改革开放30年经典热词英语翻译

改革开放30年经典热词英语翻译－文化类

选秀  talent show /talent-search show

（NBA的选秀叫做draft，但和这种真人秀reality TV show 显然不是一回事）

选秀之举早已有之，比如各种文娱大赛、NBA选秀等等，但现在这个词多指超级女声、快乐男声、我型我秀、加油好男儿、红楼梦、春姑娘等各种电视真人秀比赛。选秀不在结果，而在运作过程中的商业价值。

高考 college (or university) entrance examination

高考改变了很多人、尤其是很多年轻人的命运，1978年恢复高考后，高等教育的发展进入轨道。当高考竞争愈来愈激烈时，就出现了高考移民（当然这也和户籍制度有关系）。

高考移民 NCEE migrant

The term ‘NCEE migrant’ refers to students who covertly leave their hometowns and immigrate to other places a few days before the NCEE in order to get bonus points or be in a less competitive environment. When found out, they are penalized for undermining the fairness of the NCEE. “高考移民”是指基于获取加分和规避竞争等目的，高考前从就学地点迁往其它地点报名参加考试的学生，这些人因破坏高考的公平性，成绩往往不被认可。

驴友 Donkey Friends

当人们有了闲钱，就会开始对广袤自然的探索之心。该词其实是“旅友”，就是热爱户外运动的人。据说起源于新浪论坛，因“驴”和“旅”谐音，故而把音念转。驴友们通常自己组织、集体行动（也有喜欢单独行动的）、自负责任。

人肉搜索 Cyber Manhunt

和网络搜索相对的词语，即指网民们发挥自身力量以及周围群众力量，根据网络上发帖人提供的信息，人搜人、人找人，最终将某一人或某几人从茫茫人海中揪出水面。堪称21世纪嘴彪悍的搜索引擎。

“四有” 新人 New Generation with “Four Qualifications”

所有刚上学的人都要接受的教育；做个有文化，有理想，有道德，有纪律的四有新人，由邓小平同志在1985年提出，乃教育准则之一。但似乎今天在教育在朝着“有分数、有特长（琴棋书画等）”两有新人发展。

装修 decoration

以前，限于条件，所谓的装修，都是简单，甚至说是简陋的，或者根本就没有，也就是扫扫石灰水或者用白纸糊糊墙。90年代，随着人民生活水平的提高，装修也就进入了生活。

不同时期，装修的潮流也不同，例如有一个时期，流行装天花，于是大家都装天花板了，后来有的人家的天花板就成了老鼠的运动场；有一个时期流行用木质的墙裙，大家也一窝蜂的装墙裙，结果数年后有的人家就给白蚁蛀上了。各种潮流都引领风骚三两年，精明的人当然是根据自己的需要而设计装修的方案，不去盲目地跟风。

其实，无论是保安、现代镖局和保镖，都是政府减负的产物、产业化改革的产物。在计划经济的极左年代，政府大包大揽，无论是医疗、教育、治安都由政府全包揽下来了。这既养成了一些人的寄生虫思想，又不能够优化配置社会资源，还极大地占用了政府的有限资金，不能够落实到高薪养廉上来。于是就把一些小治安问题进行了产业化改革，让社会力量来投资治安，谁投资，谁受益，谁安全。

今天，人民群众无论走到那里，都可以看到保安，到处都有安全感啊！

名片 business card

改革开放之初，和香港商人会面，对方递上名片，受宠若惊的双手接过，还尴尬地想到自己还没有这个玩意，然后把这小纸片很当一回事地收起来。这大概是很多领导都经历过的事情。名片这小纸片，写着某某人的姓名、官衔等等。有一年春节晚会，好象是黄虹表演了一个节目，两个候车的旅客，无聊之际，就用手中的名片来作牌，斗了一番。这个出张科长，那个就用处长去打；这个出四个总经理，那个就甩出四个董事长！

还听说小学生们也大派名片了，写上“班长”“学委”之类的官名。

粉丝 fans

对于追星的人的称呼，是英文fans（复数，单数为fan）的英译。如今各种星漫天飞，歌星，影星，电视剧明星，广告明星，体育明星，政治明星……粉丝群也是无孔不入，自从这个词出现后，地球上的人基本上就可以分为两类，追星的和不追星的，或者粉丝和非粉丝。

发廊 hair salon

发廊的出现，好像很突然。就好像小学生的作文：在大好春风之下，如雨后春笋般长出来了！

发廊的一个特点是小，不像理发店那样一大排高大古老的理发椅，一般就是三两个人的小门面。当然，也有很大的发廊，但人家也一般的不叫发廊了，而叫做什么发艺城之类的。

发廊的另一个特点是营业时间长，由于产权是明晰的，所以积极性大大提高，晚上营业极大地方便了人民群众。也有一些发廊工作积极性过于高，通宵营业，以至于有关部门要发出指令，营业时间不得超过凌晨两点！

发廊的第三个特点是服务的多样化。理发店的服务相对简单，只是理发电发刮胡子。发廊的服务是多种多样的，例如按摩服务，理发店是没有的，当然这个按摩是肩部以上的。有的发廊的服务非常人性化，例如下跪式服务，让顾客有上帝般的感觉。www.24en.com

发廊的第四个特点是广，这也很方便人民群众。

发廊又产生了“发廊妹”一词。像很多地方，发廊都是成片经营的，“发廊妹”们看上去很美，是一道风景。

跳槽 job-hopping

跳槽，就是指调换工作。至于为什么叫做“跳槽”，我想大概是与马有关的，马在马棚吃草的地方叫马槽，马有时不在自己的马槽里吃草，到别的马槽里吃草叫跳槽。换个工作，就叫做跳槽了。跳槽者 job-hopper。

