创新 (chuàngxīn) — innovation, to innovate
HSK 5 | noun/verb | introducing new ideas, methods, or products; the act of innovation
创新 (chuàngxīn)
创新 refers to the introduction of something genuinely new -- whether ideas, methods, products, or systems -- that represents a significant departure from what existed before.
Meanings
- [noun] innovation
- [verb] to innovate, to introduce something new
Example Sentences
科技创新是推动经济高质量发展的重要引擎。 Kējì chuàngxīn shì tuīdòng jīngjì gāo zhìliàng fāzhǎn de zhòngyào yǐnqíng. Technological innovation is an important engine driving high-quality economic development.
这家公司鼓励员工大胆创新，不怕失败。 Zhè jiā gōngsī gǔlì yuángōng dàdǎn chuàngxīn, bù pà shībài. This company encourages employees to innovate boldly and not be afraid of failure.
教育体制改革的核心在于培养学生的创新思维。 Jiàoyù tǐzhì gǎigé de héxīn zàiyú péiyǎng xuéshēng de chuàngxīn sīwéi. The core of educational system reform lies in cultivating students' innovative thinking.
没有持续的创新，企业很难在激烈的市场竞争中立足。 Méiyǒu chíxù de chuàngxīn, qǐyè hěn nán zài jīliè de shìchǎng jìngzhēng zhōng lìzú. Without continuous innovation, it is difficult for companies to establish themselves in fierce market competition.
这项创新设计大幅降低了生产成本，获得了业界的广泛认可。 Zhè xiàng chuàngxīn shèjì dàfú jiàngdī le shēngchǎn chéngběn, huòdé le yèjiè de guǎngfàn rènkě. This innovative design significantly reduced production costs and gained wide recognition from the industry.
政府出台了一系列政策来鼓励自主创新和知识产权保护。 Zhèngfǔ chūtái le yī xìliè zhèngcè lái gǔlì zìzhǔ chuàngxīn hé zhīshí chǎnquán bǎohù. The government introduced a series of policies to encourage independent innovation and intellectual property protection.
Collocations
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 科技创新 | technological innovation |
| 创新思维 | innovative thinking |
| 自主创新 | independent innovation |
| 持续创新 | continuous innovation |
| 创新能力 | capacity for innovation |
| 大胆创新 | to innovate boldly |
Usage Notes
创新 is one of the most politically and economically charged words in contemporary Chinese. It appears constantly in official speeches, policy documents, and business reports. The phrase 创新驱动发展 (innovation-driven development) has been a key policy slogan in China.
创新 is broader than 发明 (invention), which implies creating something entirely new from scratch. 创新 can include improvements to existing things, new combinations, and new applications. 创新 also contrasts with 守旧 (sticking to old ways) -- 创新精神 (innovative spirit) is praised, while 因循守旧 (following old practices) is criticized.
Memory Hook
创 means "to create/found" and 新 means "new" -- 创新 is literally "creating the new," bringing into existence something that did not exist before.