yǎnglǎo bǎoxiǎn: 养老保险 - Pension / Retirement Insurance

• Keywords: 养老保险, yǎnglǎo bǎoxiǎn, China pension, Chinese retirement insurance, social security in China, how to retire in China, 五险一金 (wǔ xiǎn yī jīn), Chinese pension system, what is yanglao baoxian, social benefits in China.
• Summary: 养老保险 (yǎnglǎo bǎoxiǎn) is the official term for China's state-mandated pension or retirement insurance system. It is a fundamental component of the country's social security network (社保, shèbǎo), requiring contributions from both employers and employees during their working years. This system provides a monthly income (pension) to individuals after they reach the legal retirement age, representing a major shift from traditional family-based elder support to a modern, state-managed framework.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yǎnglǎo bǎoxiǎn
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: A state-run social insurance program that provides a regular income to individuals after retirement; pension plan.
• In a Nutshell: Think of 养老保险 as China's version of Social Security. It's not a private savings account, but a national system you are required to pay into from your salary. Your employer also contributes. When you hit retirement age, you can start receiving a monthly payment, called a pension (养老金, yǎnglǎojīn), to support your living expenses. It's a cornerstone of the modern Chinese social safety net.

• 养 (yǎng): To raise, to nurture, to support. Imagine providing food and care to help something grow, like raising a child (养孩子) or keeping a pet (养宠物).
• 老 (lǎo): Old, elderly, aged. A very common and fundamental character.
• 保 (bǎo): To protect, to guarantee, to insure. The character contains the radical for “person” (人), suggesting the protection of people.
• 险 (xiǎn): Danger, risk, hazard. The left-side radical (⻖) is often associated with terrain like mountains or cliffs, places of potential danger.

The characters combine logically:

• 养老 (yǎnglǎo): “To support the elderly.” This is a deeply rooted cultural concept and a standalone verb/noun phrase.
• 保险 (bǎoxiǎn): “To protect against risk.” This is the standard modern Chinese word for “insurance.”
• 养老保险 (yǎnglǎo bǎoxiǎn): Literally, “support-the-elderly, protect-from-risk insurance.” It's insurance that protects you from the financial risks of old age.

For centuries, elder care in China was dictated by the concept of 孝顺 (xiàoshùn - filial piety), encapsulated in the saying 养儿防老 (yǎng'ér fánglǎo - “raise children to guard against old age”). The responsibility for supporting aging parents fell squarely on their children, particularly their sons. The introduction and expansion of the state-run 养老保险 system marks a monumental cultural shift. It moves the primary responsibility for elder support from being a purely familial duty to a shared responsibility between the individual, the employer, and the state. This change was necessitated by modern realities:

• Urbanization: People moving away from their hometowns for work, making direct care difficult.
• Smaller Families: The one-child policy created a “4-2-1” family structure (four grandparents, two parents, one child), placing an unsustainable burden of care on a single offspring.
• Increased Life Expectancy: People are living longer post-retirement.

Comparison to Western Pensions: While similar to the U.S. Social Security system, China's 养老保险 is much newer and still evolving. It faces unique demographic pressures and is a frequent topic of policy debate. For a learner, understanding this term isn't just about vocabulary; it's about seeing how China is building a modern social contract that blends traditional values with pragmatic, state-led solutions.

养老保险 is a term you'll encounter constantly in any formal employment context in China.

• In the Workplace: It's a standard line item on employment contracts and payslips. HR departments will discuss your contributions to 养老保险 and other social insurances (collectively called 社保, shèbǎo) when you are hired.
• In Daily Conversation: Young people might complain about how much 养老保险 is deducted from their salary. Older people approaching retirement will discuss when they can start receiving their pension (养老金, yǎnglǎojīn).
• In the News: News outlets frequently report on government adjustments to the pension system, changes in the retirement age, or the financial health of the national pension fund.

The term itself is neutral and formal, but conversations around it can be emotional, touching on hopes for a secure future or anxieties about financial stability.

