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Politically correct term for 农民
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alexamies -

What is a good English term for 农民? The only translation I have seen for 农民 is 'peasant'
and I object to it because of the class implications of the term.



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cdn_in_bj -

Are you referring specifically to migrant workers?










adrianlondon -

I guess you could use "farmer" but that implies they all do some work ;)

"country-folk" maybe?

The phrase can be used as an insult by city dwellers anyway, so maybe "peasant" is still the best
translation; just say it in a soft, smiling way if you're not trying to offend.










alexamies -

I don't think that 'farmer' quite works because not all rural residents work on farms. Some are
too old or too young to work and some do different types of work. 'Rural resident' is the closest
term I can think of but is so much more a formal term than 农民 in Chinese.

It is not really 农民 I am trying to avoid offending. The Chinese term is quite respectable,
except for the tone that is sometimes used with. I am embarrassed to use it in English
conversations and documents. When would you ever refer to an American or European farmer as a
'peasant'?

Alex










cdn_in_bj -



Quote:

"country-folk" maybe?

Actually, back home we call country people or people from smaller cities/towns "hicks". Is this
term also used in British slang?

alexamies - what context are you trying to use it in? Over here, I've heard 农民 used to refer
to the migrant construction workers, even though 农民工 is the proper term. Also, there are
many white-collar workers working in the big cities who also fit the definition of a migrant
worker, however they are never refered to as 农民. If anything, they are called 外地人. So
the usage of 农民 here definitely has class connotations and is consistent with its English
translation of 'peasant'.










dan ni er -

You could say 农民伯伯 to make it sound more respectful.










Lu -

I always had the impression that being a peasant was a good thing, and the peasant class the
highest class, in Maoist China, so that the term wouldn't really carry any negative connotations
when applied to Chinese 農民. I've seen it used a lot in English articles and the like. As to
the 農民 of other countries, you'd never call them peasants, there is usually a better term
available (farmers, countryfolk, whatever).










mr.stinky -

it's hard to imagine using 'peasant' to describe american/european country folk. too many
negative connotations. when you say 'peasant,' you think of an uneducated, medieval serf
with no rights as to property ownership. (see the 'holy grail' for illustrations)

'farmer' on the other hand, brings to mind a slightly potbellied 50-yo man in coveralls and
a john deer gimme-cap with a tin of skoal in his back pocket, climbing into his $500,000
harvester, heading off to plow another 25,000 acres.

i think 农民 is perfectly respectable here if used a neutral sense for anyone living/working
in a rural village. in the cities it can be a disrespectful term, equivalent to hick, rube,
redneck, or dirt-farmer.










liuzhou -

Many friends have happily told me that their parents are peasants. That said, it does sometimes
have negative connotations, but not so much as in the west.










zhwj -

This is a good article and ensuing discussion that looks at how "farmers" became "peasants" in
China.

"rural residents" is awkward, but usually captures the distinction that Chinese sources are trying
to make when they use 农民.












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