Understanding "竞争" - Chinese Word Explanation

1. Basic Information

• Word: 竞争
• Pinyin: jìng zhēng
• Literal Meaning: "Compete" (竞 jìng) + "Strive" (争 zhēng)
• Primary Meaning: Competition; rivalry; the act of striving against others to achieve a goal.

2. In-depth Explanation

Context and Usage

"竞争" is a neutral term used to describe competition in various contexts, such as business, sports, academics, or even nature (e.g., animals competing for resources). It can be both positive (encouraging improvement) and negative (causing conflict).

• Business: Market competition between companies (市场竞争).
• Education/Sports: Healthy competition among students or athletes.
• Daily Life: Friendly rivalry among friends or colleagues.

Character Breakdown

• 竞 (jìng): Means "to compete" or "to contend."
• 争 (zhēng): Means "to strive" or "to fight for."
  Together, they emphasize active effort to outperform others.

3. Example Sentences

1. Chinese: 商业竞争非常激烈。
   Pinyin: Shāngyè jìngzhēng fēicháng jīliè.
   English: Business competition is very intense.

2. Chinese: 他们在比赛中互相竞争。
   Pinyin: Tāmen zài bǐsài zhōng hùxiāng jìngzhēng.
   English: They compete against each other in the competition.

3. Chinese: 健康的竞争能促进进步。
   Pinyin: Jiànkāng de jìngzhēng néng cùjìn jìnbù.
   English: Healthy competition can drive progress.

Cultural Notes

In Chinese culture, competition is often seen as a motivator for self-improvement, especially in education and career development. However, excessive competition (内卷 nèijuǎn, "involution") is a growing concern, where people overwork to outdo others without real benefits.

Conclusion

"竞争" (jìng zhēng) is a versatile word describing competition in various aspects of life. Remember it as "competing to strive," and pay attention to whether the context is positive or negative. Practice using it in sentences to master its nuances!