China's words and characters of 2020

What one character and word reflects the unprecedented year of 2020 and is closely related to Chinese lives?

International Chinese Character of the Year 2020 [Photo: China Plus]

"Pandemic (疫 yì)" and "COVID-19(新冠疫情 xīnguān yìqíng)" have been announced as the International Chinese Character (汉字 hàn zì) and Word (词 cí) of the Year by the Chinese National Language Monitoring and Research Center and the Commercial Press on Monday.

International Chinese word of the Year 2020 [Photo: China Plus]

Since the World Health Organization declared in March that the spread of COVID-19 had become a pandemic, more than 77 million cases have been recorded around the world and almost 1.7 million people have died.

Domestic Chinese Character of the Year 2020 [Photo: China Plus]

The research center also announced that "the people (民 mín)" and "poverty alleviation (脱贫攻坚 tuōpín gōngjiān)" were their choices for the domestic Chinese Character and Word of the Year 2020. China met its goal of eliminating extreme poverty one month before the deadline and people's benefits are always put first in every aspect.

Domestic Chinese Word of the Year 2020 [Photo: China Plus]

The Chinese Characters and Words of the Year are now in its 15th year.