The characters combine to form a very precise historical term: The Revolution (革命) of the year 1911 (辛亥).
The Xinhai Revolution is arguably one of the most important events in modern Chinese history. Its significance lies in what it ended and what it began. It terminated over 2,000 years of imperial dynastic rule, a system that had defined Chinese civilization for millennia. This was not just a change in government but a seismic shift in the nation's political and cultural identity. A useful comparison for Western learners is the American Revolution. Both revolutions were foundational events that overthrew a distant, and what was perceived as an unjust, ruling power (the British Monarchy vs. the Manchu-led Qing Dynasty) and established a republic. Both are seen as the birth of their modern nations. However, the contrast is just as important. The American Revolution led to a relatively stable, continuous political entity. The Xinhai Revolution, while successful in toppling the Qing, ushered in a period of profound instability known as the Warlord Era, followed by the Chinese Civil War. Its legacy is therefore more complex and contested. Today, the revolution holds a unique position. It is celebrated by both the People's Republic of China (PRC) on the mainland and the Republic of China (ROC) in Taiwan.
This dual commemoration highlights the event's central and unifying—yet also divisive—role in the modern Chinese-speaking world.
As a historical term, “Xīnhài Gémìng” is used in formal and educational contexts. You won't hear it in casual daily chatter unless the topic is specifically about history or politics.
The term has a formal and neutral-to-positive connotation. It is a factual, historical label. There is no informal or slang version of the term.