héxīn jiàzhíguān: 核心价值观 - Core Values, Core Socialist Values

• Keywords: hexin jiazhiguan, 核心价值观, Core Socialist Values, China's core values, 24 character values, Chinese propaganda, Chinese values, what are China's core values, aìguó, fùqiáng, mínzhǔ
• Summary: Learn about 核心价值观 (héxīn jiàzhíguān), the official “Core Socialist Values” of modern China. This term refers to a specific set of 12 government-promoted principles you will see on posters, in schools, and in political speeches across the country. Understanding this concept is crucial for grasping contemporary Chinese society, official discourse, and the values the nation officially promotes.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): héxīn jiàzhíguān
• Part of Speech: Noun Phrase
• HSK Level: N/A (but high-frequency in media and public spaces)
• Concise Definition: A set of 12 official moral principles, known as the “Core Socialist Values,” that the Chinese government promotes as the nation's guiding ideals.
• In a Nutshell: Don't mistake “核心价值观” for a generic term like a company's “core values.” In 99% of cases, it refers to the Core Socialist Values (社会主义核心价值观), a specific, state-defined list of 12 ideals. Think of it as a national moral charter that is actively taught and displayed everywhere to shape a unified national identity. It's less about personal belief and more about a top-down vision for society.

• 核 (hé): Core, nucleus, or the pit of a fruit. It signifies the central, most essential part.
• 心 (xīn): Heart or mind. This character is a pictogram of a heart, representing the center of thought and emotion.
• 价 (jià): Price, value, or worth.
• 值 (zhí): Value, worth, or to be worthwhile.
• 观 (guān): View, outlook, or concept.

When combined, 核心 (héxīn) means “core.” 价值 (jiàzhí) means “value.” And 价值观 (jiàzhíguān) means “value system” or “worldview.” Together, 核心价值观 (héxīn jiàzhíguān) literally means “core value system,” but in practice, it almost always refers to one specific system.

The “Core Socialist Values” (社会主义核心价值观) were officially codified by the Chinese Communist Party in 2012. They are a set of 12 words (24 characters) that are omnipresent in public life. They are typically organized into three levels:

• National Goals:
  • 富强 (fùqiáng) - Prosperity and Strength
  • 民主 (mínzhǔ) - Democracy
  • 文明 (wénmíng) - Civility and Culture
  • 和谐 (héxié) - Harmony
• Societal Goals:
  • 自由 (zìyóu) - Freedom
  • 平等 (píngděng) - Equality
  • 公正 (gōngzhèng) - Justice
  • 法治 (fǎzhì) - Rule of Law
• Individual Ideals:
  • 爱国 (àiguó) - Patriotism
  • 敬业 (jìngyè) - Dedication to one's work
  • 诚信 (chéngxìn) - Integrity
  • 友善 (yǒushàn) - Friendliness

Comparison to Western Concepts: A common Western concept is “Judeo-Christian values” or the ideals in the U.S. Declaration of Independence (“Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness”). The key difference is that the Chinese `核心价值观` is a specific, state-promoted, and uniform list. Western values are often seen as more organic, philosophical ideals open to broad interpretation. Furthermore, terms like “democracy” (民主) and “freedom” (自由) on the Chinese list are defined within the context of the socialist state, prioritizing collective harmony and national stability over individual rights as they are typically understood in the West.

You cannot travel in China without seeing the `核心价值观`. They are displayed on:

• Red banners and billboards in every city.
• Posters inside schools, hospitals, and government offices.
• Screensavers on public computers and ATMs.
• Prefaces to books and as a topic in official speeches.

For many Chinese citizens, the constant display of these values can be seen as state propaganda. It can be a subject of cynical humor or simply ignored as background noise. However, it is a serious part of the national education curriculum and a cornerstone of official political language. Using this term in conversation can make you sound very formal, like you are quoting a government document. It is not a term used lightly in casual chats unless you are specifically discussing politics or society.

