nóngyè: 农业 - Agriculture, Farming

• Keywords: nongye, 农业, Chinese agriculture, farming in China, Chinese farming, what does nongye mean, Chinese word for agriculture, HSK 4 vocabulary, rural China, Ministry of Agriculture.
• Summary: Discover the meaning and cultural weight of 农业 (nóngyè), the Chinese term for agriculture. This comprehensive guide explores how 农业 is more than just farming; it's a foundational pillar of Chinese society, history, and modern policy. Learn the breakdown of the characters 农 and 业, see how to use the word in practical sentences, and understand its deep connection to concepts like food security and rural development in China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): nóngyè
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: The science, art, or practice of cultivating the soil, producing crops, and raising livestock; agriculture.
• In a Nutshell: 农业 (nóngyè) is the formal and all-encompassing word for “agriculture.” Think of it as the big-picture term you'd see in the news, in a university course title, or in a government report. It covers everything from a small rice paddy to a massive industrial dairy farm. While an individual might `种地 (zhòngdì)` (farm the land), the entire sector they work in is 农业.

• 农 (nóng): This character is a pictogram that originally depicted a field (田) and a tool or plant. It's the core concept of farming, cultivation, and matters related to peasants or farmers.
• 业 (yè): This character means “industry,” “profession,” “enterprise,” or “line of work.” It elevates a practice into a professional or industrial sector.

When combined, 农业 (nóngyè) literally translates to the “farming industry” or the “enterprise of agriculture.” This combination gives the word its formal, comprehensive, and large-scale feel.

For millennia, China has been an agrarian society. 农业 (nóngyè) wasn't just an economic sector; it was the bedrock of civilization, the source of stability, and the foundation of imperial power. A common historical philosophy was “重农抑商” (zhòngnóng yìshāng), meaning “to prioritize agriculture and suppress commerce,” believing a strong food supply was the key to a stable nation. This contrasts with the American/Western “pioneer” or “heartland” image of farming, which often emphasizes individualism and ruggedness. In China, 农业 is more deeply tied to the collective well-being of the nation. The government's focus on food security (粮食安全, liángshí ānquán) and rural development is a modern manifestation of this ancient value. The concept of 农业 is intrinsically linked to the well-being of 农民 (nóngmín), farmers, and the development of 农村 (nóngcūn), rural areas. This trio is so important in policy that it's often referred to as 三农 (sānnóng), “the three nongs.”

农业 (nóngyè) is primarily used in formal, written, or official contexts. You will rarely hear it in casual, everyday chat unless the topic is specifically about economics, policy, or academic studies.

• Government and News: This is the most common context. You'll see it in phrases like `农业部 (Nóngyè Bù)` (Ministry of Agriculture), `农业政策 (nóngyè zhèngcè)` (agricultural policy), and `农业发展 (nóngyè fāzhǎn)` (agricultural development).
• Academics and Business: Someone might major in 农业 at a university (`我在大学学的是农业。`). Companies might discuss investments in the 农业 sector.
• Formal vs. Informal: For the physical act of farming, people use more direct verbs like `种地 (zhòngdì)` (to plant the land) or specify the activity, like `养猪 (yǎng zhū)` (to raise pigs). Using 农业 to describe a family member's daily job would sound overly formal and a bit strange.

Its connotation is generally neutral and descriptive.

