Malaysia announces 10 candidate Chinese characters reflecting the social climate of 2025.
- Erik & Aya
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Image for illustrative purposes only.
Malaysia announces 10 candidate Chinese characters for 2025 – by the Sinology Center and Chinese community organizations, November 23, 2025.
The candidate Chinese characters for 2025 are as follows:
税、酒、援、油、诈、校、霸、旗、盟、震
There are three notable features of this year’s voting:
1. Cautious voting trends
Voters cast their ballots after careful consideration. The various issues that have occurred in Malaysia resonated deeply with the public, highlighting the strong connection between the vote and the sentiments of the people.
2. Many new characters
Among the candidate Chinese characters, seven are new, while three have appeared in previous years. This reflects new events or policies that have taken place in the country.
3. Phenomenon across ethnic groups
People from other ethnic groups are showing interest in learning Chinese as a second or third language. This demonstrates that Chinese serves as a tool for interethnic communication and contributes to national unity.
Voting is open until December 9 and can be done via the dedicated phone number 016-201 7727 or through the official website http://hanzi.com.my. Those who vote on the official website will be entered into a lottery: if the chosen Chinese character for the year is selected, 10 winners will receive RM50 and RM30 bookstore vouchers.
How much does the government understand?
The Top 10 Chinese characters of the year 2025 were announced on November 23. 「税」 reappeared for the first time in five years, while 「校」 and 「霸」 made the list for the first time. At first glance, these 10 characters may seem unrelated, but they can be seen as a “mirror image” reflecting Malaysian society this year.
The annual character is not merely a word game; it condenses the shocks, frustrations, and hopes that the entire nation experienced over the course of the year into a single character.
The most significant character of the year is 「税」.
Following debates over subsidy restructuring, aid for eligible recipients, fuel price adjustments, and the fiscal deficit, 「税」 once again captured the attention of the public, reflecting concerns about future economic burdens.
Even as the government emphasizes the need for reforms, the direction and pace of tax policy affect businesses, workers, and household life, sending ripples through the market each time.
The first appearance of 「校」 and 「霸」
Alongside the resurgence of 「税」, notable is the first-time appearance of 「校」 and 「霸」. Over the past year, incidents such as school bullying, student accidents, on-campus incidents, and sexual crimes occurred one after another, turning schools—places that should be safe—into flashpoints for social issues. Parents grew anxious, students were hurt, and schools came under intense scrutiny, while even minor incidents could spark major debates online.
Other Selected Characters
油: Changes in fuel prices and subsidy systems affecting daily life
援: Debates over government aid policies, fairness, and transparency
诈: Frequent incidents of fraud
震: Anxiety caused by domestic politics, regional conflicts, and economic fluctuations
This year’s Top 10 characters reflect the complex and weighty “social sentiments” of the public. 「税」 represents tangible burdens, 「校」 and 「霸」 highlight social issues, while 「油」「援」「诈」「震」 symbolize the uncertainties and anxieties of daily life.
The Representative Chinese Characters of the Year in Malaysia Over the Past Five Years
2020: 疫 – A year when many people faced hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021: 盼 – Amid uncertainty about infections and the economy, people longed for future recovery.
2022: 涨 – Symbolizing a year of rising prices, demand, and social phenomena.
2023: 贵 – (As the characters representing the year were diverse, no top character was selected; the best comment was determined by voting.)
2024: 升 – A year in which “rise” and “progress” stood out in politics, economy, diplomacy, and society.
The Chinese character of the year changes annually, but the voices of the people remain vivid. If the government takes note of public sentiment reflected in these characters, next year may see a lighter and warmer character being chosen.
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📚 Sources Official Website
https://hanzi.com.my/ ”大马年度候选汉字出炉”2025年11月23日
