noun HSK 5
Traditional 局勢
shì
situation · state of affairs · circumstances

Meaning

局势 refers to the overall situation or state of affairs, particularly in political, military, or social contexts. It describes the current condition or trend of events, often implying complexity or significance. The word combines 局 (game, situation) and 势 (force, momentum) to convey a sense of dynamic circumstances.

Usage

局势 is commonly used in formal contexts, news reports, and discussions about politics, economics, or military matters. It often appears with verbs like 稳定 (stabilize), 紧张 (become tense), 恶化 (deteriorate), or 发展 (develop). This word carries a more serious, analytical tone than casual terms for 'situation.'

Examples

  1. 01
    目前的国际局势十分复杂。
    Mùqián de guójì shì shífēn fùzá.
    The current international situation is very complex.
  2. 02
    政府正在努力稳定局势
    Zhèngfǔ zhèngzài nǔlì wěndìng shì.
    The government is working hard to stabilize the situation.

Characters

Measure words

  • 一个复杂的局势

Common collocations

  • 政治局势
    zhèng zhì shì
    political situation
  • 局势紧张
    shì jǐn zhāng
    the situation is tense
  • 稳定局势
    wěn dìng shì
    stabilize the situation
  • 局势恶化
    shì è huà
    the situation deteriorates

Origin

The term combines 局 (originally meaning 'chessboard' or 'game,' extended to 'situation') with 势 (meaning 'power' or 'momentum'), creating a compound that describes the dynamic 'power configuration' or 'trend' of a situation.

Related