Chinese word

官僚主义

Pronunciation

Pinyinguān liáo zhǔ yì

Meaning

  • nounbureaucratism

Example

我们要反对官僚主义。wǒ men yào fǎn duì guān liáo zhǔ yì

We must oppose bureaucratism.

Illustration for 官僚主义 (bureaucratism)

More examples

要根除官僚主义，必须改进制度。yào gēn chú guān liáo zhǔ yì bì xū gǎi jìn zhì dù

To eradicate bureaucratism, we must improve the system.

Core concept

Rules and hierarchy take center stage, while practical results and clear responsibility are pushed aside.

Common phrases

  • 反对官僚主义fǎn duì guān liáo zhǔ yì

    oppose bureaucratism

  • 克服官僚主义kè fú guān liáo zhǔ yì

    overcome bureaucratism

  • 根除官僚主义gēn chú guān liáo zhǔ yì

    eradicate bureaucratism

Similar words

形式主义xíng shì zhǔ yì: A tendency to value formal procedures while ignoring real content and useful results.
官僚制guān liáo zhì: A system of organization managed through officials, rules, and administrative procedures.
官僚guān liáo: An official who carries out administrative duties in a government or public institution.
官僚作风guān liáo zuò fēng: An attitude at work that favors formal procedures and rank over hands-on work and speed.

Definition in Chinese

指在行政或组织运作中以程序和等级为重、忽视实际效果和责任落实的行为或倾向。zhǐ zài xíng zhèng huò zǔ zhī yùn zuò zhōng yǐ chéng xù hé děng jí wèi zhòng hū shì shí jì xiào guǒ hé zé rèn luò shí de xíng wéi huò qīng xiàng

Word origin

官僚 (guānliáo, "officialdom") + 主义 (zhǔyì, "doctrine or tendency") forms a noun for an official style that puts procedures and rank before practical results and responsibility.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, this word is usually a criticism, not a neutral label for someone who works in an office, so its tone matters when describing an organization.

Other meanings

  • bureaucracynoun
  • formalismnoun

Opposites

  • 实干shí gànhands-on worknoun
  • 务实作风wù shí zuò fēngpragmatic approachnoun

Related words

  • 官僚guān liáobureaucratnoun
  • 官僚化guān liáo huàbureaucratizeverb
  • 官僚主义者guān liáo zhǔ yì zhěbureaucratistnoun

Word lists with this word