BBC Learning English
Words in the News
Austerity for Chinese New Year
8 February 2013
China has banned TV and radio adverts which encourage extravagant gift-giving ahead of
Chinese New Year, which begins this weekend. Expensive watches, gold coins and alcohol
are among the items that are affected, according to the state media. Martin Patience
reports for the BBC:
During Chinese New Year it's common to give gifts to bosses and officials as a way of
gaining favour. But now the authorities have announced a ban on advertisements that
have been encouraging people to give luxury items.
In a statement, the authorities said these radio and TV ads were spreading "incorrect
values" and creating a "bad social ethos". According to reports, the ban relates to
promotions which suggest products are "must-have items for superiors".
It's the latest move by China's leader, Xi Jinping, to try and cut down on government
extravagance and corruption. At many official occasions, banquets have been banned or
scaled back, red carpets are out, and the floral arrangements are no longer there.
China's new generation of leaders are keen to display a more frugal administration in
the face of growing public anger over official corruption.
Senior officials have repeatedly warned that corruption poses the greatest threat to the
rule of the Communist party.
Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2013
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Vocabulary and definitions
gaining favour getting acceptance
luxury expensive and desirable
ethos values or belief
superiors senior or higher ranking members of the communist
party
corruption dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power
scaled back reduced in size
frugal more economical (in relation to money)
in the face of as a reaction to a threat from
Read and listen to the story and the vocabulary online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2013/02/130208_witn_china_gifts.shtml
Related News story
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-21349722
Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2013
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bbclearningenglish.com