How to understand “officialese”

那些年我們聽過的“官腔”

Politicians know the importance of messaging. President Reagan was known as the Great Communicator； Chairman Mao may have spoken with a Hunan accent， but his quotations （“Power comes from the barrel of a gun”； “Chinese people have stood up”） inspired a nation.

But some modern politicians don’t seem to have gotten that memo. The recent hit series In the Name of the People （《人民的名義》） dramatized the use of “officialese”， or “打官腔” （d2 gu`nqi`ng， mouthing officialese）， in which leaders obfuscate any substance behind bureaucratic blather. The basic characteristics of officialese can be summarized in one three-character phrase—假大空（ji2 d3 k4ng， fake， grandiose， empty） referring to boastful but hollow words.

It may seem inefficient to talk in this manner， but it can be pretty handy when you don’t want to get things done. Here’s a quick guide.

1. FLATTERY AND FORMALITY

If a person is mouthing officialese，

you should need not expect to hear anything from their heart. Of course one will usually address important people by their correct title， such as president or doctor， but one classic cue is the use of the title “Teacher”

（老師 l2osh～）. In many cases， such people may not even be an actual teacher. But bureaucrats may call anyone they want to flatter “Teacher” as a way to give face.

Teacher Li， nice to meet you！ I’ve long heard of your reputation， just like thunder reverberating in my ears！

L@ L2osh～， n！nh2o！ Ji^y2ng d3m！ng， r% l9i gu3n 0r！

李老師，您好！久仰大名，如雷貫耳！

Teacher Wang， to have met you is the best luck I’ve had in three lives！

W1ng L2osh～， r-nshi n！n zh8nsh# s`nsh8ng y6u x#ng！

王老師，認識您真是三生有幸！

2. RESPECT FOR INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURES

When certain officials speak， words like “organization”， “leader，” and “relevant authorities” always linger on their lips. Regardless of what they are talking about， the bureaucracy is ultimately responsible for resolving any hurt feelings. Ask for a favor and they will likely try to help by refering you to a greater power：

We attach great importance to the problem you reported. The company will surely give you a satisfactory reply.

W6men du# n@ hu#b3o de w-nt！ sh！f8n zh7ngsh#， g4ngs～ y！d#ng hu# g0i n@ y！ g- m2ny# de d1f.

我們對你匯報的問題十分重視，公司一定會給你一個滿意的答復。

After waiting patiently， you find there is no reply forthcoming. Inquire again and you will be told：

We are in the process of handling it.

W6men zh-ngz3i ch^l@.

我們正在處理。

We have learned about your situation， but we need to report it to higher authorities.

W6men du# n@ de q！ngku3ng y@j～ng li2oji0 le， d3n h1i x$y3o q@ngsh# sh3ngj！ l@ngd2o.

我們對你的情況已經了解了，但還需要請示上級領導。

Eventually， it turns out that the “higher authorities” can’t provide a solution， either. It’s not their fault—they are burdened with so many other great responsibilities （translation： no can do）.

Your opinion is fully respected. But the leaders also have their own difficulties. We need to build up mutual understanding.

W6men h0n z$nzh7ng n@ de y#ji3n. D3n l@ngd2o y0 y6u l@ngd2o de n1nch. D3ji` y3o xi`ngh l@ji0.

我們很尊重你的意見。但領導也有領導的難處。大家都要相互理解。

In addition， figuring out who is responsible for what requires sorting through a morass of titles and organizations that all sound alike. Good luck with your problem， Teacher Zhao！

3. WORKING FOR THEM IS AN HONOR

It’s very different if the shoe is on the other foot， though. When a leader wants something done， he will arrange it very straightforwardly， ideally making it seem as if making the request is a great favor.

It’s decided that you will take full charge of this matter. You should cherish this opportunity to prove yourself.

Zh- ji3n sh# ji ji`og0i n@ qu1nqu1n fz9. N@ y3o zh8nx～ j～hu#， h2oh2o bi2oxi3n.

這件事就交給你全權負責。你要珍惜機會，好好表現。

Of course， orders must be obeyed. And any resistance can be countermanded by appealing to one’s sense of responsibility.

If there is a problem， solve it. Don’t back down from a challenge.

Y6u w-nt！ ji q ji0ju9 w-nt！， g4ngzu7 b%y3o y6u w-in1n q！ngx.