改革开放，招商引资，一些港商在事情办妥后，都喜欢给办事的人送上个小小的红包，聊表感激之情。

八卦 gossip

八卦，亦称“经卦”。是《周易》中的八种基本图形。八卦起源于原始宗教的占卜。《易传》作者认为八卦主要象征天、地、雷、风、水、火、山、泽八种自然现象，每卦又象征多种事物，并认为“乾”、“坤”两卦在“八卦”中占特别重要的地位，是自然界和人类社会一切现象的最初根源，八卦，具有朴素唯物主义因素。

今天，八卦还有另外一个含义，就是指在娱乐圈中，非正式的小道消息或者是某个明星的隐私等新闻。如某某明星又走光穿帮啦，某导和某演员又有一腿啦。而刊登这样的消息的报刊杂志就叫做“八卦报纸”或者“八卦杂志”。

婚纱照 wedding photo

以前，照张相也不容易，结婚大事，也不过是照张小双人的黑白照。

80年代起，婚妙照就开始流行了，其特点是：婚纱、彩妆、大幅彩照。当然另外还有一个特点：高价。婚纱照以其浪漫、美丽迅速走进了千家万户，为新人们留下了美好的回忆。一些从前没有照婚纱相的，也纷纷补照。婚纱照的兴起，使当初走向衰落的照相店找到了新的发展方向。

走穴 “(actors, singers, etc.) perform for outside salary income without approval by the unit they belong to ”

自从中央电视台第一次搞了个春节联欢晚会后，每逢什么喜庆节日的，各地都少不了搞个晚会的。各地方的文艺晚会办多了，需要的文艺表演人员也多。而刚开始搞晚会那一阵子，文艺表演团体不多，人员也有限。而且，那时，还是吃大锅饭的体制，文艺表演人员都是有单位的。

一些晚会的组织者，不可能把整个的文艺单位拉过来搞台晚会，所以就打起了一些演员，特别是名角的主意，唱两首歌多少钱，一拍即合。那时节，名角们可忙了，赶完一个场马上又赶下一个场。

这就是走穴了，又叫赚外快，广东人管这个叫“炒更”。

VCD 是video compact disk 缩写，泛指一种影碟机。

VCD作为一种新兴的家电，可以说是昙花一现，突然间如雨后春笋般出现在市场上，当消费者还没有看清楚的时候，又突然间消失了。VCD的现象，应该作为一个麻雀，解剖一下，从一个小麻雀看看中国工业的过去未来，应该能够得到很多有益的启示。

晒工资 wages online exposure

“晒工资”并非将工资拿到太阳底下去晒，而是将工资条拿到网上去曝光。基于这一意蕴，该词可译为”wages online exposure”。

民意调查显示，47.5％的人上网看过工资条，37.7％的人愿意本着”匿名填写，保证真实”的原则，将自己的工资条在网上公开。相关人士分析，”晒工资”表达了人们呼唤收入分配透明的社会心态，但是，此类事件也可能会给社会带来负效应，如导致部分人心理失衡或无意间泄露商业秘密等。

非典型肺炎、非典、沙士 SARS

非典是2003年年始于广州的一种极其厉害的传染病，造成多人死亡。

非典是非典型肺炎的缩写，而SARS则是英文“非典型肺炎”的缩写，而“沙士”则是SARS的英文音译。

改革开放30年经典热词英语翻译－社会类

蛤蟆镜 goggles

蛤蟆镜其实就是太阳镜的一种，流行于上世纪80年代初以后，由于其夸张的造型而被戏称为“蛤蟆镜”。改革开放初期，国门打开，社会复苏，人们的生活在不知不觉中发生着变化。蛤蟆镜等装扮动摇了中国人数十年的整齐划一和单调乏味，成了年轻人流行文化里最初的冒险，“引领时代新潮流”。

交谊舞 ballroom dancing

流行于上世纪80年代初，当时，全国各大城市均出现在公园、广场等公共场所男女青年自发聚集跳交谊舞的现象。

喇叭裤 bell-bottomed pants; flare trousers

因裤形似喇叭而得名。它的特点是：低腰短裆，紧裹臀部；裤腿上窄下宽，从膝盖以下逐渐张开，裤口的尺寸明显大于膝盖的尺寸，形成喇叭状。我国上世纪80年代最流行的装束。

大哥大 GSM mobile telephone

“大哥大”源于粤港人称呼帮会头目之谐语，后成为手提电话的俗称。“大哥大”只流行于手提电话初面世那几年，之后改称“手机”。

BP机（寻呼机） Beep Pager

1983年，上海开通国内第一家寻呼台，BP机进入中国。从BP机开始的即时通信，将人们带入了没有时空距离的年代，时时处处可以被找到，大大加速了人们的生活、工作效率，但也让人无处可藏。人们对它爱恨交加，但已离不开它。

万元户 ten- thousand-yuan household

是指家庭存款在10000元以上的，称之为万元户。这个词是在70年代末产生的，那个年代万元户是个相当了不得的。万元户年代的1万元可以买到很多的东西(米价0.14元，肉价0.95元)可以想到1万元是个什么概念。不过现在代好了，人们的收入增加了，这个词已经成了历史概念。

五好家庭 Five Virtues Family (outstanding in such five aspects as law-abiding, diligent study, family planning, domestic harmony, and industrious and thrifty management of the household)

从1985年开始，全国各地大兴“五好家庭”评选活动。当时的“五好家庭”的标准是：政治思想好、生产工作好；家庭和睦、尊敬老人好；教育子女、计划生育好；移风易俗、勤俭持家好；邻里团结、文明礼貌好。

