Meaning
党员 refers to a person who is an official member of a political party. In mainland China, this most commonly refers to members of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党), though it can technically refer to members of any political party.
Usage
In contemporary Chinese discourse, 党员 without further context almost always means a Communist Party member. The term carries significant social and political weight in mainland China, as party membership involves formal application processes, background checks, and ongoing responsibilities. In formal contexts, people may specify which party by saying 共产党员 (Communist Party member) or use 党员 alone when the context is clear.
Examples
- 01他是一名有二十年党龄的老党员。.He is a veteran party member with twenty years of membership.
- 02每个党员都要严格遵守党的纪律。.Every party member must strictly observe party discipline.
Characters
Measure words
- 名一名党员
- 个一个党员
Common collocations
- 共产党员Communist Party member
- 党员干部party member cadre
- 优秀党员outstanding party member
- 发展党员to recruit party members
Antonyms
Origin
The word combines 党 (political party) with 员 (member). 党 originally meant 'group' or 'faction' in classical Chinese, while 员 has long denoted a member or person filling a role.