<p>It is not one word</p>
<blockquote>
<p><a href="https://cantoneseplus.com/character/175" rel="nofollow noreferrer">讲</a> (v) speak</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p>民主 (n) democracy</p>
</blockquote>
<p>In Cantonese, the meaning for '讲' includes being the shorthand for 讲究 (pay attention to; regard); 讲求 (stress), = 注重; 追求</p>
<p>Example:</p>
<p>讲民主 (speak democracy) = regard/ pay attention to democracy</p>
<p>不讲民主 (speak democracy) = disregard/ not pay attention to democracy</p>
<p>讲道理 (speak reason) = reasonable</p>
<p>不讲道理 (not speak reason) = Unreasonable</p>
<p>香港人讲生活，讲享受 = &quot;Hong Kong people pay attention to life and enjoyment&quot;</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-07T19:26:24.177Z
can you give me a example in use?
Redwood
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-07T20:59:02.390Z
@Wise sequoia It is mainly for Cantonese
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-07T23:40:37.150Z
唔講道理 is closer to "unreasonable."  不 in Cantonese is closer in meaning to "forbid"
kwaalaateimaa
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-18T05:06:23.503Z
doesn't 民主 also mean freedom. My mom says people often use it to say let me have me own choice.
Redwood
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-18T05:42:14.997Z
民主 is a system, freedom is a state. You can be in a Democratic country and not being free if you are poor. Democracy may give some people freedom at the expense of others. Look at the last four years in US. Someone said Democracy is a bad governing system but it is currently the best we can have
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-07T10:10:22.983Z
2021-01-07T10:23:46.357Z
2021-01-07T10:23:46.357Z
Tang Ho
<p>You should put the context in which you found this phrase, then the meaning would become apparent.</p>
<p>从理论上讲，他们的国家是一个多党派民主国家。<br />
Theoretically, their nation is a multi-party democracy.</p>
<p>There's the rub: Maybe, in context, your &quot;讲&quot; holds the doubt expressed in &quot;Theoretically&quot;</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-09T08:27:51.197Z
2021-01-09T08:27:51.197Z
Pedroski
<p>讲 here means:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>（讲求; 注重） stress; pay attention to; lay stress on; be particular about:</p>
</blockquote>
<p>E. g. 讲吃讲穿; 讲交情;</p>
<p>In practice, we often say 讲文明，懂礼貌.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-11T06:26:18.710Z
how come google translate doesn't have 讲民主? and is it used often?
Redwood
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-11T13:22:30.040Z
@Wisesequoia I don't know why.  But 讲xxx overall is a common usage.
dan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-08T00:38:34.907Z
2021-01-08T00:38:34.907Z
dan
<p>My mandarin textbook says it means &quot;speak to democracy,&quot; but I can't find a definition for this word anywhere on the internet. Even google translate says it is not a word.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-09T02:59:04.483Z
@user3610: I reverted your edit. You seem to be answering the question, so please add an answer.
fefe
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-18T04:46:12.067Z
is there a word that somwhat means pay attention to democracy
Redwood
<word>
What does 讲民主 mean?
# What does 讲民主 mean?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-01-07)

My mandarin textbook says it means "speak to democracy," but I can't find a definition for this word anywhere on the internet. Even google translate says it is not a word.

**Tags:** word

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: @user3610: I reverted your edit. You seem to be answering the question, so please add an answer.  
> **username_0**: is there a word that somwhat means pay attention to democracy  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_5 on 2021-01-08. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

讲 here means:

> （讲求; 注重） stress; pay attention to; lay stress on; be particular about:

E. g. 讲吃讲穿; 讲交情;

In practice, we often say 讲文明，懂礼貌.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: how come google translate doesn't have 讲民主? and is it used often?  
> **username_5**: @Wisesequoia I don't know why.  But 讲xxx overall is a common usage.  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2021-01-07. Score: 2

It is not one word

> [讲](https://cantoneseplus.com/character/175) (v) speak

> 民主 (n) democracy

In Cantonese, the meaning for '讲' includes being the shorthand for 讲究 (pay attention to; regard); 讲求 (stress), = 注重; 追求

Example:

讲民主 (speak democracy) = regard/ pay attention to democracy

不讲民主 (speak democracy) = disregard/ not pay attention to democracy

讲道理 (speak reason) = reasonable

不讲道理 (not speak reason) = Unreasonable

香港人讲生活，讲享受 = "Hong Kong people pay attention to life and enjoyment"

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: can you give me a example in use?  
> **username_2**: @Wise sequoia It is mainly for Cantonese  
> **username_3**: 唔講道理 is closer to "unreasonable."  不 in Cantonese is closer in meaning to "forbid"  
> **username_0**: doesn't 民主 also mean freedom. My mom says people often use it to say let me have me own choice.  
> **username_2**: 民主 is a system, freedom is a state. You can be in a Democratic country and not being free if you are poor. Democracy may give some people freedom at the expense of others. Look at the last four years in US. Someone said Democracy is a bad governing system but it is currently the best we can have  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2021-01-09. Score: 0

You should put the context in which you found this phrase, then the meaning would become apparent.

从理论上讲，他们的国家是一个多党派民主国家。  
Theoretically, their nation is a multi-party democracy.

There's the rub: Maybe, in context, your "讲" holds the doubt expressed in "Theoretically"


---

