部电影讲述了一个反恐英雄的故事。
  • Pinyin: Zhè bù diànyǐng jiǎngshùle yī ge fǎnkǒng yīngxióng de gùshì.
  • English: This movie tells the story of a counter-terrorism hero.
  • Analysis: This shows how the term can be used in popular media, like action films or TV dramas, to describe the theme or the characters' roles.

• Don't use it casually: This is the biggest mistake. You would never say “My mom is going 反恐 on the cockroaches in the kitchen.” It is exclusively for the serious topic of political terrorism. For general “fighting” or “opposing,” use words like `反对 (fǎnduì)` or `对抗 (duìkàng)`.
• “False Friend” Nuance: While 反恐 translates to “counter-terrorism,” be aware that the scope of what is defined as “terrorism” (恐怖主义) by the Chinese government can be broader than in some other countries. It often officially includes separatism and religious extremism, which makes the term's application highly political. It's not a simple, apolitical synonym.
• Incorrect: 打击犯罪 vs. 反恐: Do not confuse 反恐 with general crime-fighting. The police `打击犯罪 (dǎjī fànzuì)` (crack down on crime). 反恐 is a specific subset of this, aimed at ideologically motivated violence. A bank robber is a `罪犯 (zuìfàn)` (criminal), not a `恐怖分子 (kǒngbù fènzǐ)` (terrorist).

• 恐怖主义 (kǒngbù zhǔyì): Terrorism. The ideology and act that 反恐 is designed to combat.
• 恐怖分子 (kǒngbù fènzǐ): Terrorist. The individual or group targeted by 反恐 actions.
• 维稳 (wéiwěn): To maintain stability. A crucial and broad concept in Chinese governance. 反恐 is often presented as a necessary tool for 维稳.
• 国家安全 (guójiā ānquán): National security. 反恐 is a core pillar of China's national security strategy.
• 极端主义 (jíduān zhǔyì): Extremism. In official Chinese discourse, this is often cited as a root cause of terrorism that 反恐 must address.
• 分裂主义 (fēnliè zhǔyì): Separatism. Another of the “Three Evils” that is often targeted under the umbrella of 反恐 policies.
• 特警 (tèjǐng): Special Police (similar to SWAT). These are the elite units frequently deployed for 反恐 operations.
• 演习 (yǎnxí): Drill or military exercise. Often seen in the phrase `反恐演习` (counter-terrorism drill).