呼拉圈 hula hoop

呼啦圈又称健身圈，流行于上世纪八九十年代的一项运动。由于其轻便美观，练习活动占地不大，很快成为一项老少皆宜的运动项目。当时全国各地兴起了一阵“呼拉圈”潮，纷纷举办呼拉圈比赛。

彩电 colored television set

改革开放后进入中国人的生活，如今彩电已是家家户户都能有的电器，买个什么样的彩电才是人们关注的话题。

倒爷 profiteer; wheeler-dealer

流行于改革开放初期，指的是那些倒买倒卖的人。

面的 taxi

出租车在上世纪80年代末和90年代初进入百姓生活。生活在北京的人，一提起“面的”，是一种多么有趣的感觉。出门招手，面的就到，街上随处可见的，被市民戏称为“黄虫”的面的，开启了北京出租车的历史。面的客货两用，十分方便，深受百姓亲睐。

下海 go into business

改改革开放，从一个抽象的词语表达成为一段除旧立新且举世瞩目的历程，用了三十年。为了纪念这个不平凡又短暂的三十年，我们精选了在此期间人尽皆知的一些经典热词与您共享革开放时期，随着市场经济的繁荣，许多人不满于现状，转而经商，称之为：下海。“下”字有屈就的意思，下海的许多人员原本是政府机关人员，他们放弃有保障的就业体系而从事风险较大的商业行为，这也说明一种勇气。人们对商人从事的行业有“商场”、“商海”之称，故而下海这个说法沿用至今。

下岗 get laid off

下岗，职工下岗的简称，是我国劳动力长期供大于求造成的一种客观现象。我国人口多，劳动力总量大、增长快，远远超过社会生产的需求，就业岗位相对不足，结果造成不少需要分流的企业富余人员暂时找不到就业机会而成为下岗职工。职工下岗现象是计划经济条件下就业制度在经济转轨过程中的必然反映。

下岗再就业 re-employment of laid-off workers

黄金周 golden week

“黄金周“指我国的春节、劳动节（现已取消）和国庆三个节日的每个节日的连续七天休假。如国庆七天休假称为“十•一黄金周”。

农民工 migrant worker

中国大陆特有词汇，指身为中国大陆特有的农业户口身份的工人；指从农村进入城市，依靠替雇主工作为谋生手段，但不具备非农业户口的社会群体。

房奴 mortgage slave （Mortgage slave is adopted to describe those people whose mortgage payment is more than half of their monthly salary.）

“房奴”是指城镇居民抵押贷款购房，在生命黄金时期中的20到30年，每年用占可支配收入的40%至50%甚至更高的比例偿还贷款本息，从而造成居民家庭生活的长期压力，影响正常消费。购房影响到自己教育支出、医药费支出和抚养老人等，使得家庭生活质量下降，甚至让人感到奴役般的压抑。

钉子户 “dingzihu”; nail house (a person or household who refuses to move and bargains for unreasonably high compensation when the land is requisitioned for a construction project)

在城市建设征用土地时，讨价还价，不肯迁走的住户。

黄牛党 ticket scalper

“黄牛党”就是俗称的“票贩子”。“票贩子”在北京行话叫“拼缝儿的”，而上海人称之为“黄牛党”，近年来上海方言还称“打桩模子”，还有更形象的比喻把这类人称之为“票虫儿”。

传销 pyramid selling

有实际产品，人员发展上线、下线、金字塔式的销售模式。

走后门 pull the string

不正当的手段来谋求达到某种个人目的，叫“走后门”。

潜规则 hidden rule

“潜规则”指的是行业内心知肚明却又从不愿被捅破的一种“规则”；尤指娱乐圈

“超女”super girl (Super Girl Contest)

是中国湖南卫视从2004年起主办的大众歌手选秀赛。此项赛事接受任何喜欢唱歌的女性个人或组合的报名。其颠覆传统的一些规则，受到了许多观众的喜爱，是现今中国大陆颇受欢迎的娱乐节目之一。

“粉丝”fans

粉丝，是英语“fans”的谐音。“fan”是“运动、电影等的爱好者” 的意思。所以，“film fan ”是“影迷”的意思。也可以理解为“××迷”或者“××追星族”一类意思。“fans”是“fan”的复数。原来“粉丝”被称为追星族。但是这个词汇早已被时尚抛弃。现在许多年轻人对这个新词汇爱不释手，它已成为了时尚的代名词。

按揭 mortgage

指以房地产等实物资产或有价证券、契约等作抵押，获得银行贷款并依合同分期付清本息，贷款还清后银行归还抵押物。

双休日 two-day weekend

通常指周六和周日放假休息的时间,包括大人工作休息以及小孩学习休息。 1994年3月5日，是我国新工时制实行的第一个休息日，人们感到了一个不小的“解放”。

炒鱿鱼 get fired

“炒鱿鱼”这个词，是形容工作被辞退、解雇、甚至开除。在旧社会，被解雇的人一听到老板的通知，便只好卷起铺盖走人。后来人们从“炒鱿鱼”这道菜中发现，在烹炒鱿鱼时，每块鱼片都由平直的形状，慢慢卷起来成为圆筒状，这和卷起的铺盖外形差不多，而且卷的过程也很相像。人们由此产生了联想，就用“炒鱿鱼”代替“卷铺盖”，也就是表示被解雇和开除的意思。

博客 blog

“博客”一词是从英文单词Blog翻译而来。Blog是Weblog的简称，而Weblog则是由Web和Log两个英文单词组合而成。Weblog就是在网络上发布和阅读的流水记录，通常称为“网络日志”，简称为“网志”。

炒股 to speculate in the stock market

炒股就是买卖股票，靠做股票生意而牟利。“股市有风险，入市需谨慎”这句话是每个投资者都应该牢记在心的。

改革开放30年经典热词英语翻译－经济类

“三农”问题 Issues of agriculture, farmer and rural area

A short term for the issues related with agriculture, farmer and rural area. Formally raised by researchers on rural issues in the late 1980s, the issues were regarded as of high importance for the country’s economic and social development.

