At the A1 level, you usually don't need to use the word '社会的' (social) very often. You focus more on basic nouns like 'people' (人), 'family' (家), or 'school' (学校). However, you might hear the word '社会' (society) in very simple contexts, like identifying that you live in a society. At this stage, just think of '社会的' as a way to say something belongs to the big world of people outside your home. You might see it on a sign or in a title. Don't worry about using it in long sentences yet. Just remember that '社会' means 'society' and the '的' makes it describe something else, like a 'social' thing.
For A2 learners, you are starting to talk about your environment and the world around you. You might use '社会的' to describe very common topics like 'social problems' (社会问题) or 'social rules.' You are beginning to understand that '社会的' is not about being 'friendly' (that is '外向' or '爱说话'). Instead, '社会的' is about the big group of people we live with. You can start using it in simple 'A is B' sentences, like '这是一个社会的现象' (This is a social phenomenon). You will also notice it in news headlines or simple articles about how people live together in China.
At the B1 level, '社会的' becomes a very useful word. You are now expected to discuss more abstract topics like the environment, education, and work. You will use '社会的' to describe responsibilities (社会的责任) and status (社会的地位). You should be able to distinguish between '社会的' (structural social) and '社交的' (interpersonal social). For example, you can talk about how technology changes our 'social lives' (社交生活) and creates 'social issues' (社会问题). This is the level where you start to see '社会的' as a key part of formal discussion and essay writing.
At the B2 level, you should use '社会的' with precision in debates and complex discussions. You will use it to modify abstract nouns like 'equity' (公平), 'justice' (正义), or 'harmony' (和谐). You are expected to understand the nuances of how '社会的' functions in different domains like economics (社会的财富 - social wealth) or psychology (社会的心理 - social psychology). You should also be comfortable with related terms like '反社会的' (anti-social) or '非社会的' (non-social). Your sentences will become more complex, using '社会的' to provide context for trends and systemic changes in modern China.
For C1 learners, '社会的' is a staple of your academic and professional vocabulary. You use it to analyze deep-seated issues in society. You will understand how '社会的' interacts with other complex terms like '阶层' (strata/class) or '资本' (capital). You can discuss '社会的再生产' (social reproduction) or '社会的建构' (social construction) with ease. At this level, you also recognize the cultural and political weight the term carries in Chinese government policy and philosophical texts. You can differentiate between '社会的' and more specific terms like '民间的' (folk/non-governmental) or '公众的' (public) in high-level writing.
At the C2 level, you have a near-native grasp of '社会的.' You can use it in highly specialized contexts, such as legal philosophy, sociological theory, or high-level political analysis. You understand the historical evolution of the term '社会' in the Chinese language (how it was adopted from Japanese translations of Western concepts). You can use '社会的' to navigate the most subtle aspects of Chinese discourse, including its use in irony or highly formal rhetoric. You are able to critique '社会的' structures in fluent, sophisticated Mandarin, using the word naturally in any register, from an academic lecture to a deep philosophical debate.

社会的 in 30 Seconds

  • Means 'social' in a structural or systemic sense.
  • Used as an adjective before nouns like 'problems' or 'status'.
  • Cannot be used to mean 'sociable' or 'friendly' in personality.
  • Common in news, academic writing, and formal discussions.

The term 社会的 (shè huì de) is a foundational adjectival phrase in Mandarin Chinese that translates most directly to 'social' or 'relating to society.' To understand this word, one must first understand its root: 社会 (shè huì), meaning 'society.' The addition of the particle 的 (de) transforms this noun into an attributive adjective, allowing it to modify other nouns to describe their relationship to the collective human environment, structures, and systems. In the context of CEFR B1 learners, this word moves beyond simple objects and into the realm of abstract concepts, systemic issues, and communal responsibilities.

Structural Usage
It is primarily used as a pre-modifier for nouns. Unlike English, where 'social' can describe a person's personality (e.g., 'He is very social'), 社会的 is almost exclusively used for systemic or organizational contexts. For personal sociability, Chinese uses 爱社交的 (ài shè jiāo de) or 外向的 (wài xiàng de).

我们需要关注当前的社会的变革。 (We need to pay attention to current social changes.)

