chiang ch'ing: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Historical, Academic, Journalistic
Quick answer
What does “chiang ch'ing” mean?
The personal name (using Wade-Giles romanization) of Jiang Qing, a Chinese communist revolutionary, actress, and major figure in the Cultural Revolution.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The personal name (using Wade-Giles romanization) of Jiang Qing, a Chinese communist revolutionary, actress, and major figure in the Cultural Revolution.
A historical and political reference to the fourth wife of Mao Zedong, known for her influence in Chinese politics and arts, particularly during the Cultural Revolution (1966–1976). She was later tried as part of the 'Gang of Four'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage. Both regions use the term primarily in historical/political contexts. The older Wade-Giles romanization ('Chiang Ch'ing') might appear slightly more in older British academic texts, while American sources may use Pinyin ('Jiang Qing') more consistently in recent decades.
Connotations
Conveys strong historical and political connotations related to the Cultural Revolution, political purges, and radical Maoism. Often carries negative associations due to her role in the Gang of Four and subsequent trial.
Frequency
Very low frequency in general English. Found almost exclusively in specialized historical, political, or biographical texts about 20th-century China.
Grammar
How to Use “chiang ch'ing” in a Sentence
[Subject: Historians/Texts] + discuss/analyse + Chiang Ch'ing[Chiang Ch'ing] + [Verb: was/tried/became] + [Complement][Preposition: Under/During] + Chiang Ch'ing's + [Noun: influence/rule/policies]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in historical, political science, and Asian studies contexts to discuss Maoist China, the Cultural Revolution, and gender/power dynamics.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Might appear in highbrow journalism or documentaries.
Technical
Used as a proper noun in historical scholarship. Not a technical term in other fields.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “chiang ch'ing”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “chiang ch'ing”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chiang ch'ing”
- Misspelling as 'Chiang Ching' (omitting apostrophe).
- Incorrectly using it as a common noun.
- Mispronouncing 'Ch'ing' as 'ching' (hard 'ch') instead of a lighter affricate closer to 'tching'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They refer to the same person. 'Chiang Ch'ing' is the older Wade-Giles romanization of the Chinese characters. 'Jiang Qing' is the modern standard Pinyin romanization. Pinyin is now preferred in most academic and journalistic writing.
In the Wade-Giles romanization system, the apostrophe indicates aspiration. 'Ch'' represents a sound similar to Pinyin 'Q' (a voiceless alveolo-palatal affricate). Without the apostrophe, 'Ch' would represent a different sound (like Pinyin 'J').
No, it is a very low-frequency proper noun, encountered almost exclusively in historical, political, or biographical contexts related to 20th-century China.
She was arrested in 1976 after Mao Zedong's death, tried as a leader of the 'Gang of Four', convicted of counter-revolutionary crimes, and sentenced to death (commuted to life imprisonment). She died by suicide in prison in 1991.
The personal name (using Wade-Giles romanization) of Jiang Qing, a Chinese communist revolutionary, actress, and major figure in the Cultural Revolution.
Chiang ch'ing is usually historical, academic, journalistic in register.
Chiang ch'ing: in British English it is pronounced /ˌtʃiːæŋ ˈtʃɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌtʃiːɑːŋ ˈtʃɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms. Potential historical reference: 'a Chiang Ch'ing-style purge' (referring to cultural/political purges).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'CHIef ANGel of the Cultural Revolution' (CHI-ANG) who was CHIN-deep in politics (CH'ING).
Conceptual Metaphor
A SYMBOL OF RADICAL CULTURAL ENFORCEMENT (e.g., 'She was the Chiang Ch'ing of the school board, banning all classic literature.').
Practice
Quiz
Chiang Ch'ing is most commonly associated with which period of Chinese history?