After fixing numerous policies to nurture agriculture, improve the life of farmers and speed the development of rural areas, the central government pointed out during the 2004 Central Economic Work Conference that these issues were “the most important of all the important works for the Party”. And more policies and measures are put in place in this regard.

两限房 House of “Two Limits”

Houses with lower prices and limited areas specially for families with low or middle income. In May 2006, the State Council required local governments to boost the supply of houses at low and middle prices to ensure the families of modest income could afford them. Specific guidelines about the qualifications and the details of the property transfer are set by local governments.

Houses of “two limits” are usually sold at a price 30 percent lower than the market price. In Beijing, families with an annul income under 88,000 yuan and a per capita dwelling space under 15 square meters are eligible to apply for houses of “two limits”.

农村税费改革 Rural Tax and Fee Reform

A reform in rural areas to ease the financial burden on farmers.

In 2000, a pilot program was started in Anhui province under which the agricultural tax rate was cut, other agriculture-related taxes and fees were either written off or merged. The central government subsidized local governments through transfer payments to balance their reduced revenue.

The pilot program was soon extended to other regions and the agricultural tax was totally done away with in 2006 throughout the country, marking the completion of this reform. Now farmers do not pay any tax except those growing tobacco.

“三沿”地区开放 Opening-up of seashore, river shore and border areas

A policy to open the areas along the coast, along the major inland rivers and those on the country’s borderline to foreign investors and stimulate the economic development with their geographic advantages. Since China launched the opening-up policy in the late 1970s, it chose four cities in southeast coastal areas and established special economic zones as a pilot program. In 1984, 14 port cities along the coastline were opened to foreign investors and businesses. The Yangtze River Delta and the Pearl River Delta were opened up in 1985. And four cities on the country’s northern borderline followed suit in 1990.

Based on the experiences from the special economic zones, this policy is an important step in spreading the opening-up strategy across the country.

农村土地承包制 Rural Land Contract System

A fundamental economic system in rural areas guaranteeing farmers’ rights to land owned by the collectives and the State by signing long-term contracts. Since the household responsibility system became an accepted form of agricultural land tenure in the early 1980s, the State formally approved farmers’ rights to rural land in 1986 by stipulating all farmers have the right to undertake rural land contracts based up 
on families in the General Principles of the Civil Law. In 2002, a specific law governing rural land contract granted farmers inheritance rights to their land and the ability to exchange land with one another, to sub-rent, to pool land and to mortgage it for credit. The land contract has an extendable term of at least 30 years and cannot be suspended without bilateral agreements.

抓大放小 Restructuring Major Enterprises and Relaxing Control over Small Ones

A strategy for reforming the State-owned enterprises stressing that the major enterprises in key sectors should be supported to gain further development while the smaller ones should compete in the market.

Initiated in the mid-1990s when the country tried to step up the efficiency of State-owned enterprises as a whole, the strategy was formally accepted as a principle for reforming the public-owned economy in 1997. Big public enterprises were encouraged to develop into groups or establish partnership with each other. Smaller public enterprises were reformed flexibly through market-oriented means, like becoming shareholding businesses, acquisition and merger and contracting managing rights to individuals.

经济适用房 Economical Housing

Housing sold at low prices to low-income earners to get them affordable shelters. Starting in 1998, the central government decided to offer favorable policies to housing developers so that they could build apartments of specified sizes and prices. Families with living floor space or income under given standards could apply for purchasing the apartments at prices much lower than the market prices. Eligibility standards for purchasing economical housing are set by provincial authorities according to local situations. Economical housing is subject to special clauses for trading in market, which discourage profiting from the property. It is an integrated part of the State efforts to shelter groups with limited financial resources.

三资企业 Foreign-funded enterprises

A term for three kinds of foreign-invested enterprises or ventures in China, which include Sino-foreign joint ventures, cooperative businesses, and exclusively foreign-owned enterprises. As an economic entity responsible for their own profits and losses, these enterprises are set up within China after being approved by relevant State departments and are run in accordance with China’s laws. Since reform and opening-up in 1978, these enterprises have played an important role in helping the country absorb foreign investment, introduce foreign advanced technologies and management know-how, as well as expand export.

铁饭碗 Iron Rice Bowl

A guaranteed job many Chinese people dreamed of getting during the era of the planned economy. People didn’t need to worry about their future once they gained a post usually in government departments and State or collectively run factories. But since the reform and opening-up www.24en.com was adopted in 1978 and the new labor system and the market economy came into being, such a stable employment model, which hindered people’s creativity to a large extent, has gradually been shattered. The establishment of the new and competitive employment model has contributed a lot to the country’s productivity and its rapid development.

菜篮子工程Non-Staple Food Project

In 1988, the Ministry of Agriculture started this project against a background that the country could not produce enough non-grain food with rich diversity. Under the project, agricultural bases were established to boost production and supply, and special markets for agricultural produce were set up. By the mid 1990s, food diversity was improved and a reserve network was established around the country. The project then shifted its focus on food safety and branding.

西部大开发Western Development

A drive launched by the central government in 2000 to promote social and economic progress in the central and western parts of the country, which are relatively less developed than the rest of the country.

By injecting financial aid and offering favorable policies, the State wants to speed up infrastructure construction, industrialization and poverty eradication in these areas. Officials, technicians and other qualified talents have been dispatched from the eastern regions to lend a hand.

