同志
tóng zhì HSK 6

English Meaning

Categories

📚 Example Sentences

这位同志工作很认真。
Zhè wèi tóngzhì gōngzuò hěn rènzhēn.
This comrade works very diligently.
他公开承认自己是同志。
Tā gōngkāi chéngrèn zìjǐ shì tóngzhì.
He openly admits that he is gay.
同志之间应该互相帮助。
Tóngzhì zhī jiān yīnggāi hùxiāng bāngzhù.
Comrades should help each other.
他是我的同志。
Tā shì wǒ de tóngzhì.
He is my comrade.
同志,你好!
Tóngzhì, nǐ hǎo!
Hello, comrade!

💡 Memory Tip

Break it down: 同 (tóng) means 'same' and 志 (zhì) means 'will' or 'aspiration'. So, it's someone with the 'same aspiration'—either in politics or, in modern terms, same-sex attraction.

📝 Usage Notes

Formal when used in its traditional political/organizational sense (e.g., within the Communist Party). Informal and community-specific when referring to LGBTQ+ individuals. The context usually makes the meaning clear. The example sentence uses it in the modern LGBTQ+ sense.

📖 Grammar Points

Used primarily as a noun. Can be used as a form of address (e.g., "同志们,大家好!"). In its modern sense, it often appears as a modifier in phrases like "同志群体" (the gay community).

🏯 Cultural Notes

Historically, it was a ubiquitous and respectful form of address in socialist China. The semantic shift to mean 'gay' began in Hong Kong and Taiwan in the late 20th century, influenced by the shared meaning of 'same aspiration' (同性恋 = same-sex love). This modern meaning is now mainstream but can cause ambiguity in older or formal political contexts.

🔄 Similar Words

朋友 (péngyou) means 'friend' in a general sense without political or identity connotations. 同事 (tóngshì) means 'colleague', specifically someone you work with.

Master this word with quizzes, flashcards & more

Learn 同志 in CILI →

Related Words