Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
in a little house in Ruijin, Jiangxi Province. Until 1938, it was called the Red China
News Agency 红色中华通讯社, but it has always had the same goal: to collect
information for the Party and act as its voice. Despite its propagandist
mission, Xinhua has produced some excellent journalists, such as Yang Jisheng 杨继
绳, author of Tombstone, an excruciatingly detailed record of the Great Famine of
1958-1962.
In July, a WeChat post (in Chinese) appeared on the Media Tea Party [传媒茶话
会 cháhuàhuì] social media account titled:
Media people must read: Banned and sensitive words in Xinhua News
Agency reports [latest edition]
The content of the post is Xinhua’s new, updated version of its style guide for editors
and journalists. Xinhua has not published the style guide itself, but enough Chinese
staffers at state media have circulated the post for us to be reasonably confident it
comes from an official source.
The rules range from guidance on the proper way to talk about politically sensitive
subjects — “Never indicate that Hong Kong and Macau are countries in any texts,
maps, or diagrams” — to prohibitions on slang and vulgar language — “never publish
the phrase green tea bitch.”
The rules include relics from media more than 10 years old, such as references to the
singer Li Yuchun 李宇春, whose peak of popularity was around 2006. A political relic
of the Hu Jintao era is dismissed: The style guide tells editors not to use the
phrase Eight Honors and Eight Disgraces [践行八荣八耻], a slogan from the Hu
Jintao era.
The updated rules include a rather comprehensive glossary of vulgar language and
rude online slang, some of recent popularity, some dating back to a “hoax dictionary
of legendary beasts” originally published in 2009.
Below is a full translation of Xinhua’s revised style guide (the original Chinese text
is here).
Politics and society
For the physically disabled, never use offensive terms such as one-eyed
person [独眼龙 dúyǎnlóng], the blind [瞎子 xiāzǐ], the deaf [聋子
lóngzǐ], idiot [傻子 shǎzǐ], and retarded [弱智 ruòzhì]. Instead, use the sight-
impaired [盲人 mángrén], the hearing impaired [聋人 lóngrén], the mentally
disabled [智力障碍者 zhìlìzhàngàizhě], etc.
When reporting on facts, especially products, avoid using phrases that sound
definitive and extreme, such as the best [最佳 zuìjiā], the most famous [最著名
zuìzhùmíng], or the most advanced [最先进 zuìxiānjìn].
In press releases, never use phrases such as movie king [影帝 yǐngdì], movie
queen [影后 yǐnghòu], superstar [巨星 jùxīng], king of [天王 tiānwáng], dream
guy [男神 nánshén], and dream girl [女神 nǚshén]. Acceptable phrases
are famous actor [著名演员 zhùmíngyǎnyuán], famous artist [著名艺术家
zhùmíngyìshùjiā], etc.
Never use boss [老板 lǎobǎn] to describe leading cadres of the Party or
people in charge of state-owned enterprises.
News media and websites are strictly banned from using 38 vulgar phrases:
o 装逼 zhuāng bī — being pretentious. 装 means pretend, 逼 in Chinese
Law
Plaintiffs [原告 yuángào] and defendants [被告 bèigào] are equal in courts in
terms of legal status. Do not write a sentence like “The plaintiff puts someone
in the dock.”
For research institutes affiliated with the State Council, departments directly
under it, or any other related organizations, write their names in full rather than
calling them the State Council for short.
When reporting on crimes, never use a person’s social identity or place of birth
to label a thief or a rapist. For example, if a thief used to be a factory worker,
do not use factory worker thief [工人小偷 gōngrén xiǎotōu]. If a professor is
accused of a crime, do not use professor criminal [教授罪犯 jiāoshòu zuìfàn].
Do not use phrases such as Henan thief [河南小偷 hénán xiǎotōu] or Anhui
farmer gangster [安徽农民歹徒 ānhuī nóngmín dǎitú].
Do not use offensive terms that are passed on from the old society to describe
ethnic minorities. Do not use Huihui “回回” or Manzi “蛮子” for people of the
Hui ethnic group. For Mongolian people, do not use Mengzu 蒙族,
use Menguzu 蒙古族 . Do not use Weizu 维族 for Weiwuerzu 维吾尔族 for
Uyghurs, do not use Xianzu 鲜族 for Chaoxianzu 朝鲜族 for Koreans, etc.
Branches of minorities cannot be called ethnic groups. They can only be called
xx people [XX 人 XX rén], such as Mosuo people [摩梭人 mósuōrén], Sani
people [撒尼人 sānírén], and Chuanqing people [穿青人 chuānqīngrén].
Do not confuse ancient and modern names. For example, Goguryeo [高句丽
gāojùlì ] cannot be called Goryeo [高丽 gāolì]. Kazakh [哈萨克族 hāsàkèzú]
and Uzbek [乌孜别克族 wūzībiékèzú] cannot be called Turk [突厥族 tūjuézú]
or the Turks [突厥人 tūjuérén].
Do not confuse religion and ethnicity. Use Muslim to describe people who
believe in Islam [伊斯兰教 yīsīlán jiào]. Never say the Hui [回族 huízú] is Islam
or Islam is the Hui.