The campaign covers nearly 400 million people living in Chongqing Municipality, Sichuan Province, Guizhou Province, Yunnan Province, the Tibet Autonomous Region, Shaanxi Province, Gansu Province, Qinghai Province, the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

又好又快发展Sound and Fast Development

A goal set for China’s economic progress that underscores both quality and speed. Officials attending the Central Economic Work Conference in 2005 made “fast and sound” development one of the country’s goals. It was revised to “sound and fast” development at the following year’s conference. In his report to the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2007, General Secretary Hu Jintao said the economy must advance in a comprehensive, balanced and sustainable manner by putting “sound” before “fast”. The change demonstrates the central government’s determination to bring about a shift in the country’s economic growth mode.

小康社会 A moderately prosperous society

A blueprint for the development of the society featuring comprehensive improvement in the economy, democracy, science and technology, social culture, and people’s lives.

In the 1980s, late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping set a target for the country to realize “a moderately prosperous society” by 2000, which was mostly about growth in the economic indicators.

Jiang Zemin, the former president, officially widened the concept to cover more social aspects in his report to the 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2002. Besides quadrupling the country’s GDP of 2000 by 2020, other targets included implementing the rule of law, fostering market economy, ensuring universal coverage of social security, and helping most people live a comfortable life.

President Hu Jintao in his report to the 17th CPC National Congress added new elements to the blueprint by stressing transformation of the economic development pattern, and sustainability of growth.

循环经济Circular Economy

A model for economic growth which aims at environmental protection

Under this model, resources are used with higher efficiency and reused and recycled when possible, so that pollution is minimized and waste is reduced as much as possible. It also involves the transformation of industrial organization and allocation, urban infrastructure, environmental protection, technological paradigms, and social welfare distribution.

An important part in China’s effort toward sustainable development, circular economy was officially raised as a target for China’s future growth in 2004. The State Council issued a file about promoting it in July 2005, making it a key guideline in the 11th Five-Year Plan and to achieve the specific goals in energy conservation and pollution reduction before 2020.

社会主义新农村 Socialist New Countryside

The concept first appeared in early 2005 in a major policy paper on rural development. The CPC-proposed a blueprint for the country’s 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-10)www.rr365.com. It portrays the “new countryside” as featuring “advanced production, a well-to-do life, civilized folkways, a neat look, and democratic management”. As part of the campaign, the central authorities are reorienting public finance to support rural development programs.

新型工业化道路 New Path of Industrialization

A strategy for industrialization emphasizing reliance on technological progress, improved efficiency in resource and energy utilization, and sustainable economic growth.

First raised by Jiang Zemin, former president, in his report to the 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2002, the blueprint aims at a balance between industrial development and environmental protection, with the focus on promoting industrial advancement through developing science and technology and giving full play to China’s comparative advantage in labor resources.

Endorsed in the report of Hu Jintao to the 17th National Congress of CPC in 2007, this strategy has become a fundamental guideline for the country’s economic progress.

南水北调工程 South-to-North Water Diversion Project

A major project to channel water from the Yangtze River in the southern part of the country to the north through three canals.

The project, considered by the authorities since the 1950s, was formally launched in 2002. Three 1,300-km canals will be constructed in the western, central and eastern parts of China so that water from the upper, middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River will be brought to the north, where water supply is not adequate.

With an estimated investment of 486 billion yuan, the three canals will be capable of transferring 44.8 billion cu m of water by 2050.

分税制 Tax Sharing System

A policy arrangement between the central government and local governments on collecting and spending of different taxes.

Popular in many market economies, the 
system divides all tax items into State taxes, local taxes and several shared taxes. The central and local governments collect taxes and manage the public affairs with the money as agreed. Transfer payments from the central government to localities are also part of the system to narrow regional differences. China started a reform in 1994 to introduce this system and established State taxation administrations as well as local taxation administrations to implement the system.

三来一补企业 Enterprises of Three Import and Compensation Trade

A shorthand for enterprises that process imported raw materials, manufacture products according to imported samples, assemble imported parts and those that repay loans for imported equipments and technologies with products. Emerging in the coastal area in the late 1980s, all these enterprises export their products abroad. By taking the processing fee, they become the major force in the processing trade, which forms a big proportion in the country’s total trade volume. They played a key role in fostering the development of China’s trade.

利改税 Tax for Profits

A reform measure requiring State-owned enterprises (SOEs) to pay taxes instead of submitting their profits to the administration.

The State Council introduced this reform in 1983 by levying a 55 percent income tax on medium and large SOEs rather than taking their profits. Other measures soon followed, creating a complete tax scheme to encourage competition.

This was one of the earliest steps taken to reform SOEs and establish a national tax system, showing that a mature market might be an effective way to improve industrial efficiency.

兴边富民行动 Program to Revitalize Border Areas and Enrich Residents’ Lives

A State campaign to boost social and economic development of regions along the land borderline. In 1998, the State Ethnic Affairs Commission started the program to improve the lives of the ethnic people who comprise 48 percent of the 21 million residents in 135 counties along the borderline.www.rr365.com

Favorable policies and direct financial investment were granted to improve the infrastructure and public facilities, develop education, promote literacy, boost trade and nurture industries. By 2005, the government spent at least 15 billion yuan in the border areas through the program.

绿色信贷 Green Credit

A policy to encourage the businesses to observe the rules and regulations about environmental protection with the leverage of bank credits. Initiated by the former State Environmental Protection Administration, currently the Ministry of Environmental Protection, and China Banking Regulatory Commission in July, 2007, the policy requires the commercial banks, when reviewing the application for bank credits, to consider whether the applying businesses have followed the environmental rules. The violators have less chance to get the approval, while the green businesses would get favorable treatment in this regard. The policy marks a start for the central government to step up the country’s environmental protection through market-oriented means.

