qúnzhòng: 群众 - The Masses, Crowd, The People

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• Summary: Discover the meaning of 群众 (qúnzhòng), a fundamental Chinese term for “the masses” or “the people.” This page explores its deep political roots in Chinese Communist ideology, its contrast with the Western concept of “the people,” and its modern evolution into internet slang like 吃瓜群众 (chīguā qúnzhòng), the “melon-eating masses.” Learn how this single word reflects core values of Chinese collectivism and how to use it correctly in both formal and informal contexts.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): qúnzhòng
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: The masses; the general public, often with a political or collective connotation.
• In a Nutshell: While 群众 (qúnzhòng) can simply mean a “crowd,” its true weight comes from its use in social and political discourse. It refers to the general populace, the ordinary people, often viewed as a single collective body from the perspective of an organization, government, or leader. Think of it less as a group of individuals and more as a large, undifferentiated social group that is the subject of policies, movements, and media attention.

• 群 (qún): This character means “group,” “flock,” or “herd.” It's composed of 君 (jūn), a ruler or gentleman, and 羊 (yáng), a sheep. You can picture it as a shepherd (君) leading his flock (羊), representing a collective group.
• 众 (zhòng): This character means “multitude” or “many.” Its form is a pictograph of three 人 (rén - person) characters together, visually representing a crowd of people.
• Together, 群众 (qúnzhòng) literally combines “group” and “multitude,” creating a powerful term that emphasizes a large, collective mass of people.

群众 (qúnzhòng) is more than just a word; it's a concept deeply embedded in modern Chinese political culture. Its primary significance comes from its central role in the ideology of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The most famous concept is the 群众路线 (qúnzhòng lùxiàn), or the “Mass Line.” This Maoist principle dictates that the Party must remain deeply connected to the masses. The policy cycle is famously summarized as “from the masses, to the masses” (从群众中来，到群众中去 - cóng qúnzhòng zhōng lái, dào qúnzhòng zhōng qù). This means that correct ideas and policies originate from the scattered experiences of the people, are concentrated and systematized by the Party, and then returned to the people as policy to be put into practice. Comparison to “The People” in the West: In Western, particularly American, culture, “the people” is a foundational concept of democracy, implying a collection of sovereign individuals who grant power to the government. It evokes individualism, rights, and active participation. 群众 (qúnzhòng), in its traditional political context, has a different flavor. It emphasizes collectivism. The “masses” are seen as the source of strength and wisdom, but also as a group to be led, guided, and mobilized by the vanguard Party. The focus is on the collective good and the group's direction rather than individual rights. While a government official “serves the people” in both cultures, the underlying relationship between the state and the populace is framed differently through these terms.

The use of 群众 has evolved and exists in several distinct contexts today.

• Formal & Political Context: This is its most traditional usage. You will hear and read it constantly in government reports, official news broadcasts (like on CCTV), and speeches by leaders. In this context, it is a respectful and formal term.
  • Example: 共产党要全心全意为人民群众服务。(Gòngchǎndǎng yào quánxīnquányì wèi rénmín qúnzhòng fúwù.) - The Communist Party must serve the people's masses wholeheartedly.
• General & Neutral Context: It can be used more neutrally to refer to a large crowd of onlookers or the general public involved in an event. However, for a simple physical crowd, the word 人群 (rénqún) is often more common and less formal.
  • Example: 事故现场围了很多群众。(Shìgù xiànchǎng wéi le hěn duō qúnzhòng.) - A large crowd of onlookers surrounded the accident scene.
• Informal & Internet Slang: The term has been playfully co-opted by netizens in the famous phrase 吃瓜群众 (chīguā qúnzhòng).
  • 吃瓜群众 (chīguā qúnzhòng): Literally the “melon-eating masses.” This refers to passive onlookers, especially online, who follow a celebrity scandal, social drama, or public debate with detached amusement, like someone munching on watermelon seeds at a street show. It's a self-deprecating way to say “I'm just here for the show and not involved.” This usage shows the term's journey from a serious political concept to a humorous part of modern internet culture.

