西学

西學

Xīxué

noun

Meanings

1 Western learning
2 Western studies (intellectual movement in late Qing China)

Characters

learning / study

Examples

晚清时期西学东渐，影响深远。

Wǎn Qīng shíqī Xīxué dōng jiàn, yǐngxiǎng shēnyuǎn.

In the late Qing, Western learning spread eastward and had profound influence.

他主张中学为体，西学为用。

Tā zhǔzhāng zhōngxué wéi tǐ, Xīxué wéi yòng.

He advocated using Chinese learning as the foundation and Western learning for practical application.

Tips

history

西学 refers to the influx of Western science, technology, and political thought into China from the late Ming through the Qing dynasty. The famous slogan 中学为体，西学为用 (zhōngxué wéi tǐ, Xīxué wéi yòng — 'Chinese learning as substance, Western learning for application') was coined by Zhang Zhidong (张之洞) during the Self-Strengthening Movement (洋务运动).

Stroke Order

西 xī

学 xué