The word appears frequently in discussions regarding sociology, politics, economics, and daily news. It carries a weight of formality and objectivity. When a Chinese speaker uses 社会的, they are often stepping back from individual experiences to look at the 'big picture'—how an event or trend affects the population at large. It covers topics ranging from 社会的福利 (shè huì de fú lì) 'social welfare' to 社会的压力 (shè huì de yā lì) 'social pressure.'

Formal Contexts
In academic writing or news reporting, 社会的 is indispensable. It categorizes phenomena as external to the individual, highlighting the collective nature of the human experience. It is the bridge between the 'self' and the 'world.'

教育是提升社会的公平性的关键。 (Education is the key to improving social fairness.)

For an English speaker, the most important takeaway is to avoid using this word to describe a 'social person.' If you say 他是一个社会的的人, it sounds like he is a 'man of the underworld' or a 'person belonging to society' in a very strange, perhaps even slightly derogatory or slang-heavy way (as '社会人' can sometimes refer to people with street ties in modern slang). Stick to using it for abstract nouns and systemic descriptions.

Using 社会的 (shè huì de) correctly involves placing it before a noun to define that noun's scope within the community. In Chinese grammar, this is a standard 'Adjective/Noun + 的 + Noun' construction. Because 社会 is a broad concept, the phrases it creates are often the subjects of serious discussion or analysis.

Common Noun Pairings
Typical nouns that follow '社会的' include 问题 (wèn tí) - problems, 责任 (zé rèn) - responsibility, 地位 (dì wèi) - status, and 发展 (fā zhǎn) - development. These pairings form the backbone of sociopolitical discourse in Chinese.

每个人都应该承担起自己的社会的责任。 (Everyone should take on their own social responsibility.)

When constructing sentences, remember that '社会的' acts as a qualifier. It answers the question 'What kind of responsibility?' or 'What kind of status?'. In more advanced usage, you might see it used in comparative structures, such as comparing 个人的 (gè rén de) 'individual' needs with 社会的 (shè huì de) 'social' needs.

Negation and Modification
To negate the association, you would say 非社会的 (fēi shè huì de) 'non-social' or 反社会的 (fǎn shè huì de) 'anti-social.' These are powerful terms used in psychological or legal contexts.

这种行为被认为是反社会的。 (This behavior is considered anti-social.)

In everyday speech, you might use '社会的' to explain the reason behind a certain trend. For example, 'This is a social phenomenon' would be 这是一个社会的现象 (zhè shì yī gè shè huì de xiàn xiàng). Using this word correctly signals that you are thinking critically about how individuals fit into the larger world, a key skill for intermediate (B1) and advanced learners.

The phrase 社会的 (shè huì de) is ubiquitous in Chinese media, education, and professional environments. If you turn on the news (CCTV News, for example), you will hear it within the first ten minutes, likely in the context of 社会的稳定 (shè huì de wěn dìng) 'social stability' or 社会的和谐 (shè huì de hé xié) 'social harmony.' These are key pillars of Chinese political and social discourse.

News and Media
Journalists use '社会的' to frame stories. A crime isn't just a crime; it might be discussed as a 社会的隐患 (shè huì de yǐn huàn) 'hidden social danger.' A new tech trend might be called a 社会的趋势 (shè huì de qū shì) 'social trend.'

新闻报道了关于社会的公平分配问题。 (The news reported on issues regarding the fair social distribution.)

In schools and universities, students encounter this word in almost every subject. From history to economics, '社会的' is used to define eras and systems. Teachers might ask students to analyze the 社会的背景 (shè huì de bèi jǐng) 'social background' of a literary work or a historical event. This helps students understand that nothing happens in a vacuum; everything is connected to the social fabric.

Workplace and Policy
In the workplace, particularly in HR or corporate social responsibility (CSR) departments, you will hear 社会的责任 (shè huì de zé rèn). Companies are increasingly expected to contribute to 社会的价值 (shè huì de jià zhí) 'social value,' not just profit.

这家公司非常重视其社会的形象。 (This company attaches great importance to its social image.)

Whether you are reading a sociological paper, watching a documentary, or listening to a government speech, '社会的' is the marker of collective focus. It signals that the topic at hand affects more than just the individual—it affects the community, the nation, and the world.

One of the most frequent errors English speakers make when using 社会的 (shè huì de) is assuming it maps perfectly to the English word 'social.' While they overlap, their 'social' reach is quite different in practice. Understanding these nuances is the difference between sounding like a student and sounding like a fluent speaker.

