The concept of the personal `档案` is one of the most significant bureaucratic features of modern Chinese society and has no true equivalent in the West. While an American might think of a “permanent record” from high school, the `档案` is far more comprehensive, lifelong, and impactful. It is a physical (and increasingly digital) file that is created in your school years and follows you for life. It is not held by you, but is transferred directly between the HR departments (`人事 rénshì`) of official institutions: from your high school, to your university, to your first state-owned employer, and so on. This file contains:
Crucially, the individual rarely, if ever, gets to see their own `档案`. Its contents are used by authorities and HR departments to make decisions about promotions, security clearances, permission to study abroad, and other important life events. This system is a powerful tool for social management, reflecting a collectivist value system where the state or work-unit plays a central role in an individual's life. It contrasts sharply with the Western individualistic approach, where a person curates their own public profile through a résumé (`简历 jiǎnlì`) and has greater control over their personal information. The `档案` is your official story, written by others.
`档案` is used in two main ways: 1. The Official Personal Dossier: This is the most common and culturally-loaded usage. You will hear it in formal contexts related to employment, education, and government administration.
2. General Archives or Files: In a more general sense, `档案` can refer to any organized collection of files or records.