kǒngbùzhǔyì: 恐怖主义 - Terrorism

• Keywords: 恐怖主义, kongbuzhuyi, terrorism in Chinese, what is kongbuzhuyi, Chinese word for terrorism, counter-terrorism in China, 反恐, 恐怖分子, Chinese politics, Three Evils China
• Summary: “恐怖主义 (kǒngbùzhǔyì)” is the direct Chinese translation for “terrorism,” referring to the ideology and use of violence and fear for political ends. This page breaks down the characters 恐 (fear), 怖 (terror), and 主义 (-ism) to explain its literal meaning. Learn how this crucial political term is used in Chinese news, government statements, and discussions about domestic and international security, including its connection to China's official policy on the “Three Evils” (terrorism, separatism, and extremism).

• Pinyin (with tone marks): kǒng bù zhǔ yì
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: N/A
• Concise Definition: The use of violence, intimidation, and fear, especially against civilians, to achieve political goals; terrorism.
• In a Nutshell: “恐怖主义 (kǒngbùzhǔyì)” is a modern, formal term constructed by combining “terror/horror” (恐怖) with the suffix for “-ism” (主义). It functions almost identically to the English word “terrorism” and is used in media, politics, and academic contexts to discuss violent, politically-motivated acts. It is a word with extremely negative connotations, associated with instability, violence, and threats to national security.

• 恐 (kǒng): This character means “fear,” “terror,” or “to frighten.” Think of the word for dinosaur, 恐龙 (kǒnglóng), which literally means “terror dragon.”
• 怖 (bù): This character also means “fear” or “terror.” It is almost always used in combination with 恐 to form the word 恐怖 (kǒngbù), intensifying the meaning to “horror” or “dread.”
• 主 (zhǔ): Meaning “main,” “primary,” or “master.” In this context, it's the first part of the suffix 主义.
• 义 (yì): Meaning “righteousness,” “meaning,” or “principle.”

These characters combine logically: 恐怖 (kǒngbù) creates the core concept of “terror,” and 主义 (zhǔyì) is the standard suffix used to translate the English “-ism” (e.g., 资本主义 zīběnzhǔyì, “capitalism”). Therefore, 恐怖主义 is a literal, direct translation of “terror-ism.”

The concept of “terrorism” as a political term in China is largely aligned with its global understanding. However, its application and emphasis have a unique domestic focus. The Chinese government frequently discusses 恐怖主义 in the context of what it calls the “Three Evils” (三股势力, sān gǔ shìlì): terrorism, separatism (分裂主义), and religious extremism (极端主义). This framework is central to China's national security policy and is often cited in relation to the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Official state media and government reports consistently use 恐怖主义 to describe separatist movements and violent incidents in the region, framing its policies there as necessary counter-terrorism (反恐, fǎnkǒng) measures. Compared to Western discourse, which might focus on transnational groups like ISIS or Al-Qaeda, the Chinese government's use of 恐怖主义 is more heavily weighted towards domestic threats to its territorial integrity and social stability (维稳, wéiwěn). For a learner, understanding this term is less about a different cultural value and more about recognizing a different geopolitical and domestic priority. The word means the same, but the primary subject it's applied to in state discourse is different.

恐怖主义 is a formal and serious term. You will encounter it almost exclusively in the following contexts:

• News and Media: In reports on global or domestic security incidents.
• Government Statements: When condemning attacks or outlining security policy.
• Academic Papers: In political science, international relations, or security studies.

You would not use this term in casual conversation unless you are specifically discussing a news event. It carries a heavy, unambiguous, and negative weight. There are no informal or positive uses of this word.