Mistake 1: Describing Personality
In English, 'social' can mean 'friendly' or 'sociable.' In Chinese, you cannot say 他很社会的 to mean 'He is very social.' This sounds like you are saying 'He is very societal,' which is nonsensical. Use 外向 (wài xiàng) or 爱交际 (ài jiāo jì) instead.

错误: 他是一个很社会的人。 (Incorrect: He is a very social person.)
正确: 他是一个很爱交际的人。 (Correct: He is a very sociable person.)

Another common mistake involves 'Social Media.' Many learners try to translate it literally as 社会的媒体. However, the standard term is 社交媒体 (shè jiāo méi tǐ). The word 社交 specifically refers to 'social interaction' or 'socializing,' whereas 社会 refers to 'society' as a whole.

Mistake 2: Overusing '的'
While '社会的' is correct, many formal terms have become compound nouns where the '的' is dropped. For example, 社会问题 (social problems) is often more natural than 社会的的问题. Using the '的' too much can make your speech sound fragmented or overly explanatory.

比较: 社会问题 (Social problems - standard) vs 社会的问题 (The problems of society - more specific/emphatic).

Finally, be careful with the slang term 社会人 (shè huì rén). While it literally means 'society person,' in modern internet culture, it often refers to people who are 'street' or have ties to gangs. If you call yourself a '社会的' person, you might be unintentionally giving off 'bad boy/girl' vibes instead of saying you care about social issues!

To truly master the concept of 'social' in Chinese, you need to know the alternatives to 社会的 (shè huì de). Depending on the context—whether you are talking about people, the public, or a group—the word you choose will change significantly.

社会的 vs. 社交的 (shè jiāo de)
As mentioned, 社会的 refers to the structure of society. 社交的 refers to 'socializing' or 'interpersonal communication.' Use '社交的' for social skills (社交技巧) or social anxiety (社交恐惧).

对比: 社会的发展 (Social development - macro) vs 社交的活动 (Social activities - interpersonal).

Another important alternative is 公众的 (gōng zhòng de), which means 'public.' While social issues are often public issues, '公众的' specifically emphasizes the people themselves or things that are open to everyone. For example, 'public interest' is 公众利益, while 'social interest' might be 社会利益. The difference is subtle but '公众' feels more like 'the people' and '社会' feels more like 'the system.'

社会的 vs. 民间的 (mín jiān de)
'民间的' refers to things that are 'among the people' or 'non-governmental.' While 'social' can sometimes imply 'non-government' in English, in Chinese, 社会的 is a broad umbrella that includes the government's role in society. If you want to say something is 'grassroots' or 'folk,' use 民间的.

对比: 社会的保障 (Social security - system) vs 民间的艺术 (Folk art - grassroots).

Finally, consider 世俗的 (shì sú de). This means 'secular' or 'worldly.' Sometimes English speakers use 'social' to mean 'the ways of the world.' In Chinese, if you are talking about worldly success or secular concerns, 世俗的 is the more precise term. Mastering these distinctions will elevate your Chinese from basic communication to nuanced expression.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

Before the late 19th century, '社会' wasn't used in its modern sense. Chinese scholars used terms like '群' (qún - group/crowd) to describe what we now call society.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ˈsəʊʃəl/
US /ˈsoʊʃəl/
The stress in Mandarin is on 'shè' and 'huì', with 'de' being short and light.
Rhymes With
类 (lèi) 内 (nèi) 对 (duì) 位 (wèi) 背 (bèi) 费 (fèi) 退 (tuì) 味 (wèi)
Common Errors
  • Pronouncing 'shè' as 'sè' (missing the 'h').
  • Pronouncing 'huì' as 'huǐ' (wrong tone).
  • Giving too much emphasis to the neutral tone 'de'.
  • Using 'shè huì' without 'de' when an adjective is needed.
  • Confusing the 'sh' sound with 'x'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

Characters are common but the abstract nature requires context.

Writing 4/5

Writing '社' and '会' is easy, but using '社会的' naturally in essays is harder.

Speaking 2/5

Pronunciation is straightforward for most learners.