• Example 1:
  • 学校的墙上挂着写有“核心价值观”的海报。
  • Pinyin: Xuéxiào de qiáng shàng guàzhe xiě yǒu “héxīn jiàzhíguān” de hǎibào.
  • English: There's a poster with the “Core Values” written on it hanging on the school wall.
  • Analysis: This sentence describes a very common, literal sighting of the term in a public space.
• Example 2:
  • 老师教育我们要牢记社会主义核心价值观。
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī jiàoyù wǒmen yào láojì shèhuì zhǔyì héxīn jiàzhíguān.
  • English: The teacher taught us that we must firmly remember the Socialist Core Values.
  • Analysis: This shows how the values are actively taught and instilled through the education system.
• Example 3:
  • 这次会议强调了践行核心价值观的重要性。
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì huìyì qiángdiào le jiànxíng héxīn jiàzhíguān de zhòngyàoxìng.
  • English: This meeting emphasized the importance of putting the Core Values into practice.
  • Analysis: A typical example of formal, bureaucratic language used in official or corporate settings.
• Example 4:
  • 富强、民主、文明、和谐是国家层面的核心价值观。
  • Pinyin: Fùqiáng, mínzhǔ, wénmíng, héxié shì guójiā céngmiàn de héxīn jiàzhíguān.
  • English: Prosperity, democracy, civility, and harmony are the Core Values at the national level.
  • Analysis: This sentence breaks down the list, showing how the values are categorized.
• Example 5:
  • 我们公司的核心价值观是创新和客户至上。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī de héxīn jiàzhíguān shì chuàngxīn hé kèhù zhìshàng.
  • English: Our company's core values are innovation and “customer first.”
  • Analysis: This is a rare but possible usage where the term refers to a non-governmental, corporate context. Note that `公司的价值观 (gōngsī de jiàzhíguān)` might be more common to avoid the political overtone.
• Example 6:
  • 你能背出全部的十二个核心价值观吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ néng bèi chū quánbù de shí'èr ge héxīn jiàzhíguān ma?
  • English: Can you recite all twelve of the Core Values?
  • Analysis: A question someone might ask, treating the values as a list to be memorized, which is common in schools.
• Example 7:
  • 他的行为完全不符合“诚信”这个核心价值观。
  • Pinyin: Tā de xíngwéi wánquán bù fúhé “chéngxìn” zhège héxīn jiàzhíguān.
  • English: His behavior completely goes against “integrity,” one of the Core Values.
  • Analysis: Here, a specific value from the list is referenced in a critical context.
• Example 8:
  • 在新闻里，发言人反复提及核心价值观。
  • Pinyin: Zài xīnwén lǐ, fāyánrén fǎnfù tíjí héxīn jiàzhíguān.
  • English: In the news, the spokesperson repeatedly mentioned the Core Values.
  • Analysis: This highlights the term's high frequency in official media and government communication.
• Example 9:
  • 培养青少年的核心价值观是教育的一项重要任务。
  • Pinyin: Péiyǎng qīngshàonián de héxīn jiàzhíguān shì jiàoyù de yí xiàng zhòngyào rènwù.
  • English: Cultivating the Core Values in young people is an important task of education.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the forward-looking, ideological purpose of promoting the values.
• Example 10:
  • 有些人会开玩笑说，他们的核心价值观就是“吃饭睡觉”。
  • Pinyin: Yǒuxiē rén huì kāiwánxiào shuō, tāmen de héxīn jiàzhíguān jiùshì “chīfàn shuìjiào”.
  • English: Some people will joke that their “core values” are just “eating and sleeping.”
  • Analysis: This shows the ironic or cynical usage of the term in informal contexts, playing on its formal and official nature.

• Mistake 1: Using it for personal values.
  • A common mistake for learners is to use `核心价值观` to talk about their personal beliefs. For example: `Incorrect: 我的核心价值观是家庭第一。(Wǒ de héxīn jiàzhíguān shì jiātíng dì yī.)` This sounds overly grand and political.
  • Correction: A native speaker would use a more general or simpler phrase, like `我的价值观是家庭第一 (Wǒ de jiàzhíguān shì jiātíng dì yī)` or, more naturally, `对我来说，家庭最重要 (Duì wǒ lái shuō, jiātíng zuì zhòngyào)`. Reserve `核心价值观` for the official 12 values unless the context is clearly defined (like in Example 5).
• Mistake 2: Assuming the literal Western meaning of the words.
  • Words like `民主 (mínzhǔ)` (democracy) and `自由 (zìyóu)` (freedom) in this list do not carry the same meaning as they do in Western liberal democracies. They are interpreted through the lens of the “people's democratic dictatorship” and socialism, where the stability of the state and the collective good defined by the Party take precedence over individual political freedoms. Misunderstanding this nuance can lead to significant misinterpretation of Chinese political discourse.

• 价值观 (jiàzhíguān) - Value system. The general term, of which `核心价值观` is a specific, official type.
• 社会主义 (shèhuì zhǔyì) - Socialism. The overarching political and economic ideology that frames the Core Values.
• 中国梦 (Zhōngguó mèng) - The Chinese Dream. The national aspirational goal of “rejuvenation,” which the Core Values are meant to support.
• 和谐社会 (héxié shèhuì) - Harmonious Society. A key political concept and national goal directly related to the value of `和谐 (héxié)`.
• 爱国主义 (àiguó zhǔyì) - Patriotism. A foundational concept in modern Chinese education and one of the 12 core values (`爱国`).
• 宣传 (xuānchuán) - Propaganda / Publicity. The method through which the `核心价值观` are disseminated to the public.
• 精神文明 (jīngshén wénmíng) - Spiritual Civilization. A related concept focusing on the moral and ethical improvement of society, often mentioned alongside the Core Values.
• 富强 (fùqiáng) - Rich and Strong. The first of the 12 values and a goal of the Chinese nation since the late Qing Dynasty.