Together we overcome difficulties
来自China Digital Space
gòng kè shí jiān 共克时艰
Phrase often used by state media which when read in reverse contains a "very reactionary" alternative meaning that netizens discovered in 2018.
The phrase "together we overcome difficulties" has long been used in official propaganda. People’s Daily Online in 2011 specifically explained the term, defining it’s meaning as “communally getting through a difficult and distressed period” (共同度过艰难困苦时期). The explanation also noted “when used by the masses, it is able to show the sheer will and determination of hundreds of millions of people to overcome all types of hardships and challenges” (用于广大群众时，更能表现出亿万人民战胜各种艰难困苦的意志和决心).
On July 10, China's recently consolidated external state media organization published an online commentary essay titled “Fighting a Trade War With the U.S., China is Capable of Paying a Fixed Price” (《[1]》). At the end of the article, it said “[in the context of trade war] the Chinese people are willing to bear a temporary loss of personal livelihood, overcoming these difficulties together with their responsible government…