Listening 2/5

Very common in media; easy to recognize once learned.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

人 (People) 家 (Home) 国家 (Country) 的 (Particle) 关系 (Relationship)

Learn Next

制度 (System) 结构 (Structure) 现象 (Phenomenon) 责任 (Responsibility) 公平 (Fairness)

Advanced

异化 (Alienation) 阶层流动 (Class mobility) 范式 (Paradigm) 话语 (Discourse)

Grammar to Know

Attributive '的'

社会的进步 (The progress of society)

Noun as Adjective

社会问题 (Social problems - omitting 'de')

Prepositional '对'

对社会有害 (Harmful to society)

Location '上'

在社会上 (In society/In the world)

Verb '进入'

进入社会 (Graduating and starting work life)

Examples by Level

1

社会里有很多人。

There are many people in society.

Simple 'Subject + Location + Verb + Object' structure.

2

这是社会的进步。

This is social progress.

Using '社会的' as a simple adjective.

3

我们要学习社会知识。

We need to learn social knowledge.

Here '社会' acts as a noun modifier without '的'.

4

社会很大。

Society is very big.

Using '社会' as a noun subject.

5

他是社会的成员。

He is a member of society.

Using '社会的' to show belonging.

6

社会的规则很重要。

Social rules are important.

Possessive-style adjective usage.

7

我爱这个社会。

I love this society.

Direct object usage of '社会'.

8

社会在变化。

Society is changing.

Simple present continuous-style sentence.

1

这是一个社会的现象。

This is a social phenomenon.

A2 level abstract noun '现象'.

2

社会的压力很大。

Social pressure is very high.

Common collocation '社会压力'.

3

我们要解决社会问题。

We need to solve social problems.

Verb '解决' + Object '社会问题'.

4

社会的福利很好。

Social welfare is very good.

Focus on public services.

5

他的社会地位很高。

His social status is very high.

Using '社会' to modify '地位'.

6

社会的资源是有限的。

Social resources are limited.

Introduction to '资源' (resources).

7

我们需要社会的帮助。

We need the help of society.

Using '社会的' as a possessive.

8

社会的各种活动很多。

There are many different social activities.

Using '各种' (various).

1

每个人都有社会的责任。

Everyone has a social responsibility.

B1 level focus on '责任' (responsibility).

2

社会的公平非常重要。

Social fairness is very important.

Abstract concept '公平'.

3

我们要关注社会的弱势群体。

We should pay attention to vulnerable social groups.

Advanced phrase '弱势群体'.

4

社会的竞争越来越激烈。

Social competition is becoming more and more intense.

Comparative '越来越'.

5

这种行为会对社会产生影响。

This behavior will have an impact on society.

Structure '对...产生影响'.

6

我们要提高社会的生产力。

We need to improve social productivity.

Economic context '生产力'.

7

社会的和谐需要大家的努力。

Social harmony requires everyone's effort.

Common B1 theme '和谐'.

8

他正在研究社会的变迁。

He is studying social changes/transitions.

Formal word '变迁'.

1

社会的稳定性是国家发展的基石。

Social stability is the cornerstone of national development.

B2 level formal academic tone.

2

我们要深入分析社会的矛盾。

We need to analyze social contradictions deeply.

Analytical verb '分析' and noun '矛盾'.

3

社会的舆论会影响政府的决策。

Social public opinion will influence government decisions.

Political term '舆论'.

4

这种政策旨在促进社会的公正。

This policy aims to promote social justice.

Structure '旨在' (aims to).

5

社会的多元化是一个明显的趋势。

Social diversification is an obvious trend.

Noun '多元化' (diversification).

6

我们要防范社会的风险。

We need to guard against social risks.

Formal verb '防范'.

7

社会的契约精神需要加强。

The spirit of social contract needs to be strengthened.

Philosophical term '契约精神'.

8

社会的认同感对个人很重要。

A sense of social identity is important for individuals.

Psychological term '认同感'.

1

社会的阶层流动性正在减弱。

Social class mobility is weakening.

C1 level sociological term '阶层流动性'.

2

这种现象反映了社会的异化。

This phenomenon reflects social alienation.

Philosophical term '异化' (alienation).

3

我们要探讨社会的深层结构。

We need to explore the deep structure of society.

Complex phrase '深层结构'.

4

社会的分配制度需要进一步改革。

The social distribution system needs further reform.

Economic policy terminology.

5

社会的包容度是衡量文明的尺度。

Social tolerance is a measure of civilization.

Metaphorical language.

6

这种理论挑战了传统的社会的观念。

This theory challenges traditional social concepts.

