维护社会稳定
Maintain social stability
Littéralement: Safeguard society stability
Use this phrase to discuss public order or to humorously stop a group argument.
En 15 secondes
- Keeping the peace and preventing social chaos.
- A formal government buzzword for public order.
- Used seriously in news or jokingly in drama.
Signification
This phrase refers to the act of keeping society peaceful, orderly, and free from chaos or unrest. It is a common term used to describe the collective effort to ensure everyone follows the rules for the sake of public safety.
Exemples clés
3 sur 6A government official giving a speech
维护社会稳定是我们的首要任务。
Maintaining social stability is our primary task.
A news anchor reporting on a new law
这项新法律旨在维护社会稳定。
This new law aims to maintain social stability.
A community leader talking to neighbors
大家都要守法，共同维护社会稳定。
Everyone should obey the law and together maintain social stability.
Contexte culturel
This phrase is a cornerstone of modern Chinese political discourse, emphasizing that social order is the prerequisite for economic prosperity. It gained massive popularity in the 1990s and 2000s as a guiding principle for local governments. In many Chinese cities, you can still find it on public service posters or neighborhood bulletin boards.
The 'Weiwen' Shorthand
If you want to sound like a local policy expert, use `维稳` (wéiwěn). It's the short version everyone uses in daily conversation about news or work.
Don't Fix the Table
Never use `维护` for physical objects like a broken chair or a shaky table. Use `修理` (repair) or `加固` (reinforce) instead.
En 15 secondes
- Keeping the peace and preventing social chaos.
- A formal government buzzword for public order.
- Used seriously in news or jokingly in drama.
What It Means
Imagine a giant puzzle where every piece needs to stay exactly in place. 维护社会稳定 is the glue that holds those pieces together. It means keeping society peaceful and orderly. It is about preventing riots, major crimes, or social disruptions. You will hear this in news reports constantly. It is not just about stopping trouble. It is about creating a predictable environment where people feel safe. Think of it as the ultimate goal of public policy in China.
How To Use It
This is a heavy, serious phrase. You use it as a verb-object structure. You 维护 (maintain) the 社会稳定 (social stability). Usually, it follows words like "responsibility" or "priority." For example, "Our goal is to 维护社会稳定." It sounds very official. If you use it with friends, you are probably being a bit dramatic. It is like saying "I am doing this for the sake of national security" when you are just cleaning your room.
When To Use It
Use it when discussing politics, law, or community issues. It is perfect for a formal essay or a business presentation on social responsibility. If you are a community leader, this is your go-to phrase. You can also use it jokingly in a group chat. If your friends are arguing about which movie to watch, step in. Say you are trying to 维护社会稳定 to stop the fight. It is a great way to sound like a mock-official.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use it for small, personal things. If your kitchen table is wobbly, do not use this phrase. That is just 稳固. Also, do not use it for your own emotions. If you are feeling calm, use 情绪稳定 instead. It specifically requires the "social" (社会) context. Using it for your Wi-Fi connection will get you some very confused looks! It is too big of a phrase for a slow internet speed.
Cultural Background
In China, stability is seen as the foundation for everything else. Without stability, there is no economic growth. This phrase became a core pillar of governance over the last few decades. You will see it on red banners in many neighborhoods. It reflects a cultural preference for collective order over individual disruption. It is a deep-rooted idea that links back to ancient Confucian ideals of a balanced, harmonious society.
Common Variations
The most famous variation is the shorthand 维稳 (wéiwěn). This is used as a noun or a verb. You will hear about 维稳工作 (stability maintenance work). Another one is 保持稳定 (bǎochí wěndìng), which is slightly less formal. You might also hear 长治久安 (chángzhì jiǔ'ān). That is a fancy idiom for long-term peace and stability. It sounds very poetic and historical.
Notes d'usage
This is a high-register, formal expression. It is most at home in news, speeches, and formal writing, but it can be used ironically in casual speech to mock-authoritatively settle a dispute.
The 'Weiwen' Shorthand
If you want to sound like a local policy expert, use `维稳` (wéiwěn). It's the short version everyone uses in daily conversation about news or work.
Don't Fix the Table
Never use `维护` for physical objects like a broken chair or a shaky table. Use `修理` (repair) or `加固` (reinforce) instead.
The Stability Mantra
In China, 'Stability overrides everything' (稳定压倒一切) is a famous slogan. This phrase is the polite, standard way to express that sentiment.
Exemples
6维护社会稳定是我们的首要任务。
Maintaining social stability is our primary task.
This is the most common, textbook way to use the phrase.
这项新法律旨在维护社会稳定。
This new law aims to maintain social stability.
Used to explain the purpose of government actions.
大家都要守法，共同维护社会稳定。
Everyone should obey the law and together maintain social stability.
Encouraging collective responsibility in a neighborhood.
别吵了，我这是在维护社会稳定！
Stop arguing, I'm trying to maintain social stability here!
Using the formal phrase ironically to stop a petty argument.
灾后，维护社会稳定至关重要。
After the disaster, maintaining social stability is crucial.
Focusing on the need for order during a crisis.
企业也应该为维护社会稳定做出贡献。
Enterprises should also contribute to maintaining social stability.
Used in the context of corporate social responsibility.
Teste-toi
Choose the correct verb to complete the phrase about social order.
每个公民都有责任___社会稳定。
`维护` is the standard verb paired with `社会稳定`. `修理` means to repair objects, and `保护` means to protect from harm, but it's not the standard collocation here.
Complete the sentence using the common shorthand for this phrase.
基层政府非常重视___工作。
`维稳` is the ubiquitous shorthand for `维护社会稳定` in administrative and news contexts.
🎉 Score : /2
Aides visuelles
Formality Spectrum of 'Maintain Stability'
Used jokingly with friends during a minor disagreement.
别抢零食，维护社会稳定！
Discussing community rules or neighborhood watch.
邻里和谐有助于维护社会稳定。
Standard use in news, policy, and official speeches.
维护社会稳定是发展的基石。
Where You'll See This Phrase
Evening News
Reporting on police work.
Red Banners
Street slogans in residential areas.
School Textbooks
Lessons on civic duty.
Legal Documents
Preamble of a security law.
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsIt means to maintain, safeguard, or uphold. It is often used for abstract things like rights 维护权利 or stability 维护稳定.
Not really. If you say you want to 维护社会稳定 in your house, it sounds like you are the president of your family. It's very formal!
In official media, it is strictly positive. However, in some social discussions, it can be seen as a bit heavy-handed depending on the context.
维护 implies active protection and effort, while 保持 simply means to keep something as it is. 维护 is much stronger.
Yes, especially if you are talking about Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). It shows the company cares about the community.
It is understood, but much more frequently used in Mainland China's political and social discourse.
Use 网络很稳定 (Wǎngluò hěn wěndìng). Do not use 维护 here unless you are the technician fixing the server!
Yes! Using such a grand, formal phrase for a small argument among friends is a common form of Chinese humor.
The opposite would be 破坏社会秩序 (pòhuài shèhuì zhìxù), which means to disrupt social order.
Yes, because while the words are simple, understanding the social and political weight of the phrase requires higher-level cultural knowledge.
Expressions liées
安定团结
Stability and unity
长治久安
Long-term peace and order
和谐社会
Harmonious society
维稳
Stability maintenance (shorthand)
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