shíshī: 实施 - To Implement, To Carry Out, To Put into Effect

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• Summary: Learn the meaning and usage of the formal Chinese verb 实施 (shíshī), which means “to implement” or “to put into effect.” This essential HSK 5 word is crucial for understanding discussions about business strategy, government policy, and project management in China. This guide breaks down its characters, cultural context, and provides clear example sentences to show you how to use 实施 correctly and avoid common mistakes, like confusing it with 执行 (zhíxíng).

• Pinyin (with tone marks): shí shī
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To implement, put into practice, or carry out a plan, policy, or measure.
• In a Nutshell: 实施 (shíshī) is the formal action of turning an abstract concept—like a plan, a law, or a strategy—into a concrete reality. It's the bridge between “planning” and “doing.” Think of it as the official “Go!” or “Launch!” button for a significant project or rule. It carries a strong sense of authority, scale, and officiality.

• 实 (shí): This character means real, solid, actual, or true. One of its ancient forms depicted a house with cowrie shells (a form of currency) inside, symbolizing something of substance and value. It points to something tangible and concrete.
• 施 (shī): This character means to carry out, to execute, or to bestow. It can be associated with the image of a flag or banner, symbolizing a directive or an official action being put forth.

When combined, 实施 (shíshī) literally means “to carry out the real” or “to make something actual.” This perfectly captures the essence of taking a plan off the drawing board and making it a functioning reality.

The term 实施 (shíshī) is deeply embedded in the structured, top-down approach often seen in Chinese governance and large corporations. China's famous Five-Year Plans (五年计划, wǔnián jìhuà) are a prime example; they are created at the highest level and then 实施 (implemented) by various ministries, provinces, and companies across the country. A helpful comparison for Western learners is to contrast 实施 (shíshī) with the English word “implement.” While they are close translations, 实施 carries a heavier weight of formality and scale. You could say “I'm going to implement a new workout routine” in English, but saying 我要实施一个新的健身计划 (Wǒ yào shíshī yīgè xīn de jiànshēn jìhuà) in Chinese sounds overly grand and a bit strange for a personal matter. 实施 is reserved for actions with a broader impact—company policies, government regulations, or large-scale projects. This reflects a cultural tendency to use specific vocabulary for official, collective actions versus personal ones.

实施 (shíshī) is a formal word you will frequently encounter in written documents, news reports, and formal meetings. It is rarely used in casual, everyday conversation.

• Government and Legal Contexts: This is the most common usage. It refers to putting laws, regulations, and public policies into effect.
  • e.g., 实施一项新法律 (shíshī yī xiàng xīn fǎlǜ) - to implement a new law.
  • e.g., 实施交通管制 (shíshī jiāotōng guǎnzhì) - to implement traffic control.
• Business and Corporate Settings: It is used when launching new strategies, management systems, or major projects.
  • e.g., 实施新的市场策略 (shíshī xīn de shìchǎng cèlüè) - to implement a new market strategy.
  • e.g., 实施解决方案 (shíshī jiějué fāng'àn) - to implement a solution.

Its connotation is neutral; it simply states the action of putting something into effect. The outcome can be positive or negative.