Verb '挑战' (challenge).

7

社会的资本不仅包括金钱。

Social capital includes more than just money.

Advanced concept '社会资本'.

8

社会的整合功能在危机中显现。

The integration function of society appears during crises.

Sociological term '整合功能'.

1

社会的范式转移往往伴随着阵痛。

Social paradigm shifts are often accompanied by growing pains.

C2 level academic term '范式转移'.

2

我们要审视社会的权力运作机制。

We need to examine the mechanisms of social power operation.

Highly formal '审视' and '运作机制'.

3

社会的原子化导致了社区感的丧失。

Social atomization has led to the loss of a sense of community.

Specific sociological term '原子化'.

4

这种话语构建了某种社会的现实。

This discourse constructs a certain social reality.

Post-modern linguistic concept '话语构建'.

5

社会的合法性危机可能引发动荡。

A crisis of social legitimacy may trigger unrest.

Political science term '合法性危机'.

6

社会的异质性为创新提供了土壤。

Social heterogeneity provides the soil for innovation.

Formal term '异质性' (heterogeneity).

7

我们要警惕社会的极化现象。

We must be wary of social polarization.

Contemporary social issue '极化' (polarization).

8

社会的自我修复能力是不容忽视的。

The self-healing capacity of society cannot be ignored.

Abstract biological metaphor.

Common Collocations

社会问题
社会地位
社会责任
社会现象
社会进步
社会福利
社会背景
社会关系
社会实践
社会财富

Common Phrases

社会保障

— Social security system.

社会保障制度为老人提供支持。

社会公正

— Social justice or fairness.

我们追求社会的公正与公平。

社会和谐

— Social harmony.

社会和谐是共同的目标。

社会稳定

— Social stability.

维护社会稳定至关重要。

社会保险

— Social insurance.

公司为员工缴纳社会保险。

社会交往

— Social interaction/intercourse.

人类需要社会交往。

社会舆论

— Public opinion in society.

社会舆论对政府有很大压力。

社会结构

— The structure of society.

社会的结构正在发生巨大变化。

社会契约

— The social contract.

法律是社会契约的基础。

社会名流

— Socialites or celebrities.

晚宴上有很多社会名流。

Often Confused With

社会的 vs 社交的

Refers to interacting with people, not the structure of society.

社会的 vs 公众的

Focuses more on 'the people' than 'the system'.

社会的 vs 集体的

Focuses on a specific group rather than the whole society.

Idioms & Expressions

"社会大染缸"

— Society is like a big dyeing vat; it influences and changes people.

进入职场后,他感叹社会是个大染缸。

Informal
"与时俱进"

— To advance with the times (often used regarding social progress).

社会的观念需要与时俱进。

Formal
"大同社会"

— An ideal society of peace and harmony (Confucian concept).

古人向往大同社会。

Literary
"人情世故"

— The ways of the world; social sophisticatedness.

他很懂人情世故。

Neutral
"处世之道"

— The way to conduct oneself in society.

这是他的处世之道。

Neutral
"饱经风霜"

— Weather-beaten; having experienced many social hardships.

这位老人饱经风霜。

Literary
"名门望族"

— Distinguished and influential social family.

他出生于名门望族。

Formal
"芸芸众生"

— The common people; the masses in society.

他只是芸芸众生中的一员。

Literary
"入乡随俗"

— When in Rome, do as the Romans do (following social customs).

我们要入乡随俗。

Neutral
"德高望重"

— A person of high social standing and moral character.

他是一位德高望重的长辈。

Formal

Easily Confused

社会的 vs 社交

Both translate to 'social' in English.

Social (society) vs Social (interaction).

社会问题 vs 社交技巧

社会的 vs 社区

Both relate to groups of people.

Society (large/abstract) vs Community (local/neighborhood).

社会发展 vs 社区服务

社会的 vs 社会主义

Contains the same root.

The ideology of socialism vs the general concept of society.

社会进步 vs 社会主义核心价值观

社会的 vs 公关

Sometimes linked to social relations.

Public relations (business) vs Social (societal).

社会地位 vs 公关经理

社会的 vs 外向

English 'social' means outgoing.

Societal vs Personality trait.