• Example 1:
  • 中国政府非常重视农业的发展。
  • Pinyin: Zhōngguó zhèngfǔ fēicháng zhòngshì nóngyè de fāzhǎn.
  • English: The Chinese government places great importance on the development of agriculture.
  • Analysis: This is a typical example of how 农业 is used in a formal, policy-oriented context.
• Example 2:
  • 他的专业是现代农业技术。
  • Pinyin: Tā de zhuānyè shì xiàndài nóngyè jìshù.
  • English: His major is modern agricultural technology.
  • Analysis: Here, 农业 acts as an adjective to describe “technology.” This is common in academic and technical fields.
• Example 3:
  • 农业、工业和服务业是国民经济的三大支柱。
  • Pinyin: Nóngyè, gōngyè hé fúwùyè shì guómín jīngjì de sān dà zhīzhù.
  • English: Agriculture, industry, and the service sector are the three main pillars of the national economy.
  • Analysis: This sentence demonstrates the use of 农业 as a high-level economic category.
• Example 4:
  • 气候变化对全球农业生产造成了严重影响。
  • Pinyin: Qìhòu biànhuà duì quánqiú nóngyè shēngchǎn zàochéng le yánzhòng yǐngxiǎng.
  • English: Climate change has had a serious impact on global agricultural production.
  • Analysis: A formal sentence you might read in a newspaper article or scientific report.
• Example 5:
  • 这个地区的经济主要依靠农业和旅游业。
  • Pinyin: Zhège dìqū de jīngjì zhǔyào yīkào nóngyè hé lǚyóuyè.
  • English: This region's economy relies mainly on agriculture and tourism.
  • Analysis: Shows how 农业 is used to describe the economic base of a specific place.
• Example 6:
  • 农业不仅仅是种庄稼，还包括畜牧业和渔业。
  • Pinyin: Nóngyè bùjǐnjǐn shì zhòng zhuāngjia, hái bāokuò xùmùyè hé yúyè.
  • English: Agriculture is not just about growing crops; it also includes animal husbandry and fishery.
  • Analysis: This sentence clarifies the broad scope of the term 农业.
• Example 7:
  • 很多年轻人离开农村，不再从事农业工作。
  • Pinyin: Hěn duō niánqīngrén líkāi nóngcūn, bù zài cóngshì nóngyè gōngzuò.
  • English: Many young people are leaving the countryside and no longer engage in agricultural work.
  • Analysis: `从事农业工作` (cóngshì nóngyè gōngzuò) is a formal way to say “work in agriculture.”
• Example 8:
  • 这部纪录片讲述了中国农业的现代化进程。
  • Pinyin: Zhè bù jìlùpiàn jiǎngshù le Zhōngguó nóngyè de xiàndàihuà jìnchéng.
  • English: This documentary tells the story of the modernization process of China's agriculture.
  • Analysis: 农业 is used here as a key topic for a formal piece of media.
• Example 9:
  • 发展生态农业对环境保护有好处。
  • Pinyin: Fāzhǎn shēngtài nóngyè duì huánjìng bǎohù yǒu hǎochù.
  • English: Developing ecological agriculture is good for environmental protection.
  • Analysis: Shows how 农业 can be combined with other words like `生态` (shēngtài - ecology) to form new, specific concepts.
• Example 10:
  • 如果没有强大的农业，国家的粮食安全就无法保障。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ méiyǒu qiángdà de nóngyè, guójiā de liángshí ānquán jiù wúfǎ bǎozhàng.
  • English: Without a strong agricultural sector, the nation's food security cannot be guaranteed.
  • Analysis: This highlights the deep link between 农业 and national strategic thinking in China.

The most common mistake for learners is using 农业 when a more specific or less formal word is appropriate.

• `农业 (nóngyè)` vs. `种地 (zhòngdì)`:
  • 农业 is the abstract concept or industry of agriculture.
  • 种地 (zhòngdì) is the verb for the physical act of tilling the soil and planting crops.
• Incorrect Usage Example:
  • Incorrect: `我叔叔每天做农业。` (Wǒ shūshu měitiān zuò nóngyè.)
  • Why it's wrong: This sounds like “My uncle does the industry of agriculture every day,” which is unnatural and overly abstract. The verb `做 (zuò)` doesn't fit well with a broad concept like 农业.
  • Correct: `我叔叔是农民，他种地。` (Wǒ shūshu shì nóngmín, tā zhòngdì.) - “My uncle is a farmer; he farms the land.”
  • Also Correct (more formally): `我叔叔从事农业生产。` (Wǒ shūshu cóngshì nóngyè shēngchǎn.) - “My uncle is engaged in agricultural production.”

Think of it this way: a country has an 农业 policy, but a person 种地.

• 农民 (nóngmín) - Farmer; peasant. The person who works in the 农业 sector.
• 农村 (nóngcūn) - Countryside; rural area. The place where 农业 is the primary way of life.
• 农场 (nóngchǎng) - A farm. A specific, physical place of agricultural business.
• 农产品 (nóngchǎnpǐn) - Agricultural products; farm produce. The goods that result from 农业.
• 种地 (zhòngdì) - To farm; to cultivate land. A more specific and common verb for the act of farming.
• 粮食 (liángshi) - Grain; cereals; food. A crucial output of 农业 and a key concept in national policy.
• 工业 (gōngyè) - Industry. The economic sector often contrasted with 农业.
• 畜牧业 (xùmùyè) - Animal husbandry; livestock farming. A major sub-category of 农业.
• 三农 (sānnóng) - “The Three Nongs.” A critical policy term referring to the interconnected issues of 农业 (nóngyè), 农村 (nóngcūn), and 农民 (nóngmín).