廉租房 Low-rent Housing

State-owned houses are rented out at modest prices to low-income families who do not have proper housing in the cities.

In 1998, the ce
ntral government required all cities to offer low-rent housing to families with the lowest income before the end of 2006 and the deadline was later changed to the end of 2007.

In each city, the standards for a family’s per capita living floor space and minimum income are set by the local governments. Families whose living space and income are both below the standards are given low-rent houses. If the governments do not have enough houses, they offer financial subsidy to these families. The rent is set at about 5 percent of the family’s income.

家庭联产承包责任制 Household Contract Responsibility System

The system allows farming households to manage agricultural production on their own initiatives while the farmland remains in the ownership of the rural collective. Started in Xiaogang village in Anhui province in the late 1970s, the system enables farmers to use land through long-term contracts and keep the produce after paying taxes. It raised productivity and increased agricultural output, both of which were preconditions for nurturing the economic takeoff, and comprehensive industrialization and urbanization. The start of this system is widely accepted as a milestone in the economic opening up.

假日经济 Holiday Economy

A popular term to describe the huge public spending during holidays which contributes significantly to economic growth and structural upgrade.

In 1999, the State Council decided to extend the public holidays for May Day, National Day and Spring Festival to one week. The holidays became good opportunities for people to travel, shop and generally enjoy themselves.

Since then, the massive consumption has boosted tourism, retail, transportation, cinemas, exhibitions, sports and other related industries, thereby benefiting the people and the country.

财产性收入 Property Income

Earnings from bank deposits, securities, houses and other personal or family properties.

In his report to the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2007, General Secretary Hu Jintao stressed, for the first time, that conditions should be created to enable citizens to earn income from their property. Hu’s remarks sent the message that China would advance the development of its capital market, enabling investors to share the economic boom.www.rr365.com

“三步走”战略 Three-Step Development Strategy

A plan for boosting the economy by hitting three major targets over three different time spans.

Originally floated by the central government in 1987, the first step was to double the GDP of 1980 by 1990 and to ensure that most of the population had enough food and clothing. The second step was to double the annual GDP of 1990 by 2000 and ensure that most people were living prosperous lives. The third step is to quadruple the GDP of 2000 by 2020, ensure that most people are living well-off lives and have a fully operational market economy in China.

The first two steps have been taken 
. At the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in December 2007, the third step was revised to quadrupling the per capita GDP of 2000 by 2020.

金税工程 Golden Tax Project

The establishment of a uniform computer network across the country through which taxation authorities at all levels can better serve taxpayers.

Started in 1994, the project aims to improve the transparency and efficiency of tax collection and supervision. By turning invoices, one of the most important taxation documents, into electronic data, it facilitates both taxpayers and taxation authorities.

The project’s first two stages were completed in 2000 and 2003 respectively. The third stage, begun last year, will cover almost all matters of taxation.

改革开放30年经典热词英语翻译－时政类

一国两制 One Country, Two Systems

An idea formally put forward by Deng Xiaoping, then leader of China, in the early 1980s to reunify the country.

Deng suggested that there should only be one China, but the regions of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, once reunified with the rest of the country, could retain their original economic and political systems while other parts keep pursuing socialism.

This arrangement was observed when the country resumed sovereignty over Hong Kong and Macao in 1997 and 1999 respectively. The two cities are now the special administrative regions of the country with a high degree of autonomy.

The central government has also proposed the idea to the Taiwan authorities to speed up the reunification of China.

三通Three Direct Links

Shorthand for direct links in post, transportation and trade between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan. Direct communication across the Taiwan Straits in most social and economical terms virtually stopped after the Kuomintang forces retreated to Taiwan in 1949. And the contacts, if any, were routed through intermediate places, mainly Hong Kong and Macao.

In the early 1980s, the central government appealed to the Taiwan authorities for opening “three links”. The latter has consistently refused, but had to make concessions in the face of growing cross-Straits exchanges. “Three mini-links” was opened in 2001 between Fujian Province and the islands of Jinmen and Matsu in Taiwan. Cross-Straits charter flights were approved in 2003 for the Lunar New Year and the flights were arranged in 2006 for three other traditional Chinese festivals.

和谐社会A Harmonious society

A blueprint for social development featuring decent living standards for the majority of people, a tolerant society and peaceful coexistence between the human society and nature.

The concept was first floated in 2004 and then amplified in October 2006, when the Party set specific goals for building a harmonious society by 2020. The goals range from fostering the rule of law, substantial protection for private property, developed public services to foster creativity and more efficient use of resources.

Stemming from ancient Chinese ideas about harmony, the blueprint underlines the need to fine tune relations between different social entities. The idea also appears in the country’s foreign policy, particularly its call for “a harmonious world”.

大部制 Super-Ministry System

A very recent idea to restructure central government offices so that ministries, commissions and departments of the State Council with similar or overlapping functions can be merged into super-ministries. This scheme has been introduced in a reshuffle of the State Council approved by the National People’s Congress in March to improve efficiency, reduce the cost of policy making and its execution, and straighten out problematic chains of command. Five super-ministries respectively overseeing industry, transport, housing and construction, human resources and the environment were established. www.24en.com

Based upon the current changes, the central government vowed to undertake further administrative reforms in the future.

三个代表 Three Represents

Shorthand for the call that the Communist Party of China (CPC) provides insight and leadership for economic and cultural progress, and commit itself to public good.
Former CPC General Secretary Jiang Zemin, who was credited with its creation, literally admonished his comrades to “represent the development trend of China’s most advanced productive forces, the orientation of China’s most advanced culture, and the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the Chinese people”.