• Example 1:
  • 我们公司给所有员工都交养老保险。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī gěi suǒyǒu yuángōng dōu jiāo yǎnglǎo bǎoxiǎn.
  • English: Our company pays pension insurance for all its employees.
  • Analysis: “交 (jiāo)” here means “to pay” or “to contribute to” a fund. This is a very common and standard sentence you'd hear in an HR context.
• Example 2:
  • 你每个月要从工资里扣多少养老保险？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ měi ge yuè yào cóng gōngzī lǐ kòu duōshao yǎnglǎo bǎoxiǎn?
  • English: How much retirement insurance is deducted from your salary each month?
  • Analysis: “扣 (kòu)” means “to deduct.” This is a practical question one might ask a colleague or friend when comparing jobs or salaries.
• Example 3:
  • 外国人在中国工作也需要参加养老保险体系。
  • Pinyin: Wàiguó rén zài Zhōngguó gōngzuò yě xūyào cānjiā yǎnglǎo bǎoxiǎn tǐxì.
  • English: Foreigners working in China also need to participate in the pension insurance system.
  • Analysis: This highlights a key point for expatriates. “参加 (cānjiā)” means “to participate in” or “to join,” and “体系 (tǐxì)” means “system.”
• Example 4:
  • 只要缴满十五年养老保险，退休后就能按月领养老金。
  • Pinyin: Zhǐyào jiǎo mǎn shíwǔ nián yǎnglǎo bǎoxiǎn, tuìxiū hòu jiù néng àn yuè lǐng yǎnglǎojīn.
  • English: As long as you have paid into the pension insurance for a full 15 years, you can receive a monthly pension after retirement.
  • Analysis: “缴满 (jiǎo mǎn)” means “to pay in full” for a certain duration. This sentence explains the basic eligibility requirement for the pension.
• Example 5:
  • 中国政府正在改革养老保险制度，以应对人口老龄化。
  • Pinyin: Zhōngguó zhèngfǔ zhèngzài gǎigé yǎnglǎo bǎoxiǎn zhìdù, yǐ yìngduì rénkǒu lǎolínghuà.
  • English: The Chinese government is reforming the pension insurance system to cope with an aging population.
  • Analysis: A sentence you might read in a news article. “制度 (zhìdù)” means “system” or “policy,” and “应对 (yìngduì)” means “to deal with” or “to respond to.”
• Example 6:
  • 我的工资条上，养老保险是最大的一笔扣款。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de gōngzītiáo shàng, yǎnglǎo bǎoxiǎn shì zuìdà de yī bǐ kòukuǎn.
  • English: On my payslip, the pension insurance is the largest deduction.
  • Analysis: “工资条 (gōngzītiáo)” is a payslip, and “扣款 (kòukuǎn)” is a deduction. This is a very relatable sentence for anyone working in China.
• Example 7:
  • 他辞职后，他的养老保险就中断了。
  • Pinyin: Tā cízhí hòu, tā de yǎnglǎo bǎoxiǎn jiù zhōngduàn le.
  • English: After he resigned, his pension insurance contributions were interrupted.
  • Analysis: “中断 (zhōngduàn)” means “to interrupt” or “to break off.” This shows the link between continuous employment and pension contributions.
• Example 8:
  • 你最好查一下你的养老保险账户，确保公司在按时缴纳。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ zuìhǎo chá yīxià nǐ de yǎnglǎo bǎoxiǎn zhànghù, quèbǎo gōngsī zài ànshí jiǎonà.
  • English: You'd better check your pension insurance account to ensure the company is paying on time.
  • Analysis: This gives practical advice. “账户 (zhànghù)” is “account,” and “按时缴纳 (ànshí jiǎonà)” means “to pay on time.”
• Example 9:
  • 灵活就业人员可以自己缴纳养老保险。
  • Pinyin: Línghuó jiùyè rényuán kěyǐ zìjǐ jiǎonà yǎnglǎo bǎoxiǎn.
  • English: Freelancers (lit., flexible employment personnel) can pay their own pension insurance.
  • Analysis: This explains how the system works for non-traditional employees. “灵活就业人员 (línghuó jiùyè rényuán)” is the formal term for freelancers or gig workers.
• Example 10:
  • 除了养老保险，我们还需要自己存钱为退休做准备。
  • Pinyin: Chúle yǎnglǎo bǎoxiǎn, wǒmen hái xūyào zìjǐ cún qián wèi tuìxiū zuò zhǔnbèi.
  • English: Besides the pension insurance, we also need to save money ourselves to prepare for retirement.
  • Analysis: This sentence reflects a common sentiment that the state pension alone may not be enough for a comfortable retirement.

• 保险 (Insurance) vs. 金 (Money): This is the most common point of confusion.
  • 养老保险 (yǎnglǎo bǎoxiǎn): The system, policy, or program you pay into. (e.g., “My company pays my pension insurance.”)
  • 养老金 (yǎnglǎojīn): The money you receive every month after you retire. The pension itself. (e.g., “My grandma receives her pension.”)
  • Incorrect: ~~我每个月收到我的养老保险。~~ (I receive my pension insurance every month.)
  • Correct: 我每个月收到我的养老金。 (I receive my pension every month.)
• State Pension vs. Private Pension: 养老保险 specifically refers to the government-mandated social insurance. It is not a private retirement plan offered by a company as a special perk. A supplementary, company-run plan is called 企业年金 (qǐyè niánjīn). Using 养老保险 to refer to a private plan is incorrect.
• Not an “Allowance”: Do not use 养老保险 to describe the money you give your parents out of filial piety. That money is called 生活费 (shēnghuófèi - living expenses) or is simply an act of 孝顺 (xiàoshùn).

• 社保 (shèbǎo) - Social Security. The umbrella term for the entire social insurance system, of which 养老保险 is one part.
• 五险一金 (wǔ xiǎn yī jīn) - “Five Insurances and One Fund.” The full package of mandatory social benefits in China. 养老保险 is the first and most important of the “five insurances.”
• 养老金 (yǎnglǎojīn) - Pension (the payment). The money you get from the 养老保险 system after retirement.
• 退休 (tuìxiū) - To retire. This is the life event that allows a person to start claiming benefits from their 养老保险.
• 医疗保险 (yīliáo bǎoxiǎn) - Medical Insurance. Another one of the “five insurances,” paid for alongside the pension insurance.
• 公积金 (gōngjījīn) - Housing Provident Fund. The “one fund” in 五险一金. It's a mandatory savings program for housing, and is often discussed together with 养老保险 as a major payroll deduction.
• 孝顺 (xiàoshùn) - Filial Piety. The traditional cultural value of respecting and supporting one's parents. 养老保险 is the modern, state-level complement to this personal duty.
• 制度 (zhìdù) - System, Policy. Often used with 养老保险 (养老保险制度) to refer to the rules and structure of the pension system.