<p>实行 - &quot;implement&quot;, &quot;carry out&quot;, &quot;to put into practice&quot;</p>
<p>执行 - &quot;carry out&quot;, &quot;implement&quot;, &quot;to execute&quot;</p>
<p>It seems the two have some overlap, however, 实行 is to carry out/implement/<strong>put into practice</strong> the policies settled through discussion and agreed by all policymakers. The act is timeless.</p>
<p>执行 is to carry out/implement/<strong>execute</strong> the order from the superior, or the established policies, the act is usually conducted in a short duration, or within a finite time frame.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-08-11T01:23:23.610Z
2021-08-11T01:23:23.610Z
r13
<p>实行 has the sense of <em><strong>applying</strong></em>. E.g. apply a policy/law/regulation/etc, as in 实行计划生育. It's <em><strong>abstract</strong></em>.</p>
<p>执行 is more of <em><strong>execution</strong></em> upon certain rules. It's <em><strong>specific</strong></em>. E.g. 执行死刑.</p>
<p>But there could be some overlaps in usage in some circumstances.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-08-11T00:47:32.630Z
2021-08-11T00:47:32.630Z
dan
<p>执行 imply &quot;to enforce an existing rule on objects&quot;</p>
<p>独立自主的和平外交政策 is the government's own goal, which cannot be enforced on any object.</p>
<ul>
<li><p>实行 means &quot;to implement/ to establish&quot; but 执行 doesn't e.g. 实行反歧視法 means to implement (establish) the anti-discrimination law, while 执行反歧視法 means to execute (enforce) the anti-discrimination law (to force someone to comply)</p>
</li>
<li><p>执行 means &quot;to execute&quot; but 实行 doesn't e.g. 执行家法 cannot be changed to 实行家法</p>
</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-08-11T00:20:45.293Z
2021-08-11T00:20:45.293Z
Tang Ho
<blockquote>
<p>中国<strong>实行</strong>独立自主的和平外交政策。 ✓<br />
中国<strong>执行</strong>独立自主的和平外交政策。 ✗<br />
<sub>杨寄洲 et al.，1700对近义词语用法对比, p.1514 (<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/eeGev.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer">original</a>)</sub></p>
</blockquote>
<p>The above example comes from a reference book which describes the differences and similarities between Chinese synonyms.  It lists 政策 as a collocation for both...</p>
<blockquote>
<p><a href="https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?wdqb=%E5%AE%9E%E8%A1%8C" rel="nofollow noreferrer">CC-CEDICT</a>: 实行 (shí​xíng​) to implement / to carry out / to put into practice<br />
<a href="https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?wdqb=%E6%89%A7%E8%A1%8C" rel="nofollow noreferrer">CC-CEDICT</a>: 执行 (zhí​xíng​) to implement / to carry out / to execute / to run</p>
</blockquote>
<p>So I don't see why 执行 is considered incorrect in the example above.</p>
<p><strong>Question</strong>: In the above, why is 实行 correct, and 执行 incorrect?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-08-10T23:19:32.640Z
实行 is "operate" or "carry out"; 执行 is "execute", they are quite different from each other.
r13
<word-choice><synonyms>
In 中国实行独立自主的和平外交政策, why is 实行 correct and 执行 incorrect?
# In 中国实行独立自主的和平外交政策, why is 实行 correct and 执行 incorrect?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-08-10)

> 中国**实行**独立自主的和平外交政策。 ✓  
> 中国**执行**独立自主的和平外交政策。 ✗  
> 杨寄洲 et al.，1700对近义词语用法对比, p.1514 ([original](https://i.sstatic.net/eeGev.jpg))

The above example comes from a reference book which describes the differences and similarities between Chinese synonyms. It lists 政策 as a collocation for both...

> [CC-CEDICT](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?wdqb=%E5%AE%9E%E8%A1%8C): 实行 (shí​xíng​) to implement / to carry out / to put into practice  
> [CC-CEDICT](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?wdqb=%E6%89%A7%E8%A1%8C): 执行 (zhí​xíng​) to implement / to carry out / to execute / to run

So I don't see why 执行 is considered incorrect in the example above.

**Question**: In the above, why is 实行 correct, and 执行 incorrect?

**Tags:** word-choice, synonyms

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: 实行 is "operate" or "carry out"; 执行 is "execute", they are quite different from each other.  

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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-08-11. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

实行 - "implement", "carry out", "to put into practice"

执行 - "carry out", "implement", "to execute"

It seems the two have some overlap, however, 实行 is to carry out/implement/**put into practice** the policies settled through discussion and agreed by all policymakers. The act is timeless.

执行 is to carry out/implement/**execute** the order from the superior, or the established policies, the act is usually conducted in a short duration, or within a finite time frame.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2021-08-11. Score: 2

实行 has the sense of ***applying***. E.g. apply a policy/law/regulation/etc, as in 实行计划生育. It's ***abstract***.

执行 is more of ***execution*** upon certain rules. It's ***specific***. E.g. 执行死刑.

But there could be some overlaps in usage in some circumstances.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2021-08-11. Score: 1

执行 imply "to enforce an existing rule on objects"

独立自主的和平外交政策 is the government's own goal, which cannot be enforced on any object.

* 实行 means "to implement/ to establish" but 执行 doesn't e.g. 实行反歧視法 means to implement (establish) the anti-discrimination law, while 执行反歧視法 means to execute (enforce) the anti-discrimination law (to force someone to comply)
* 执行 means "to execute" but 实行 doesn't e.g. 执行家法 cannot be changed to 实行家法


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