The theory is the result of deliberations of the CPC’s third-generation leaders on legitimacy and Party-building. At the 16th CPC National Congress in 2002, it was formally written into the Party Constitution.

科学发展观 Scientific Outlook on Development

A concept initiated by the 16th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 2003. It stresses a comprehensive, balanced and sustainable development that is people-orientated. With priority on addressing the needs and protecting the rights of the people, the country will not only grow in economic terms, but also in political and cultural terms. The growth aims to bridge regional disparity, the urban-rural gap, protect resources, and the environment.

This concept is the core of policies by the CPC’s current leaders headed by Hu Jintao. At the 17th CPC National Congress in October 2007, it was formally included in the Party Constitution.

双拥 Double Support

Shorthand for the administrative effort to enhance ties between the army and civilian communities. In essence, the expression means local governments and common people should support the army and give preferential treatment to the families of service people, particularly those killed while on the job, while soldiers should support the government and love the people.

In connection with this effort, schools offer training programs to soldiers, while common people provide technological consultations and donate books and the use of other facilities to the army. In return, the army helps deal with natural disasters, major construction projects and other difficulties.

保持党员先进性教育Campaign to Educate Party Members to Preserve Their Vanguard Nature

A campaign by the Communist Party of China to educate its members to stick firmly to the principles of the Party and serve the people so as to keep the Party’s vigor and leading role in the country.

和平共处五项原则 Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence

A set of norms governing relations between nations first raised by China. Put forward by then Premier Zhou Enlai in 1953 during negotiations between China and India, the five principles were originally meant to maintain friendly ties. Under the principles, both sides agreed to respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of each other, not to invade the soil of each other, do not interfere in each other’s internal affairs, the ties should be equally based, and mutually beneficial for the two countries to coexist peacefully.

The five principles have been widely accepted in bilateral relations between China and many other countries. One of the corner stones of China’s foreign policy, it has also become an important part in the law on international relationships.

社会主义荣辱观 Socialist Concept of Honor and Disgrace

An idea put forward to instill a value of moral standards among the pub
lic, especially youngsters, in line with Chinese traditional values and modern virtues.

The concept underscores the value of patriotism, consciousness of serving the people, belief in science, hard work, solidarity, honesty, observation of the law and plain living. It condemns the opposite of these virtues as disgraces.

It was raised by Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Communist Party of China, in March 2006. And the concept is also known as “eight honors and eight disgraces”.www.rr365.com

“三讲” 教育  “Three Emphasis” Education

A campaign by the Communist Party of China (CPC) to remind Party officials to pay more attention to theoretical study, improve their political awareness, and be honest and upright.

Jiang Zemin, then CPC general secretary, pointed out in November 1995 that Party officials should improve their self-education in the three aspects. And a national campaign was soon started among all Party officials. A conference was held in December 2000 which hailed the campaign as a success. CPC General Secretary Hu Jintao said the move had boosted the individual capabilities of Party members and the internal governance of the Party as well.

党务公开 Open Management of Party Affairs

An institutional arrangement for branches of the Communist Party of China (CPC) at all levels to improve transparency.

According to this principle, Party branches are obliged to make their processes for making decisions and carrying out activities as well as their achievements known to other Party members according to the characteristics of the issues. And if the issues are closely related to the interests of the public, the Party branches should also publicize their work to all. Formally included in the CPC Constitution in 2007, this principle was part of the CPC’s effort to promote democracy within the Party, protect the democratic rights of Party members and enhance the internal supervision of the Party.

爱国统一战线 Patriotic United Front

A political union of all socialist laborers, patriots supporting socialism and patriots supporting the unification of China.

First raised as the “ethnic united front” in 1935 by the Communist Party of China (CPC), it was meant to join the powers of all social groups regardless of their class, wealth and political positions to fight against the Japanese aggressors during the World War II.

Despite changes in the specific concept and target of the union under different historical conditions, this union has remained a key strategy of the CPC to mobilize all social sectors to achieve the contemporary goals it sets for the country.

Part of institutional arrangements for the country to consolidate and develop the people’s dictatorship, this union was embodied in the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, whose members include people from the CPC, the eight non-communist parties and other social groups.

南巡讲话 South Tour Speeches

A series of speeches delivered by the late leader Deng Xiaoping, the chief architect of China’s reform and opening-up, during his inspection tour of southern Wuchang, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, and Shanghai in early 1992. Targeted at domestic misgivings and confusion among some scholars and even officials about the country’s reform and development, Deng put forward some new viewpoints on a series of crucial issues, such as the core of Marxism, the essence of socialism, market economy, and how to emancipate and develop productivity. The significant speeches outlined an unequivocal path for the country’s further re

实事求是 To Seek Truth from Facts

A term stressing that facts or practices are the single standard by which to judge whether a theory is valid. It is one of the core ideas of the Communist Party of China about socialism with Chinese characteristics. Repeatedly stressed by different generations of leaders, this term was formally raised by Deng Xiaoping in the late 1970s. It was to mobilize the country to look for means of development in economic and political terms feasible and suitable for China rather than those based on political ideology. It is still part of the principles for the CPC stipulated in its constitution. It is also a popular term extensively used in different aspects of social life.www.rr365.com

与时俱进 Keep Up With the Times

An expression that has become popular in official documents and speeches, accentuating the need on the part of the Communist Party of China (CPC) to keep pace with the rapid changes that have taken place in society.

First appearing in former President Jiang Zemin’s speech commemorating the 80th anniversary of the CPC’s founding on July 1, 2001, the expression was included as part of the theme for the Party’s 16th National Congress in 2002. Under the principle, the Party vowed to adapt its ideology and work in tune with the latest developments in and out of the country to better serve the people.