• Example 1:
  • 领导干部应该多听听群众的意见。
  • Pinyin: Lǐngdǎo gànbù yīnggāi duō tīngting qúnzhòng de yìjiàn.
  • English: Leading officials should listen more to the opinions of the masses.
  • Analysis: A classic example of the formal, political use of the term, highlighting the relationship between officials and the general public.
• Example 2:
  • 网上有八卦时，我只是个安静的吃瓜群众。
  • Pinyin: Wǎngshàng yǒu bāguà shí, wǒ zhǐshì ge ānjìng de chīguā qúnzhòng.
  • English: When there's gossip online, I'm just a quiet “melon-eating” onlooker.
  • Analysis: This showcases the most popular modern slang usage. It's informal, humorous, and instantly recognizable to any Chinese internet user.
• Example 3:
  • 警察正在疏散围观的群众。
  • Pinyin: Jǐngchá zhèngzài shūsàn wéiguān de qúnzhòng.
  • English: The police are dispersing the crowd of onlookers.
  • Analysis: Here, 群众 is used neutrally to mean a physical crowd. 人群 (rénqún) could also be used here and might sound slightly more colloquial.
• Example 4:
  • 这项新政策得到了广大群众的支持。
  • Pinyin: Zhè xiàng xīn zhèngcè dédào le guǎngdà qúnzhòng de zhīchí.
  • English: This new policy has received the support of the broad masses.
  • Analysis: “广大群众” (guǎngdà qúnzhòng) is a very common fixed phrase in formal language, meaning “the vast masses” or “the general public.”
• Example 5:
  • 他脱离群众太久了，不了解真实情况。
  • Pinyin: Tā tuōlí qúnzhòng tài jiǔ le, bù liǎojiě zhēnshí qíngkuàng.
  • English: He has been detached from the masses for too long and doesn't understand the real situation.
  • Analysis: “脱离群众” (tuōlí qúnzhòng) means to lose touch with the common people. It's a criticism often leveled at out-of-touch officials or experts.
• Example 6:
  • 我们要相信群众，依靠群众。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen yào xiāngxìn qúnzhòng, yīkào qúnzhòng.
  • English: We must trust the masses and rely on the masses.
  • Analysis: This sentence directly reflects the “Mass Line” ideology, treating 群众 as the foundation of power and success.
• Example 7:
  • 作为一个公众人物，他很注意自己在群众中的形象。
  • Pinyin: Zuòwéi yī gè gōngzhòng rénwù, tā hěn zhùyì zìjǐ zài qúnzhòng zhōng de xíngxiàng.
  • English: As a public figure, he pays close attention to his image among the public.
  • Analysis: In this context, 群众 is similar to the English “public” or “populace.”
• Example 8:
  • 发生火灾时，热心群众自发组织起来救人。
  • Pinyin: Fāshēng huǒzāi shí, rèxīn qúnzhòng zìfā zǔzhī qǐlái jiù rén.
  • English: When the fire broke out, enthusiastic members of the public spontaneously organized to save people.
  • Analysis: “热心群众” (rèxīn qúnzhòng) is a positive term for proactive and helpful citizens.
• Example 9:
  • 这个问题的最终决定权不应该在专家手里，而应该在群众手里。
  • Pinyin: Zhège wèntí de zuìzhōng juédìng quán bù yīnggāi zài zhuānjiā shǒu lǐ, ér yīnggāi zài qúnzhòng shǒu lǐ.
  • English: The final decision-making power on this issue shouldn't be in the hands of experts, but in the hands of the people.
  • Analysis: This sentence has a populist tone, contrasting the “elite” (experts) with the “common people” (群众).
• Example 10:
  • 他们的产品在群众中口碑很好。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen de chǎnpǐn zài qúnzhòng zhōng kǒubēi hěn hǎo.
  • English: Their product has a good reputation among the general public.
  • Analysis: A common business/marketing usage, where 群众 represents the consumer base or the market.

• 群众 (qúnzhòng) vs. 人群 (rénqún): This is a key distinction. 人群 (rénqún) almost always refers to a physical, tangible crowd you can see (e.g., a crowd at a concert, a crowd waiting for a bus). 群众 (qúnzhòng) is often more abstract, referring to “the public” or “the masses” as a concept.
  • Incorrect: 巴士站有很多群众。(Bāshì zhàn yǒu hěn duō qúnzhòng.) → This sounds overly formal and political.
  • Correct: 巴士站有很多人群。(Bāshì zhàn yǒu hěn duō rénqún.) or simply …有很多人 (…yǒu hěn duō rén.)
• 群众 (qúnzhòng) vs. 人民 (rénmín): Both can be translated as “the people” but carry different political weights. 人民 (rénmín) is a term that defines the legitimate members of a nation, often with a sense of political empowerment (e.g., a “People's Court” 人民法院). 群众 is broader and more general, referring to the entire populace, including those who may not be part of the politically defined “people.” In CCP doctrine, the Party leads the 群众 to serve the 人民.
• Connotation: In the West, “the masses” can sometimes sound condescending. In Chinese official language, 群众 is a neutral or positive term. However, the slang term “吃瓜群众” shows that it can also be used in a self-deprecating or humorous way, acknowledging a sense of powerlessness or detachment.

• 人民 (rénmín) - “The People,” a term with strong political and national connotations, defining the legitimate body of the nation.
• 老百姓 (lǎobǎixìng) - “The common folk,” “ordinary people.” A very colloquial and warm term that emphasizes non-official, everyday people.
• 人群 (rénqún) - A “crowd of people.” A neutral, descriptive term for a physical gathering.
• 公众 (gōngzhòng) - “The public.” A more modern, neutral term often used in contexts of media, law, and “public relations” (公共关系 gōnggòng guānxì).
• 吃瓜群众 (chīguā qúnzhòng) - The “melon-eating masses”; internet slang for passive, gossiping onlookers.
• 群众路线 (qúnzhòng lùxiàn) - The “Mass Line”; a core political principle of the CCP regarding its relationship with the people.
• 公民 (gōngmín) - “Citizen.” A legal and civic term denoting an individual with specific rights and responsibilities under the law.
• 集体 (jítǐ) - “Collective.” A term emphasizing the group as a single, unified entity, often used in the context of work units (单位) or social organization.
• 民众 (mínzhòng) - “The populace,” “the people.” Similar to 群众 but can feel slightly more literary or formal.