For coverage on Islam [伊斯兰教 yīsīlán jiào], never bring up any content
related to pigs.
For livestock consumed by Muslims, only use the word slaughter [宰 zǎi] and
never use kill [杀 shā].
Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, territory, and sovereignty
Hong Kong and Macau are special administrative regions of China [中国特别
行政区 zhōngguó tè bié hángzhèngqū]. Never indicate that Hong Kong and
Macau are countries [国家 guójiā] in any texts, maps, or diagrams. Especially
when they are mentioned with other countries, be aware to use countries and
regions [国家和地区 guójiāhédìqū].
Do not say tourists from Hong Kong, Macau, or Taiwan travel to China [港澳台
游客来华旅游 gǎngàotái yóukè láihuá lǚyóu]. Instead, say tourists from Hong
Kong, Macau, or Taiwan travel to mainland [港澳台游客来内地旅游 gǎngàotái
yóukè láinèidì lǚyóu ].
Party leaders’ trips to Hong Kong and Macau can only be called inspection [视
察 shìchá], not foreign visit [出访 chūfǎng].
Agreements signed between mainland China and Hong Kong or Macau can
not be referred to as treaties [条约 tiáoyuē]. It can be referred to
as protocol [协议 xiéyì] or arrangement [安排 ānpái]. Words that are used to
describe relations between two countries can not be used between mainland
China and Hong Kong or Macau.
For judicial connection and judicial aid, do not use terms from international
law, such as mainland China exchanges judicial assistance with Hong Kong
and Macau according to civil proceedings concerning foreign affairs. Do not
use terms like judicial assistance between China and foreign countries [中外司
法协助 zhōngwàisīfǎxiézhù], international judicial assistance [国际司法协助
guójìsīfǎxiézhù], or judicial assistance between China and Hong Kong or
Macau [中港澳司法协助 zhōnggǎngàosīfǎxiézhù]. Use regional judicial
assistance [区际司法协助 qūjìsīfǎxiézhù] or judicial assistance between
mainland China and Hong Kong or Macau [内地与香港澳门司法协助
nèidìyǔxiānggǎngàoménsīfǎxiézhù]. When it comes to conflicts in jurisdiction,
laws or regulations, use standard wording such as conflicts in jurisdiction [管辖
权冲突 guǎnxiáquánchōngtū] or conflicts in laws [法律冲突 fǎlǜchōngtū]. Do
not use terms like infringement of judicial sovereignty [侵犯司法主权
qīnfànsīfǎzhǔquán]. Do not say extradite suspects or criminals [引渡犯罪嫌疑
人或罪犯 yǐndùfànzuìxiányírénhuòzuìfàn], say transfer suspects or
criminals [移交或遣返犯罪嫌疑人或罪犯
yíjiāohuòqiǎnfǎnfànzuìxiányírénhuòzuìfàn].
Do not call Hong Kong and Macau’s return to the motherland as transfer of
sovereignty [主权移交 zhǔquányíjiāo]. It should be described as the Chinese
government resumed its sovereignty in Hong Kong and Macau [中国政府对香
港、澳门恢复行使主权 zhōngguó zhèngfǔ duì xiānggǎng 、àomén huīfù
hángshǐ zhǔquán] or handover of government [政权交接 zhèngquánjiāojiē].
Hong Kong and Macau before their returns to mainland China were under
colonial rule [受殖民统治 shòu zhímín tǒngzhì]. They were not colonies [殖民
地 zhímíndì].
Avoid using phrases such as integration [融合 rónghé] or unify [一体化 yītǐhuà]
of mainland China and Hong Kong or Macau, or urban integration [同城化
tóngchénghuà] of Shenzhen and Hong Kong, or urban integration of Zhuhai
and Macau. Avoid anything that is against the “one country, two systems”
policy [一国两制 yīguóliǎngzhì].
Never use any job titles in Taiwan that include words like national [国家
guójiā], central [中央 zhōngyāng ] and nationwide [全国 quánguó].
The word government [政府 zhèngfǔ] can be used for administrative agencies
below the provincial, municipal or level. Quotation marks are not necessary
for Taiwan Provincial Government [台湾省政府 táiwānshěngzhèngfǔ] or Taipei
Municipal Government [台北市政府 táiběishìzhèngfǔ].
For pro-independence party [台独 táidú] or Taiwan Solidarity Union [台湾团结
联盟 táiwāntuánjiéliánméng], they can not be shortened as Taiwan Union [台
联 táilián]. They can be called Taiwan Union Party [台联党 táiliándǎng]
instead.
Quotation marks are not necessary for job positions in parties such as the
Kuomintang Party, Democratic Progressive Party or People First Party. For
any interactions between the Kuomintang Party and the Communist Party, do
not use cooperations between the Kuomintang Party and the Communist
Party [国共合作 guógònghézuò]. For People First Party or New Party, do not
add Taiwan [台湾 táiwān] in front of them.
For non-official trips carried out by Taiwan people, use their civil identities to
introduce them.
