What does it mean for People’s Daily to call for a return to the appellation “comrade”? News By Neo Liu on 10 Jul 2025
People’s Daily recently published a commentary article with a clear and direct core argument: calling on society to re-embrace the appellation “comrade” (同志, tóngzhì), viewing it as a symbol of “a return to simple and honest customs.” The article nostalgically depicts an idealized past – in those “years of simple folk customs,” a single “comrade” was enough to eliminate all identity differences, embodying the social ideal of equality for all.
The article points its finger at the myriad of appellations in contemporary society. From the initial “Mr.” (先生, xiānshēng) and “Miss” (小姐, xiǎojiě), which later evolved into the widespread “boss” (老闆, lǎobǎn) and “beauty” (美女, měinǚ) in commercial and service industries, even the term “teacher” (老師, lǎoshī), in the official media’s view, has been misused and lost its due respect and threshold. In this narrative, “comrade” is not just an address; it is a moral declaration, symbolizing a pushback against the current phenomena of social class solidification and the commodification of interpersonal relationships.
This language purification campaign, initiated by official media, is clearly not a whim. It is seen as a return to traditional virtues, attempting to reshape social customs and interpersonal relationships by reshaping everyday language. However, the official idealized portrayal overlooks the drastic evolution of the word’s meaning over the past few decades.
The Dual Life of “Tongzhi”: From Revolutionary Ideal to Identity
To understand the core of this controversy, one must first understand the dual life that the term “tongzhi” (同志) has experienced in modern China.
Firstly, its political life. Originating from “sharing the same aspirations” (志同道合, zhìtóngdàohé), it aimed to erase the hierarchical concepts left over from feudal society and establish a new type of interpersonal relationship based on common revolutionary goals. In the past, “comrade” was the sole identifier of status; whether it was the state president or an ordinary worker, addressing each other as “comrade” represented an equal standing in the revolutionary cause. It was a powerful ideological tool used to construct a collective identity.
Secondly, its contemporary subcultural life. The term “tongzhi” (同志) gradually evolved into a substitute term for the LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, etc.) community. This shift initially stemmed from self-identification and playful appropriation within the community, later becoming widely known through film and television works (such as Peter Chan’s film Comrades: Almost a Love Story) and online dissemination. Today, among the younger generation and in online contexts in mainland China, “tongzhi” has almost become the standard term for LGBTQ+ identity.
These two starkly different meanings create significant tension today. The official side attempts to invoke the “comrade” that symbolizes collectivism and political loyalty, while the public, especially the younger generation, primarily associates “tongzhi” with individual identity and gender diversity. This cognitive misalignment has caused widespread confusion online regarding the official media’s call.
The Politics of Appellations: Similar Scripts Worldwide
Imbuing everyday appellations with specific political or social meanings is not a phenomenon unique to China. Globally, changes in appellations are often closely linked to social revolutions and the evolution of ideologies.
- France’s “Citizen” (Citoyen/Citoyenne): During the French Revolution in 1789, revolutionaries abolished “Monsieur” and “Madame,” which represented the aristocratic class, and promoted “Citizen” as a unified appellation. Its purpose was identical to China’s “comrade” – aiming to establish a new society based on the principles of equality, fraternity, and liberty. However, as the revolutionary wave receded, traditional appellations gradually returned.
- Evolution of Gender Appellations in the United States: From the feminist movement’s promotion of “Ms.” to replace “Miss” and “Mrs.,” which reflected women’s marital status, to the current widespread discussion about gender-neutral pronouns (such as they/them), all demonstrate that in Western societies, appellations are likewise an important battleground for identity politics and social progress.
Subtext: Why Now?
- Strengthening Ideological Identification: Against the current backdrop of emphasizing “red genes” and opposing “historical nihilism,” reintroducing “comrade” is an attempt to re-embed ideological symbols into daily life and strengthen collective identity.
- Reshaping Social Order: The official critique of appellations like “beauty” and “boss” is, in essence, a concern over the changes in social values brought about by the deepening of the market economy. It hopes to alleviate anxiety caused by social class stratification and foster a harmonious and stable social atmosphere through a unified, egalitarian appellation.
- Implicit Co-optation and Discipline of Subcultures: It is highly unlikely that the authorities are unaware of the contemporary meaning of the term “tongzhi.” Therefore, this call can also be seen as a struggle for discursive power. By forcefully reasserting its “original political meaning,” the authorities are attempting to dilute or even override its identity-affirming function within the LGBTQ+ community, which aligns with the recent trend of increasingly tightening the space for sexual minority groups.
The People’s Daily’s call is a top-down attempt at linguistic discipline, hoping to pull a vibrant, polysemous word back onto a singular, controllable official track.
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政治绝对安全（骂的是现象，护的是体制）