有問題就去解決問題，工作不要有畏難情緒。

The harder the task is， the more we need someone to stand out.

R-nw yu- ji`nj， ji yu- x$y3o r9n zh3n ch$l1i.

任務越艱巨，就越需要有人站出來。

4. OFFER TOKEN SUPPORT

Leaders are always supportive！ But this is usually just lip-service.

If you have any request， just bring it up. The compay will try its best to satisfy you.

Y6u sh9nme y`oqi% k0y@ t！， g4ngs～ hu# j#nl# b`ng n@ ji0ju9.

有什么要求可以提，公司會盡力幫你解決。

Everyone has faith in you. We will all fully cooperate with your work.

D3ji` d4u du# n@ y6u x#nx～n. W6men d4u hu# qu1nl# p-ih9 n@ de g4ngzu7.

大家都對你有信心。我們都會全力配合你的工作。

Those who are not senior may think their task is pointless or not worth doing. But leaders are there to remind you that your lowly status matters.

When you do something， you shouldn’t be over-ambitious. You must keep your feet on the ground.

Zu7 sh# b n9ng h3og`o wyu2n， y3o ji2ot3 sh！d#.

做事不能好高騖遠，要腳踏實地。

Work only varies in its duties， not its prestige.

G4ngzu7 zh@y6u f8ng4ng bt5ng， m9iy6u g`od～ gu#ji3n zh～ f8n.

工作只有分工不同，沒有高低貴賤之分。

5. EXCUSES， EXCUSES

Those who work for a leader well versed in the art of empty talk， can look forward to lots of effort and little reward. This can seem unfair， and may prompt some to complain. If so， they should prepare to get schooled in the art of the excuse. The first that usually comes up is an appeal to precedent.

Everyone goes through this. Why should you be different？

D3ji` d4u sh# zh-me gu7l1i de， z0nme n@ ji bx！ng？

大家都是這么過來的，怎么你就

不行？

But if the precedent is actually in your favor， then it will transpire that things have changed； and maybe you ought to as well！

That was then， this is now. We need to consider the situation case by case.

C@ y# sh！， b@ y# sh！， w6men y3o jt@ w-nt！ jt@ f8nx～.

此一時，彼一時，我們要具體問題具體分析。

Things are different from the past， we can’t always consider problems using old ways.

J～nsh！ bt5ng w2ngr#， bn9ng z6ng y7ng l2o n2oj～n xi2ng w-nt！ ma.

今時不同往日，不能總用老腦筋想問題嘛。

6. VAGUE METAPHORS， CLASSICAL ALLUSIONS

Maybe you’re not the type of subordinate to be placated by platitudes. Still， there’s not an official out there who doesn’t have a mental catalogue of old sayings and obscure metaphors handy for any situation.

A single strand of silk is not a thread； a single tree does not a forest make.

D`n s～ b ch9ng xi3n， d% m b ch9ng l！n.

單絲不成線，獨木不成林。

Or a thinly veiled threat for uncooperative team members：

If the bird nest falls， will there be any unbroken egg？

F ch1o zh～ xi3， `n y6u w1n lu2n？

覆巢之下， 安有完卵？

7. NOT AFRAID TO THREATEN OR SHAME

Criticizing others is routine work for certain officials. When cornered， he will first try to warn off his opponent by evoking some meaningless jargon， such as 注意團結 （zhy# tu1nji9， pay attention to solidarity）. But other political phrases can be loaded with more dangerous implications： 搞特殊化 （g2o t-sh$hu3， distinguish oneself） means “enjoy privilege，” suggesting decadence or corruption. If somebody breaks a rule， the criticism may imply something deeper：

You are disorganized and undisciplined， your influence is bad.

N@ zh-sh# w% z^zh～ w% j#l_， y@ngxi2ng f8ich1ng bh2o.

你這是無組織無紀律，影響非常不好。

What defines a bureaucratic speech is lack of content， boasting， and impractical argument. Still， the longer the speech， the emptier the words. But the fact is， no matter how long the speech， the master of officialese knows how to end it. One does not simply say “Let’s call it a day，” instead， a powerful declarative sentence is used to conclude the talk， and subtly imply that the listener is somehow at fault for letting the speech go on so long.

That’s all I can say. Now it’s up to you！

N9ng shu4 de w6 d4u shu4 le， n@ k3nzhe b3n ba！

能說的我都說了，你看著辦吧。