• Example 1:
  • 政府决定从下个月开始实施新的税收政策。
  • Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ juédìng cóng xià ge yuè kāishǐ shíshī xīn de shuìshōu zhèngcè.
  • English: The government has decided to implement a new tax policy starting next month.
  • Analysis: A classic example of 实施 used in a government policy context. “Policy” (政策) is a very common object for this verb.
• Example 2:
  • 公司正在实施一项旨在提高效率的计划。
  • Pinyin: Gōngsī zhèngzài shíshī yī xiàng zhǐ zài tígāo xiàolǜ de jìhuà.
  • English: The company is implementing a plan aimed at improving efficiency.
  • Analysis: Here, 实施 is used in a corporate context for a formal “plan” (计划). The particle 正在 (zhèngzài) indicates the action is in progress.
• Example 3:
  • 这项法律将于明年一月一日起正式实施。
  • Pinyin: Zhè xiàng fǎlǜ jiāng yú míngnián yī yuè yī rì qǐ zhèngshì shíshī.
  • English: This law will be formally implemented starting from January 1st of next year.
  • Analysis: This sentence structure “将于…起实施” (jiāng yú… qǐ shíshī) is very common in official announcements, meaning “will be implemented starting from…”.
• Example 4:
  • 我们需要一个详细的方案来实施这个项目。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen xūyào yīgè xiángxì de fāng'àn lái shíshī zhège xiàngmù.
  • English: We need a detailed proposal to implement this project.
  • Analysis: This shows that 实施 is the action that follows the creation of a “proposal” or “plan” (方案).
• Example 5:
  • 为了扩大市场份额，我们必须实施新的营销策略。
  • Pinyin: Wèile kuòdà shìchǎng fèn'é, wǒmen bìxū shíshī xīn de yíngxiāo cèlüè.
  • English: In order to expand our market share, we must implement a new marketing strategy.
  • Analysis: The use of “must” (必须) highlights the necessary and formal nature of implementing a “strategy” (策略).
• Example 6:
  • 该城市实施了严格的交通管制措施。
  • Pinyin: Gāi chéngshì shíshī le yángé de jiāotōng guǎnzhì cuòshī.
  • English: The city implemented strict traffic control measures.
  • Analysis: “Measures” (措施) is another common word paired with 实施. The particle 了 (le) indicates the implementation has already been completed.
• Example 7:
  • 技术团队成功实施了解决方案，修复了系统漏洞。
  • Pinyin: Jìshù tuánduì chénggōng shíshī le jiějué fāng'àn, xiūfù le xìtǒng lòudòng.
  • English: The technical team successfully implemented the solution and fixed the system vulnerability.
  • Analysis: Shows 实施 in a technical or IT context. “Implementing a solution” is a perfect use case.
• Example 8:
  • 这个宏伟的建筑计划因为资金问题很难实施。
  • Pinyin: Zhège hóngwěi de jiànzhù jìhuà yīnwèi zījīn wèntí hěn nán shíshī.
  • English: This grand construction plan is difficult to implement due to funding issues.
  • Analysis: This example shows that 实施 can also be used in a negative or challenging context.
• Example 9:
  • 新校长实施了一系列教育改革。
  • Pinyin: Xīn xiàozhǎng shíshī le yī xìliè jiàoyù gǎigé.
  • English: The new principal implemented a series of educational reforms.
  • Analysis: “Reforms” (改革) are abstract ideas that require 实施 to become reality.
• Example 10:
  • 全面实施预算绩效管理是政府的一项重要任务。
  • Pinyin: Quánmiàn shíshī yùsuàn jīxiào guǎnlǐ shì zhèngfǔ de yī xiàng zhòngyào rènwù.
  • English: Fully implementing budget performance management is an important task for the government.
  • Analysis: The adverb “fully” (全面) is often used with 实施 to emphasize the comprehensive nature of the implementation.

The most common point of confusion for learners is the difference between 实施 (shíshī) and 执行 (zhíxíng).

• 实施 (shíshī) - To Implement: This refers to putting a plan, policy, or system into effect for the first time. It is about launching the entire framework.
  • Think: Implementing a new company-wide vacation policy.
• 执行 (zhíxíng) - To Execute / To Carry Out: This refers to carrying out a specific task, order, or command that is often part of a larger plan. It is about following instructions.
  • Think: Executing the task of booking a flight according to the new vacation policy.

Common Mistake:

• Incorrect: 军队实施了将军的命令。(Jūnduì shíshī le jiāngjūn de mìnglìng.)
• Why it's wrong: An army doesn't “implement” a general's order as if it's a new policy; they “execute” or “carry it out.”
• Correct: 军队执行了将军的命令。(Jūnduì zhíxíng le jiāngjūn de mìnglìng.)

In short: You 实施 a plan, and you 执行 a task.

• 执行 (zhíxíng) - To execute; to carry out an order. Focuses on the action of following instructions, more task-oriented than 实施.
• 实行 (shíxíng) - To put into practice. Very similar to 实施, but can be used for slightly less formal systems or practices (e.g., to implement an 8-hour workday).
• 落实 (luòshí) - To ensure something is carried out; to concretize. Has an added emphasis on making sure a plan produces real, solid results on the ground.
• 推行 (tuīxíng) - To promote; to push forward (a policy). Similar to 实施 but highlights the effort of popularizing or advocating for the new system to be adopted.
• 计划 (jìhuà) - Plan; project. The abstract concept that gets implemented by 实施.
• 政策 (zhèngcè) - Policy. One of the most common things to be implemented (实施).
• 方案 (fāng'àn) - Scheme; plan; proposal. A detailed set of steps or a solution that is ready for implementation.
• 措施 (cuòshī) - Measure; step. Specific actions that are part of a larger policy being implemented.