Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== chángshí: 常识 - Common Sense, General Knowledge ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** 常识, changshi, common sense in Chinese, general knowledge Chinese, Chinese culture, what is changshi, basic knowledge, social norms China, Chinese etiquette * **Summary:** Discover the meaning of **常识 (chángshí)**, a fundamental Chinese term that translates to "common sense" or "general knowledge." This page explores not just its literal definition but also its deep cultural significance, covering the basic facts, social etiquette, and unwritten rules that are expected of everyone in Chinese society. Learn how it's used in everyday conversation, from pointing out obvious facts to making a sharp social critique. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** chángshí * **Part of Speech:** Noun * **HSK Level:** HSK 4 * **Concise Definition:** The body of facts, information, and social norms that an ordinary person is expected to know. * **In a Nutshell:** **常识 (chángshí)** is the stuff that "everybody knows." It ranges from objective facts like "water boils at 100 degrees Celsius" to unspoken social rules like "you should offer your seat to the elderly on a bus." Lacking **常识** isn't just about being uninformed; it often implies being socially unaware or even inconsiderate. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **常 (cháng):** This character means "common," "ordinary," "normal," or "frequent." Think of it as the baseline, the everyday standard. * **识 (shí):** This character means "to know," "knowledge," or "to recognize." It's about awareness and understanding. * When combined, **常识 (chángshí)** literally means "common knowledge." The characters perfectly capture the idea of a baseline level of understanding that is shared by all members of a community. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== In Chinese culture, **常识 (chángshí)** carries a weightier implication than its English counterpart, "common sense." While in the West, lacking common sense might make someone seem a bit foolish or "ditzy," in China, it can be seen as a more serious social failing. The concept is tied to the cultural value of social harmony (和谐, héxié). **常识** is the shared script that allows society to function smoothly. It includes not just factual knowledge but a vast array of social etiquette and relational rules (part of 关系, guānxi). Knowing when to speak, what gifts are appropriate, how to address elders, and how to behave as a guest are all considered forms of **常识**. To accuse someone of "没有常识" (méiyǒu chángshí - having no common sense) is a pointed criticism. It suggests they are not just ignorant, but also inconsiderate, uncultured, or unable to function as a proper member of the group. It's less about intelligence and more about social attunement. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== **常识** is a high-frequency word used in many contexts. * **Criticism and Exasperation:** This is one of the most common uses. When someone does something obviously wrong or asks a ridiculously simple question, a common response is a sigh followed by, "这是**常识**啊!" (Zhè shì chángshí a! - "This is common sense!"). The phrase "你没有**常识**吗?" (Nǐ méiyǒu chángshí ma? - "Don't you have any common sense?") is a direct and potent critique. * **Stating a Fact:** It's used neutrally to state that something is widely known. For example, "太阳从东边升起是**常识**" (The sun rising in the east is common sense). * **Categorizing Knowledge:** It's often used in compounds to refer to a body of basic knowledge in a specific field, accessible to the layman. * 法律**常识** (fǎlǜ chángshí) - Basic legal knowledge * 健康**常识** (jiànkāng chángshí) - General health knowledge * 生活**常识** (shēnghuó chángshí) - "Life common sense" (i.e., life hacks, practical daily tips) ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 连小孩子都知道这个，这是**常识**。 * Pinyin: Lián xiǎo háizi dōu zhīdào zhège, zhè shì **chángshí**. * English: Even a child knows this; it's common sense. * Analysis: This sentence expresses exasperation. The speaker is emphasizing how incredibly basic the piece of information is. * **Example 2:** * 你把热水倒进玻璃杯里，杯子当然会裂开！你没有生活**常识**吗？ * Pinyin: Nǐ bǎ rè shuǐ dào jìn bōlí bēi lǐ, bēizi dāngrán huì liè kāi! Nǐ méiyǒu shēnghuó **chángshí** ma? * English: You poured boiling water into a glass, of course it cracked! Don't you have any life common sense? * Analysis: A classic example of a critical, almost scolding tone. "生活常识" refers to practical, everyday knowledge. * **Example 3:** * 在中国，吃饭的时候不要把筷子插在米饭上，这是一个**常识**。 * Pinyin: Zài Zhōngguó, chīfàn de shíhòu bùyào bǎ kuàizi chā zài mǐfàn shàng, zhè shì yīgè **chángshí**. * English: In China, not sticking your chopsticks upright in your rice is common sense. * Analysis: This highlights the cultural dimension of **常识**. What is common sense in one culture may not be in another. * **Example 4:** * 这本杂志介绍了很多有用的健康**常识**。 * Pinyin: Zhè běn zázhì jièshàole hěnduō yǒuyòng de jiànkāng **chángshí**. * English: This magazine introduced a lot of useful general health knowledge. * Analysis: A neutral, positive usage. Here, **常识** simply means "general knowledge" or "basic facts" for a particular field. * **Example 5:** * 作为一个成年人，你应该有一些基本的法律**常识**。 * Pinyin: Zuòwéi yīgè chéngnián rén, nǐ yīnggāi yǒu yīxiē jīběn de fǎlǜ **chángshí**. * English: As an adult, you should have some basic legal knowledge. * Analysis: This sentence is advisory. It suggests a baseline of knowledge expected of a responsible person. * **Example 6:** * 他问我地球是不是方的，我真怀疑他的科学**常识**。 * Pinyin: Tā wèn wǒ dìqiú shì bùshì fāng de, wǒ zhēn huáiyí tā de kēxué **chángshí**. * English: He asked me if the Earth is square; I really doubt his scientific knowledge. * Analysis: Here, **常识** is used to mean the most fundamental, grade-school level of scientific facts. * **Example 7:** * 对不起，我刚来这个国家，对这里的**常识**还不太了解。 * Pinyin: Duìbùqǐ, wǒ gāng lái zhège guójiā, duì zhèlǐ de **chángshí** hái bù tài liǎojiě. * English: Sorry, I just arrived in this country, so I'm not yet familiar with the local common sense/customs. * Analysis: A useful phrase for foreigners. It politely acknowledges a lack of local cultural knowledge. * **Example 8:** * 节约用水、保护环境是每个公民都应具备的**常识**。 * Pinyin: Jiéyuē yòngshuǐ, bǎohù huánjìng shì měi gè gōngmín dōu yīng jùbèi de **chángshí**. * English: Conserving water and protecting the environment is common knowledge that every citizen should possess. * Analysis: This usage frames **常识** as a civic duty or a widely accepted social value. * **Example 9:** * 我以为这是**常识**，没想到还需要我来解释。 * Pinyin: Wǒ yǐwéi zhè shì **chángshí**, méi xiǎngdào hái xūyào wǒ lái jiěshì. * English: I thought this was common sense; I didn't expect that I'd still have to explain it. * Analysis: A passive-aggressive or sarcastic tone, implying the listener is slow for not understanding something obvious. * **Example 10:** * 缺乏安全**常识**可能会导致严重的后果。 * Pinyin: Quēfá ānquán **chángshí** kěnéng huì dǎozhì yánzhòng de hòuguǒ. * English: A lack of basic safety knowledge can lead to serious consequences. * Analysis: A formal and serious usage, often seen in public service announcements or warnings. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **常识 (chángshí) vs. 知识 (zhīshi):** This is a crucial distinction. * **常识** is general, basic, and assumed knowledge. It's the foundation. * **知识 (zhīshi)** is specialized, learned, or academic knowledge. * //Incorrect:// "学习量子物理就是学习一种新的**常识**。" (Xuéxí liàngzǐ wùlǐ jiùshì xuéxí yī zhǒng xīn de **chángshí**.) * //Reason:// Quantum physics is highly specialized **知识**, not **常识**. You would say "学习量子物理的**知识**." * **常识 (chángshí) vs. 智慧 (zhìhuì):** * **智慧 (zhìhuì)** means wisdom. It is the ability to apply knowledge and experience to make good judgments. * Someone can have a lot of **常识** but lack **智慧**, and vice-versa. **常识** is about knowing *what*, while **智慧** is about knowing *what to do* with what you know. * **The Weight of Criticism:** For an English speaker, saying "You have no common sense" can be a lighthearted jab. In Chinese, saying "你没有**常识**" (Nǐ méiyǒu chángshí) is often a much harsher and more direct insult. It's best to avoid using it to criticize others unless you intend to be very blunt. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[知识]] (zhīshi) - Knowledge (learned, academic, specialized). It's what you build on top of **常识**. * [[道理]] (dàolǐ) - Reason; principle; the way things ought to be. Much social **常识** is based on unspoken **道理**. * [[规矩]] (guīju) - Rules; customs; social etiquette. A huge component of social **常识** involves knowing the **规矩**. * [[基本]] (jīběn) - Basic; fundamental. Often used as a modifier, as in "基本**常识**" (basic common sense). * [[理所当然]] (lǐ suǒ dāng rán) - An idiom meaning "as a matter of course" or "to take for granted." Things that are **常识** are often considered **理所当然**. * [[众所周知]] (zhòng suǒ zhōu zhī) - A formal idiom meaning "as everyone knows." It's a way to introduce a piece of information that is considered **常识**. * [[白痴]] (báichī) - Idiot. A very rude term that one might use to describe someone who severely lacks **常识**. Use with extreme caution.