This study draws on a historical-sociological perspective, examines a long-standing puzzle in the development of China’s sports industry: why large-scale capital investment has not translated into a dynamic and sustainable market. Existing explanations often emphasize regulatory constraints or market immaturity, yet such accounts leave key institutional tensions insufficiently addressed. This paper suggests that part of the problem lies in the semantic and institutional ambiguity embedded in the concept of Tiyu. Unlike Western contexts, where “physical education” and commercialized “sport” are conceptually distinguished, Tiyu historically encompasses both public welfare and market-oriented functions. By tracing the evolution of the term from its adoption as the Japanese loanword Taiiku to its consolidation under the Soviet-inspired Whole Nation System, the study shows that Tiyu was primarily constructed to serve national objectives rather than commercial development. This legacy continues to influence contemporary governance practices, often constraining attempts to treat sport as a marketable product. Policies such as the Integration of Sports and Education, while administratively rational, may further reinforce this conceptual overlap. The paper therefore proposes a strategy of conceptual decoupling, arguing that clearer differentiation between public welfare functions and commercial sport could help reduce institutional friction and create conditions for endogenous industry growth.

Zhang Congshan. The Semantics of Stagnation: A Conceptual Analysis of “Tiyu” Versus “Sport” and Its Structural Impact on the High-Quality Development of China's Sports Industry. Frontiers in Sport Research (2026), Vol. 8, Issue 1: 17-22. https://doi.org/10.25236/FSR.2026.080103.

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