倡议 (chàng yì) is a formal, often collective or institutional term meaning 'proposal' or 'initiative'—especially one aimed at prompting action on a social, environmental, or public issue. The first character 倡 (chàng) means 'to advocate' or 'to promote', while 议 (yì) means 'to discuss' or 'deliberation'; together, they convey the idea of formally putting forward a suggestion for discussion and implementation. It frequently appears in official statements, NGO campaigns, and policy documents.

This word carries a positive, constructive connotation and implies responsibility and leadership. It’s commonly used with verbs like 发起 (fāqǐ, 'to launch'), 提出 (tíchū, 'to put forward'), or 响应 (xiǎngyìng, 'to respond to'). Unlike casual suggestions (e.g., 建议 jiànyì), 倡议 suggests organized effort and shared purpose—often directed at the public or a specific group to inspire coordinated action.