社会的进步 vs 他很外向

Sentence Patterns

A2

...是一个社会的现象。

低头族是一个社会的现象。

B1

每个人都应该承担...社会的责任。

每个人都应该承担保护环境的社会的责任。

B1

...对社会产生影响。

新法律对社会产生了深远的影响。

B2

社会的...是发展的基石。

社会的公平是发展的基石。

B2

旨在促进社会的...

这个政策旨在促进社会的和谐。

C1

反映了社会的...

这种文学作品反映了社会的矛盾。

C1

社会的...不仅包括...

社会的资本不仅包括金钱,还包括人脉。

C2

社会的...是不容忽视的。

社会的自我调节能力是不容忽视的。

Word Family

Nouns

社会 (Society)
社会主义 (Socialism)
社会学 (Sociology)
社会人 (Social person/Street person)

Verbs

社会化 (To socialize/Socialization)

Adjectives

社会的 (Social)
社交的 (Sociable/Interpersonal)
反社会的 (Anti-social)

Related

群体 (Group)
阶层 (Class)
文明 (Civilization)
制度 (System)
关系 (Relationship)

How to Use It

frequency

Extremely high in formal writing and news.

Common Mistakes
  • 他很社会的。 他很外向。

    You cannot use '社会的' to describe a person's personality as 'friendly' or 'social'.

  • 社会的媒体 社交媒体

    'Social media' uses the word for interaction (社交), not society (社会).

  • 社会的发展的进步 社会的进步 / 社会的发展

    Redundant use of '的'. Choose one noun to modify.

  • 我参加了一个社会的聚会。 我参加了一个社交聚会。

    A party is an interaction event, so use '社交'.

  • 社会的人 社会的一员 / 社会人 (slang)

    To say 'a member of society', use '社会的一员'. '社会人' is slang for a gangster.

Tips

Compound Nouns

Many common 'social' terms are compound nouns. Learn '社会问题' and '社会地位' as single units rather than '社会的' + noun.

Social vs. Sociable

Always remember: '社会的' is about the system; '社交的' or '外向' is about the person.

The Big Self

In China, the 'social' (society) often comes before the 'individual'. Use '社会的' to show you understand this cultural priority.

Internet Slang

Be careful with '很社会'. It's a compliment for being cool/tough on the internet, but might be misunderstood in formal settings.

Essay Structure

Use '社会的' to introduce the macro-context of your argument before focusing on specific examples.

News Keywords

If you hear 'shèhuì', get ready for a serious topic about the country or its people.

Entering Society

Use '进入社会' to talk about graduating and starting your career. It's a very common idiomatic expression.

Global Issues

When discussing global warming or pandemics, use '社会的' to describe the collective impact.

Shed-Way

Remember the 'Shed-Way' mnemonic to never forget the pronunciation of shèhuì.

Character Roots

Note that '社' has the '礻' (altar/spirit) radical, linking society to ancient shared rituals.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine a 'Shed' (shè) where people 'Way' (huì) in to meet. It's a 'Shed-Way' (shèhuì) - the society building!

Visual Association

Picture a huge spiderweb where every thread is a person. The whole web is the '社会' (shèhuì).

Word Web

People Laws Status Problems Money Schools Cities Rules

Challenge

Try to find three news headlines today that contain the word '社会' or '社会的'.

Word Origin

The term '社会' (shè huì) is a modern loanword from Japanese (shakai), which was used to translate the Western concept of 'society.'

Original meaning: In ancient Chinese, '社' (shè) referred to the god of the soil or the place of sacrifice, and '会' (huì) meant a gathering. Together, they implied a community gathering for a ritual.

Sino-Tibetan (Chinese characters) with modern semantic development via Japanese.

Cultural Context

Be careful using '社会人' (shè huì rén) as it can imply someone with criminal or street associations in modern slang.

In English, 'social' is often positive (social butterfly). In Chinese, '社会的' is more neutral or serious (social issues).

社会主义 (Socialism) - The official ideology of China. 社会契约论 (The Social Contract) - Jean-Jacques Rousseau's famous work translated into Chinese. 小康社会 (Moderately Prosperous Society) - A key goal of the Chinese government.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

News/Politics

  • 社会稳定
  • 社会和谐
  • 社会发展
  • 社会公平

Education

  • 社会实践
  • 社会背景
  • 社会学
  • 社会知识

Economics

  • 社会财富
  • 社会福利
  • 社会保障
  • 社会成本

Daily Life

  • 社会压力
  • 社会新闻
  • 社会地位
  • 进入社会

Psychology

  • 社会心理
  • 社会认同
  • 社交恐惧
  • 社会行为

Conversation Starters

"你觉得现在的社会压力大吗?"