• Example 1:
  • 我们必须坚决反对一切形式的恐怖主义。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen bìxū jiānjué fǎnduì yīqiè xíngshì de kǒngbùzhǔyì.
  • English: We must resolutely oppose all forms of terrorism.
  • Analysis: This is a typical formal sentence you would hear from a government official or read in a state newspaper. 坚决 (jiānjué) means “resolutely” or “firmly,” emphasizing the seriousness of the stance.
• Example 2:
  • 恐怖主义是全人类的公敌。
  • Pinyin: Kǒngbùzhǔyì shì quán rénlèi de gōngdí.
  • English: Terrorism is the common enemy of all humankind.
  • Analysis: A common phrase used to build international consensus. 公敌 (gōngdí) means “public enemy.”
• Example 3:
  • 政府正在采取新的措施来打击网络恐怖主义。
  • Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ zhèngzài cǎiqǔ xīn de cuòshī lái dǎjī wǎngluò kǒngbùzhǔyì.
  • English: The government is adopting new measures to combat cyber-terrorism.
  • Analysis: This shows how the term can be combined with other nouns, like 网络 (wǎngluò - network/internet), to specify a type of terrorism.
• Example 4:
  • 那次恐怖袭击被定性为恐怖主义行为。
  • Pinyin: Nà cì kǒngbù xíjī bèi dìngxìng wéi kǒngbùzhǔyì xíngwéi.
  • English: That terrorist attack was classified as an act of terrorism.
  • Analysis: This sentence distinguishes between a specific attack (恐怖袭击) and the ideology it represents (恐怖主义).
• Example 5:
  • 教育是消除恐怖主义滋生土壤的重要途径。
  • Pinyin: Jiàoyù shì xiāochú kǒngbùzhǔyì zīshēng tǔrǎng de zhòngyào tújìng.
  • English: Education is an important way to eliminate the breeding ground for terrorism.
  • Analysis: A more abstract sentence discussing the root causes. 滋生土壤 (zīshēng tǔrǎng) is a metaphor for a “breeding ground.”
• Example 6:
  • 许多国家合作共享情报，以防止恐怖主义活动。
  • Pinyin: Xǔduō guójiā hézuò gòngxiǎng qíngbào, yǐ fángzhǐ kǒngbùzhǔyì huódòng.
  • English: Many countries cooperate and share intelligence to prevent terrorist activities.
  • Analysis: Highlights the international dimension of counter-terrorism efforts.
• Example 7:
  • 切断恐怖主义的资金来源是反恐战争的关键一步。
  • Pinyin: Qiēduàn kǒngbùzhǔyì de zījīn láiyuán shì fǎnkǒng zhànzhēng de guānjiàn yībù.
  • English: Cutting off the financial sources of terrorism is a key step in the war on terror.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates a common topic within the discourse on terrorism: its financing.
• Example 8:
  • 他写了一篇关于恐怖主义对全球经济影响的论文。
  • Pinyin: Tā xiěle yī piān guānyú kǒngbùzhǔyì duì quánqiú jīngjì yǐngxiǎng de lùnwén.
  • English: He wrote a thesis on the impact of terrorism on the global economy.
  • Analysis: Shows its use in an academic context. 论文 (lùnwén) means “thesis” or “academic paper.”
• Example 9:
  • 新闻报道详细分析了该组织的恐怖主义思想。
  • Pinyin: Xīnwén bàodào xiángxì fēnxīle gāi zǔzhī de kǒngbùzhǔyì sīxiǎng.
  • English: The news report analyzed the organization's terrorist ideology in detail.
  • Analysis: Here, 恐怖主义 is used as an adjective to describe 思想 (sīxiǎng - ideology/thought).
• Example 10:
  • 打击“三股势力”，即恐怖主义、分裂主义和极端主义，是中国的首要任务。
  • Pinyin: Dǎjī “sān gǔ shìlì”, jí kǒngbùzhǔyì﹑ fēnliè zhǔyì hé jíduān zhǔyì, shì Zhōngguó de shǒuyào rènwù.
  • English: Fighting the “Three Evils,” namely terrorism, separatism, and extremism, is a top priority for China.
  • Analysis: This sentence explicitly contextualizes the term within China's official “Three Evils” security policy framework.

• Don't confuse 恐怖 (kǒngbù) and 恐怖主义 (kǒngbùzhǔyì).
  • 恐怖 (kǒngbù) means “horror” or “terror” and is often used to describe a genre or a feeling.
  • 恐怖主义 (kǒngbùzhǔyì) is the political ideology of “terrorism.”
  • Correct: 我喜欢看恐怖电影。(Wǒ xǐhuān kàn kǒngbù diànyǐng.) - “I like to watch horror movies.”
  • Incorrect: 我喜欢看恐怖主义电影。- This would mean “I like to watch terrorism movies,” which is an odd and potentially alarming thing to say.
• Do not use it casually. This is a very strong, formal word. Using it to describe something that is merely scary, intense, or even violent in a non-political way is incorrect. For example, you would not call a violent street fight an act of 恐怖主义. The act must have a political or ideological motive.

• 反恐 (fǎnkǒng) - Counter-terrorism. A contraction of 反对恐怖主义 (fǎnduì kǒngbùzhǔyì).
• 恐怖分子 (kǒngbù fènzǐ) - A terrorist (person). Literally “terror element/member.”
• 恐怖袭击 (kǒngbù xíjī) - A terrorist attack. The specific act or event.
• 恐怖 (kǒngbù) - Horror, terror. The root adjective/noun describing the feeling or genre.
• 主义 (-zhǔyì) - The suffix for “-ism,” crucial for forming many political and philosophical terms.
• 极端主义 (jíduān zhǔyì) - Extremism. One of the “Three Evils” often mentioned alongside terrorism.
• 分裂主义 (fēnliè zhǔyì) - Separatism. Another of the “Three Evils,” a key concern for the Chinese state.
• 暴力 (bàolì) - Violence. A core component of terrorism, but a more general term.
• 维稳 (wéiwěn) - To maintain stability. A key concept in modern Chinese governance that drives counter-terrorism policy.