Don’t use word state-run [国立 guólì] for any universities or institutions.
Kinmen and Matzu administrative regions are under the ruling of Fujian
Province, thus they can not be called Taiwan Kinmen county or Taiwan
Lianjiang County. Geographically speaking, Kinmen and Matzu are offshore
islands that belong to Fujian. They should not be called offshore islands of
Taiwan [台湾离岛 táiwānlídǎo].
Do not call laws of the People’s Republic of China mainland China laws [大陆
法律 dàlùfǎlǜ]. For laws enacted in Taiwan region, they should be called
relevant regulations of Taiwan region [台湾地区有关规定
táiwāndìqūyǒuguānguīdìng]. For any laws issued by the Taiwan authorities,
use quotation marks and refer to them as alleged.
In international situations, do not call China mainland China [大陆 dàlù]. Call
Taiwan China Taiwan. Do not pair Taiwan with other countries.
For any international organizations that allow entities that are not independent
sovereign states to be members, Taiwan or Taipei should be referred to as
China Taiwan or China Taipei.
For any cross-Strait activities, never use phrases like China, Hong Kong and
Taiwan, or China, Macau and Taiwan or China, Hong Kong, Macau and
Taiwan.
Use quotation marks for any political terms related to pro-independence [台独
táidú], such as independence of Taiwan [台湾独立 táiwāndúlì], self-
determination of Taiwan residents [台湾住民自决
táiwānzhùmínzìjué], sovereignty independence of Taiwan [台湾主权独立
táiwānzhǔquándúlì], de-sinicization [去中国化 qùzhōngguóhuà], legal
independence [法理台独 fǎlǐ táidú], or Sunflower Movement [太阳花学运
tài yáng huāxuéyùn].
Invasion and colonial ruling of the Netherlands and Japan in Taiwan cannot be
abbreviated as Netherlandish ruling [荷治 hézhì] or Japanese ruling [日治
rìzhì]
Do not call Taiwan residents citizens [公民 gōngmín]. Call them the Taiwanese
public [台湾民众 táiwānmínzhòng], Taiwan people [台湾人民 táiwānrénmín]
or fellow countrymen in Taiwan [台湾同胞 táiwāntóngbāo].
Full name of China Affairs Office is Taiwan Office of the CPC Central
Committee [中共中央台湾工作办公室
zhōnggòngzhōngyāngtáiwāngōngzuòbàngōngshì]. Full name of Taiwan Affairs
Office should be called Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council [国务院台湾
事务办公室 guówùyuàntáiwānshìwùbàngōngshì].
For 1992 Consensus, do not say “based on 1992 Consensus, both sides
recognize that there is only on China, but they can have different
interpretations of the definition of China.” [九二共识、一中各表 jiǔèrgòngshí 、
yīzhōnggèbiǎo] Do not add quotation marks to One China Principle [一个中国
原则 yīgèzhōngguóyuánzé], One China Policy [一个中国政策
yīgèzhōngguózhèngcè], and One China frame [一个中国框架
yīgèzhōngguókuàngjià]. Add quotation marks to “One China, Two systems”
system [一国两制 yīguóliǎngzhì].
For Taiwan people who travel to mainland China and Taiwan through other
countries such as Japan or the U.S., do not say they come back to mainland
China through a third country [经第三国回大陆 jīngdìsānguóhuídàlù] or they
come back to Taiwan through a third country [经第三国回台
jīngdìsānguóhuítái]. It should be called through other countries [经其他国家
jīngqítāguójiā].
Always use quotation marks for the phrase Mini Three Links [小三通
xiǎosāntōng] used by the Taiwan part, or it should be called direct links
between coastal areas in Fujian Province, and the islands of Kinmen and
Matsu [福建沿海与金门、马祖地区直接往来 fújiànyánhǎiyǔjīnmén 、mǎzǔdìqū
zhíjiēwǎnglái].
International relations
Do not use North Korea to refer to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
Or it can be abbreviated as North Korea. 不得使用“北朝鲜[英文 North Korea]”
来称呼“朝鲜民主主义人民共和国”,可直接使用简称“朝鲜”。In English, use the
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea or its abbreviation DPRK.
When reporting on Darfur, do not use the term Arab militia [阿拉伯民兵
ālābómínbīng]. Use militia [民兵武装 mínbīngwǔzhuāng] or armed forces
clan [部族武装 bùzúwǔzhuāng].
Do not call the area that lies south of the Sahara black Africa [黑非洲
hēifēizhōu]. Call it Africa south of the Sahara [撒哈拉沙漠以南非洲
sāhālāshāmòyǐnánfēizhōu].
For coverage on Arab or the Middle East, never use words such
as Crusade [十字军东征 shízìjūndōngzhēng].
When reporting casualties in international wars, do not use shoot dead [击毙
jībì], or be shot to death [被击毙 bèijībì]. Do not use sacrifice to death [牺牲
xīshēng]. Acceptable phrases are beat to death [打死 dǎsǐ], etc.
Do not use strategy [战略 zhànlüè] to describe One Belt, One Road.
Use initiative [倡议 chàngyì].