Keywords: jingong, 进攻, jìngōng, what does jingong mean, how to use 进攻, Chinese for attack, Chinese for offense, Chinese military terms, Chinese sports terms, 进攻 vs 攻击, learn Chinese
Summary: Learn the powerful Chinese word 进攻 (jìngōng), which means “to attack” or “offense.” This comprehensive guide breaks down its meaning, from military and sports contexts to figurative use in business and debates. Understand the characters 进 (jìn) and 攻 (gōng), see practical examples, and learn the crucial difference between 进攻 (jìngōng) and 攻击 (gōngjī) to use it like a native speaker. This is your essential resource for mastering a key term in competitive and strategic situations.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): jìngōng
Part of Speech: Verb / Noun
HSK Level: HSK 5
Concise Definition: To launch an attack or an offensive; the act of attacking or being on the offense.
In a Nutshell:进攻 (jìngōng) is a dynamic and action-oriented word that describes the act of moving forward to engage an opponent. Think of it as “advancing to strike.” While its most literal meaning is in warfare, it's incredibly common in sports to describe a team's “offense” and in business to describe a strategic market push. It always implies a proactive, forward-moving action against an opposing force.
Character Breakdown
进 (jìn): This character means “to enter” or “to advance.” It's a combination of 井 (jǐng), a well, and the “walking” radical (辶). You can imagine it as someone advancing past a landmark (the well). It signifies forward movement.
攻 (gōng): This character means “to attack” or “to assault.” It combines 工 (gōng), meaning “work” or “skill,” with the “strike” or “tap” radical (攵). Together, they represent the act of applying effort or skill (工) to strike (攵) an enemy.
When combined, 进攻 (jìngōng) literally means “to advance and attack.” This fusion creates a powerful and unambiguous term for launching an offensive.
Cultural Context and Significance
进攻 (jìngōng) is a direct and forceful term that reflects a proactive, and at times aggressive, mindset necessary in competitive fields. While traditional Chinese philosophy, such as in Sun Tzu's The Art of War (《孙子兵法》), often praises winning through strategy and avoiding direct conflict, 进攻 represents the necessary tool of direct action when strategy alone is not enough.
In the West, we have similar concepts like “attack” or “offense.” However, the use of 进攻 in contexts like business or marketing in China feels very normalized and direct. A company launching a new product line might explicitly state they are beginning a “market offensive” (市场进攻 - shìchǎng jìngōng). This reflects a highly competitive modern environment where taking decisive, forward action is seen as a key to success. It's less about hostility and more about a strategic, determined push towards a goal.
Practical Usage in Modern China
进攻 is a versatile word used in various contexts, from formal to informal. Its connotation depends entirely on the situation.
Military and Warfare
This is the most literal and serious usage. It refers to a planned military assault or offensive.
Formality: Formal
Connotation: Neutral (from a strategic perspective) to Negative (from a victim's perspective).
Sports
This is an extremely common and neutral usage. It refers to the “offense” or “attack” phase of a game.
Formality: Informal to Formal
Connotation: Neutral / Positive (if the offense is good).
Example: “Our team's offense (进攻) needs to be more aggressive.”
Business and Strategy
Used figuratively to describe launching a major initiative, entering a new market, or challenging a competitor.
Formality: Formal
Connotation: Neutral / Strategic.
Example: “We need to launch an offensive in the rural market.”
Debates and Arguments
Can be used to describe a verbal “attack” on someone's position or logic.
Formality: Informal to Formal
Connotation: Negative / Aggressive.
Example: “His attack on my argument was very sharp.”
English: Rather than passively waiting, it's better to proactively attack.
Analysis: A strategic expression contrasting “passive” (被动) with “proactive” (主动).
Example 8:
他们的营销进攻非常有创意。
Pīnyīn: Tāmen de yíngxiāo jìngōng fēicháng yǒu chuàngyì.
English: Their marketing offensive is very creative.
Analysis: Here, 进攻 is a noun, part of the compound noun “营销进攻” (yíngxiāo jìngōng - marketing offensive).
Example 9:
足球比赛中最重要的是进攻和防守的平衡。
Pīnyīn: Zúqiú bǐsài zhōng zuì zhòngyào de shì jìngōng hé fángshǒu de pínghéng.
English: The most important thing in a soccer match is the balance between offense and defense.
Analysis: This sentence clearly shows the relationship between 进攻 (offense) and its antonym 防守 (fángshǒu - defense).
Example 10:
不要把我的批评当成是个人进攻。
Pīnyīn: Búyào bǎ wǒ de pīpíng dàngchéng shì gèrén jìngōng.
English: Don't take my criticism as a personal attack.
Analysis: A figurative use in interpersonal communication. Note that “personal attack” is translated as “个人进攻” (gèrén jìngōng).
Nuances and Common Mistakes
进攻 (jìngōng) vs. 攻击 (gōngjī): This is the most common point of confusion for learners.
攻击 (gōngjī): This is the more general and frequently used word for “attack.” It can refer to a single action (e.g., he attacked me) or a general attack.
进攻 (jìngōng): This implies a more sustained, planned, and forward-moving action. It's an *offensive* or a *charge*. You launch an 进攻, which may be composed of many small 攻击.
Analogy: In a video game, pressing the 'A' button for a single sword swing is a 攻击 (gōngjī). Deciding to charge into the enemy's base with your whole team is an 进攻 (jìngōng).
False Friend Alert: “Offensive”
In English, the word “offensive” can mean “insulting” or “disgusting” (e.g., “That joke was offensive”).
进攻 (jìngōng) NEVER has this meaning. It strictly refers to the act of attacking. To express the idea of “insulting” or “rude,” you would use words like 冒犯 (màofàn) or 无礼 (wúlǐ).
Incorrect: ~~这个笑话很进攻 (Zhège xiàohuà hěn jìngōng.)~~ → This is wrong.
Correct: 这个笑话很冒犯 (Zhège xiàohuà hěn màofàn.) - This joke is very offensive.
Related Terms and Concepts
攻击 (gōngjī) - The most general word for “attack.” 进攻 is a specific type of 攻击.
防守 (fángshǒu) - The direct antonym of 进攻. It means “to defend” or “defense.”
反攻 (fǎngōng) - A counter-attack. The “反” (fǎn) means reverse or counter.
侵略 (qīnlüè) - Invasion; aggression. A much stronger and more negative term than 进攻, implying an unjust violation of territory or rights.
袭击 (xíjī) - A surprise attack, a raid, an ambush. Emphasizes the element of surprise.
打击 (dǎjī) - To strike, hit, or crack down on. Often used against abstract things like crime (打击犯罪) or someone's confidence (打击信心).
攻势 (gōngshì) - An offensive (noun). Similar to 进攻 but often refers to the momentum or posture of an attack, e.g., “发动猛烈攻势” (launch a fierce offensive).
进取 (jìnqǔ) - To be enterprising, to forge ahead. Shares the “进” (advance) character, but is used in a positive, self-improvement context. An “enterprising spirit” is “进取心” (jìnqǔxīn).