====== jìndú: 禁毒 - Drug Prohibition, Drug Control, Counternarcotics ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** jindu, 禁毒, drug prohibition in China, China drug control, counternarcotics, Chinese anti-drug policy, what does jindu mean, Opium Wars and drugs, 戒毒 vs 禁毒, drug laws in China * **Summary:** Learn about **禁毒 (jìndú)**, the powerful Chinese term for drug prohibition and counternarcotics. This entry explores its meaning, character breakdown, and critical cultural significance rooted in the Opium Wars. Understand how this historical trauma shapes China's zero-tolerance policy on illegal drugs and how **jìndú** is used in official contexts, from government slogans to police actions, distinguishing it from the personal act of quitting drugs (戒毒 jièdú). ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** jìn dú * **Part of Speech:** Verb, Noun * **HSK Level:** N/A (Considered advanced vocabulary, but essential for understanding Chinese law and society) * **Concise Definition:** To prohibit and suppress illegal drugs; drug prohibition. * **In a Nutshell:** **禁毒 (jìndú)** is a formal and forceful term that encapsulates the entirety of a state's efforts to fight illegal drugs. It combines "to forbid" (禁) and "drugs/poison" (毒). Think of it not just as a policy, but as a national mission. It carries an official, top-down tone, reflecting a zero-tolerance approach to narcotics. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **禁 (jìn):** This character means "to prohibit," "to forbid," or "to ban." A helpful way to remember it is by its use in the famous "Forbidden City" (紫**禁**城 Zǐ**jìn**chéng), a place where commoners were forbidden entry. * **毒 (dú):** This character means "poison," "toxin," or "narcotics." It refers to anything harmful and corrupting, which is exactly how illegal drugs are viewed in Chinese society. * When combined, **禁毒 (jìndú)** literally and powerfully translates to "Forbid Drugs." The meaning is unambiguous and severe. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== * The term **禁毒 (jìndú)** cannot be understood without knowing about the Opium Wars (鸦片战争 Yāpiàn Zhànzhēng) in the mid-19th century. These wars, which began when Britain forcefully imported opium into China against the Qing Dynasty's ban, are seen as the start of China's "Century of Humiliation" (百年国耻 bǎinián guóchǐ). Opium addiction ravaged Chinese society, weakened the state, and led to the ceding of territory (like Hong Kong) to foreign powers. * Because of this deep historical trauma, **禁毒** is not merely a public health or law enforcement issue in China; it is a matter of national sovereignty, social stability, and historical redemption. The government's extremely strict anti-drug stance is a direct reaction to this past, demonstrating that China will never again allow narcotics to weaken the nation. * **Comparison to Western Concepts:** In the U.S., the "War on Drugs" is a comparable term, but it lacks the same historical weight. The American "War on Drugs" is often debated in terms of individual liberty, criminal justice reform, and public health approaches. In contrast, **禁毒** in China is a far less controversial concept internally. It is framed as a collective duty to protect society and the nation's integrity, a value deeply rooted in a collectivist mindset. The discussion is not "if" but "how" to enforce the prohibition most effectively. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== * **禁毒** is an official and formal term. You will encounter it primarily in government, legal, and educational contexts. * **Government Campaigns & Slogans:** Public spaces often feature banners with slogans like "珍爱生命, 远离毒品" (Cherish life, stay away from drugs) as part of national **禁毒** campaigns. * **News and Media:** News reports about drug busts, new counternarcotics laws, or police actions will frequently use the word **禁毒**. For example, you might hear about the **禁毒**警察 (jìndú jǐngchá - counternarcotics police). * **Education:** Schools implement **禁毒**教育 (jìndú jiàoyù - anti-drug education) to teach students about the dangers of narcotics, often with a strong emphasis on the historical context of the Opium Wars. * **Official Designations:** June 26th is the UN's International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, which is known in China as 国际**禁毒**日 (Guójì Jìndú Rì). ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 中国政府对**禁毒**工作非常重视。 * Pinyin: Zhōngguó zhèngfǔ duì **jìndú** gōngzuò fēicháng zhòngshì. * English: The Chinese government places great importance on counternarcotics work. * Analysis: This sentence uses **禁毒** as a noun (attributive) modifying "work" (工作). It's a typical formal statement you might read in an official document or news article. * **Example 2:** * **禁毒**人人有责,我们都应该参与进来。 * Pinyin: **Jìndú** rén rén yǒu zé, wǒmen dōu yīnggāi cānyù jìnlái. * English: Everyone has a responsibility in drug control; we should all participate. * Analysis: A common slogan that emphasizes the collective, societal responsibility for drug prohibition. * **Example 3:** * 这位**禁毒**警察因为工作出色而受到了表彰。 * Pinyin: Zhè wèi **jìndú** jǐngchá yīnwèi gōngzuò chūsè ér shòudào le biǎozhāng. * English: This counternarcotics police officer was commended for his outstanding work. * Analysis: Here, **禁毒** acts as an adjective to specify the type of police officer. * **Example 4:** * 学校组织了一次**禁毒**宣传活动。 * Pinyin: Xuéxiào zǔzhī le yī cì **jìndú** xuānchuán huódòng. * English: The school organized an anti-drug publicity campaign. * Analysis: This shows how **禁毒** is used in the context of public education and awareness campaigns (宣传 xuānchuán). * **Example 5:** * 国际**禁毒**日提醒我们毒品的危害。 * Pinyin: Guójì **Jìndú** Rì tíxǐng wǒmen dúpǐn de wēihài. * English: The International Day Against Drug Abuse reminds us of the dangers of drugs. * Analysis: This sentence shows the official Chinese name for the international awareness day. * **Example 6:** * 打击贩毒是**禁毒**工作的重中之重。 * Pinyin: Dǎjī fàndú shì **jìndú** gōngzuò de zhòngzhōngzhīzhòng. * English: Cracking down on drug trafficking is the highest priority of drug control efforts. * Analysis: This sentence illustrates the scope of **禁毒**, with fighting trafficking (贩毒) being a core component. * **Example 7:** * 他的一生都奉献给了国家的**禁毒**事业。 * Pinyin: Tā de yīshēng dōu fèngxiàn gěi le guójiā de **jìndú** shìyè. * English: He dedicated his entire life to the nation's cause of drug prohibition. * Analysis: The use of "事业" (shìyè - cause, undertaking) elevates **禁毒** to the level of a noble, long-term national mission. * **Example 8:** * 新的法律将进一步加强我国的**禁毒**力度。 * Pinyin: Xīn de fǎlǜ jiāng jìnyībù jiāqiáng wǒguó de **jìndú** lìdù. * English: The new law will further strengthen our country's counternarcotics enforcement. * Analysis: This demonstrates how **禁毒** is directly tied to the legal system and law enforcement power (力度 lìdù - strength, intensity). * **Example 9:** * 历史告诉我们,**禁毒**关系到国家的前途和命运。 * Pinyin: Lìshǐ gàosù wǒmen, **jìndú** guānxì dào guójiā de qiántú hé mìngyùn. * English: History tells us that drug prohibition is related to the future and destiny of the nation. * Analysis: This sentence explicitly links the concept of **禁毒** to the historical and nationalistic sentiments discussed earlier. * **Example 10:** * 云南省地处边境,**禁毒**形势十分严峻。 * Pinyin: Yúnnán shěng dìchǔ biānjìng, **jìndú** xíngshì shífēn yánjùn. * English: Yunnan province is located on the border, so the drug control situation is very severe. * Analysis: A practical example showing how **禁毒** is used to describe the "situation" (形势 xíngshì) in a specific geographical area known for drug trafficking. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **禁毒 (jìndú) vs. 戒毒 (jièdú):** This is the most common point of confusion for learners. * **禁毒 (jìndú):** Refers to the societal, governmental, and legal prohibition of drugs. It's about policy, law enforcement, and stopping the supply and spread of narcotics. **It is external and top-down.** * **戒毒 (jièdú):** Refers to an individual's personal act of quitting a drug addiction. "戒 (jiè)" means to quit or abstain from a bad habit (e.g., 戒烟 jièyān - to quit smoking). **It is internal and personal.** * **Incorrect Usage:** `我想帮他禁毒。` (Wǒ xiǎng bāng tā jìndú.) * **Why it's wrong:** This sounds like you, as an individual, want to start a national-level counternarcotics campaign for your friend. * **Correct Usage:** `我想帮他戒毒。` (Wǒ xiǎng bāng tā jièdú.) - "I want to help him quit drugs (rehabilitate)." * **False Friend:** **禁毒 (jìndú)** is not just a slogan like "Just Say No." It implies the full force of the state's legal and police apparatus. While it includes education, its core is about prohibition and suppression, not just individual choice. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[戒毒]] (jièdú) - To quit drugs; rehabilitation. The personal counterpart to the state-level **禁毒**. * [[毒品]] (dúpǐn) - Illegal drugs; narcotics. The object that **禁毒** targets. * [[吸毒]] (xīdú) - To take drugs; to use drugs. The act that **禁毒** aims to prevent and punish. * [[贩毒]] (fàndú) - To traffic drugs. A serious crime that is a primary focus of **禁毒** efforts. * [[缉毒]] (jīdú) - To seize drugs; drug enforcement. Refers to the specific police actions of investigating and capturing drug criminals. It's a key verb within the broader concept of **禁毒**. * [[鸦片战争]] (Yāpiàn Zhànzhēng) - The Opium War. The essential historical event that gives **禁毒** its profound cultural weight in China. * [[百年国耻]] (Bǎinián Guóchǐ) - The Century of Humiliation. The historical period of foreign subjugation for which the opium trade is a powerful symbol. * [[警察]] (jǐngchá) - Police. The primary enforcers of **禁毒** laws.