信访 Letters and Visits

A special term referring to actions of citizens or institutions to give information, make comments or suggestions and lodge complaints to the special administrative department in charge of receiving them through various forms. Letters and visits from the grassroots were lauded by State leaders as having remarkable significance in enhancing ties between the government and the people. Individuals and institutions could write letters or pay visits to the relevant department when they have information about or want to complain about the performance of the administrative organization, enterprise or institutions supplying public services as well as about their staff members. Departments receiving letters and visits are required to process the information and complaints according to a State Council regulation first adopted in 1995 and revised in 2005.

星火计划 Spark Program

A State effort to popularize modern technologies in the rural areas to stimulate rural development and raise the farmers’ income. Started in 1986, the program offers support to technological projects easily applied and developed in rural areas, encourages factories and small businesses to develop these projects with incentives in several aspects, holds training courses in rural businesses and promotes agricultural technology among farmers. By 2006, local governments invested 14.3 billion yuan while the central government contributed 363.1 billion yuan to the program.

以人为本 Put People First

An idea of the Communist Party of China (CPC) stresses that boosting the people’s interests and development are the purpose of the Party as well as the State. Formally raised during the third plenary session of the 16th CPC Central Committee in October 2003, this idea was tagged as the core of the scientific outlook of development by general secretary Hu Jintao in his report on the 17th CPC National Congress in 2007. As a ruling party, the CPC vowed to expand the people’s interests, respect the people’s position in political life, give play to their creativity and let them share the benefits of development.

Flights between designated airports on the Chinese mainland and Taiwan during major Chinese festivals. Regular flights have been cut off between the two sides since 1949. In 2003, the Taiwan authorities allowed Taiwan airlines to fly Taiwan people living in the mainland with chartered flights from Shanghai for the Spring Festival. As a trust-building step, chartered flights were added in 2006 during three other holidays: Tomb Sweeping Day, the Dragon Boat Festival and the Mid Autumn Festival. Airlines from both sides were allowed and the flights stopped at four mainland cities and two Taiwan cities. Negotiations are underway to arrange the chartered flights weekly or even more frequently.

基层群众自治制度 System of Community Level Self-Governance

A grassroots democratic system in which rural and urban citizens manage the public affairs in their organizations and communities. Composed of the villagers’ committee in rural areas, neighborhood committee in urban areas and the conference of workers and staff in businesses, the system enables the members to carry out democratic elections, decision-making and supervision. An important part in the country’s political democracy, it was stressed as a fundamental system to adhere to in improving the socialist political system by General Secretary Hu Jintao in his report to the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2007.

多党合作和政治协商制度 System of Multi-party Cooperation and Political Consultation

A basic political system in China under which the Communist Party of China (CPC), as the party in power, consults all non-Communist parties and representatives of non-party personages to reach a common understanding before taking major decisions. Formally established in 1949 when New China was founded, the system is practiced through various forms. The two major forms are the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, of which non-Communist party members and non-party personages are members, and the consultative conferences attended by non-Communist parties and unaffiliated democrats who are invited by the CPC bodies at different levels.www.rr365.com

依法治国 Rule of Law

A fundamental principle of governance that stresses that the country should be administered in accordance with the law.

It was formally raised as a fundamental principle in 1997 when former general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Jiang Zemin delivered his report to the 15th National Congress of the CPC. He stressed the principle should be fully observed as “socialist democracy is gradually institutionalized and codified so that such institutions and laws will not change with changes in the leadership or changes in the views or focus of attention of any leader.”

This principle was reiterated by General Secretary Hu Jintao during the 17th CPC National Congress in 2007.

民主集中制 Democratic Centralism

A principle of organization in the Communist Party of China (CPC) as well as in the country’s political life, stressing both democracy and centralism. Enunciated originally by Vladimir Lenin, the principle stresses that the Party members have the freedom to discuss and debate matters of policy and direction, but must support the final decision once it is reached through a majority vote. Individuals must obey the Party or the organization, the minority must obey the majority, the lower levels of organizations must obey the ones at the upper level. It is one of the most important principles adopted by the CPC at its early stage and is upheld till now.

政企分开 Separate Government Functions from Enterprise Management

An effort to draw a clear line between the roles of the administration and of the businesses. Under the planned economy, the extensive involvement of the government in economic operations resulted in the government making commercial decisions for the businesses and the State-owned enterprises offering public services to their employees, ranging from medical care to education. Since the country introduced the economic reform, it became a major mission for the government to separate the functions of the administration from those of the enterprises in order to improve the efficiency of both.

农转非 Change From Rural Residents to Urban Residents

A change in the residential status of people under the household registration system.

Since the household registration system was established in the 1950s, residents were put into two categories, urban and rural, according to where they lived. While urban residents enjoyed relatively better social security as industrial workers, rural residents had to depend on farming for a living. www.24en.com

Rural people could obtain urban registration under special circumstances, like entering universities or becoming army officers. This was difficult to achieve, but viewed as a quick way to a better life, especially in the 1970s and 1980s.

As the country began to reform, so did the household registration system. The supply of commodities became more abundant on the market, and the difference in welfare of urban and rural residents was narrowed.

863计划 863 Program

A government program to stimulate the development of advanced technologies. The figure “863″ comes from the fact that it was created in the third month of 1986.

Approved by former leader Deng Xiaoping, the program aims at lifting China’s own efforts in scientific and technology research as well as in commercializing the benefits of the research. The program’s specific plan gives preference to research in biology, information technology, astronautics, laser technology, automation, energy technology, and new materials.

A milestone in the history of scientific progress, the program has boosted China’s independent research capability, laying a solid foundation for economic and social growth.