"在你的国家,最重要的社会问题是什么?"

"你认为教育如何影响社会的公平?"

"公司应该承担什么样的社会责任?"

"互联网对社会的发展有什么影响?"

Journal Prompts

描述一个你观察到的有趣的社会现象。

你认为一个理想的社会应该是什样的?

谈谈你作为社会的一员,应该承担什么责任。

科技如何改变了我们的社会关系?

讨论一下你对‘社会地位’这个词的看法。

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No. In Chinese, '社会的' refers to the structure of society. To say someone is social/outgoing, use '外向' (wài xiàng) or '爱交际' (ài jiāo jì).

'社会' is the noun (society), while '社会的' is the adjectival form (social). However, '社会' can often modify nouns directly without '的' in compound terms like '社会问题'.

No, it is '社交媒体' (shè jiāo méi tǐ) because it's about social interaction, not society as a whole.

Literally 'society person,' but in modern slang, it refers to someone who is street-smart, tough, or has gang connections.

It is '社会保障' (shè huì bǎo zhàng) or '社保' (shè bǎo) for short.

Yes, it is generally used in formal, academic, or professional contexts.

No. A party is a '社交活动' (social activity/interaction activity).

It is '反社会的' (fǎn shè huì de).

Yes, '社会主义' (shè huì zhǔ yì) literally means 'Society-ism'.

Drop it in established compound nouns like '社会地位', '社会问题', or '社会新闻'. Keep it when you want to emphasize that something belongs to or originates from society.

Test Yourself 200 questions

writing

Write a sentence using '社会问题'.

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Write a sentence using '社会责任'.

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Translate: 'Technology promotes social progress.'

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Translate: 'This is a common social phenomenon.'

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Write a sentence using '进入社会'.

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Translate: 'Social status is important to some people.'

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Write a sentence about '社会公平'.

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Translate: 'The news reported on social issues.'

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Write a sentence using '反社会的'.

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Translate: 'Social welfare needs to be improved.'

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Write a sentence about '社会压力'.

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Translate: 'Understand the social background of the story.'

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Write a sentence using '社会各界'.

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Translate: 'Social stability is the key.'

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Write a sentence about '社会和谐'.

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Translate: 'Social norms guide our behavior.'

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Write a sentence using '社会保障'.

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Translate: 'Social mobility is a sign of a healthy society.'

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Write a sentence about '社会分工'.

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Translate: 'The social contract is a fundamental concept.'

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Pronounce: 社会的 (shè huì de)

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Say: 'Social problems' in Chinese.

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Say: 'Social status' in Chinese.

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Say: 'Social responsibility' in Chinese.

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Describe a social problem in your country.

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Say: 'I care about social fairness.'

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Say: 'Entering society is a big challenge.'

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Say: 'Social media affects our lives.'

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Say: 'We need social stability.'

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Pronounce: 社会主义 (shè huì zhǔ yì)

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Say: 'Social welfare is good.'

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Say: 'This is a social phenomenon.'

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Say: 'Social competition is fierce.'

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Say: 'Public opinion is powerful.'

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Say: 'Social progress is visible.'

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Say: 'She is a socialite.'

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Say: 'Social contract spirit.'

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Say: 'Social mobility.'

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Say: 'Anti-social behavior.'

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Say: 'Social values.'

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listening

Listen and write the phrase: shè huì wèn tí

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Listen and write the phrase: shè huì dì wèi

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Listen and write the phrase: shè huì zé rèn

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Listen and write the phrase: jìn rù shè huì

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Listen and write the phrase: shè huì xiàn xiàng

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Listen and write the phrase: shè huì fú lì

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Listen and write the phrase: shè huì gōng píng

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Listen and write the phrase: shè huì wěn dìng

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Listen and write the phrase: fǎn shè huì de

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Listen and write the phrase: shè huì xué

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Listen and write the phrase: shè huì bèi jǐng

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Listen and write the phrase: shè huì bǎo zhàng

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Listen and write the phrase: shè huì gè jiè

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Listen and write the phrase: shè huì qì yuē

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Listen and write the phrase: shè huì hé xié

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/ 200 correct

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