封建

fēngjiàn

adjective HSK 7 #33,937

Meanings

1 feudal
2 feudalistic
3 old-fashioned and backward

Characters

to seal; to grant a fief

to build; to establish

Originally 'grant fiefs and establish states' — now used broadly for old-fashioned, backward thinking

Examples

你的想法太封建了。

Nǐ de xiǎngfǎ tài fēngjiàn le.

Your way of thinking is too old-fashioned.

中国的封建社会持续了两千多年。

Zhōngguó de fēngjiàn shèhuì chíxù le liǎng qiān duō nián.

China's feudal society lasted over two thousand years.

Tips

usage

In modern colloquial Chinese, 封建 is often used informally to criticize conservative or backward thinking, especially regarding gender roles or traditions. 你太封建了! = You're so old-fashioned!

history

Originally referred to the feudal system where kings granted land to lords. In modern Chinese political discourse, 封建社会 refers to the entire period of imperial China.

Stroke Order

封 fēng

建 jiàn