'Lían zhèng' literally combines 廉 (lián), meaning 'honest,' 'incorruptible,' or 'frugal,' and 政 (zhèng), meaning 'government,' 'administration,' or 'governance.' Together, the term refers to 'clean governance' — a system or practice of public administration characterized by transparency, accountability, integrity, and zero tolerance for corruption. It emphasizes ethical conduct among officials, fair policy implementation, and institutional mechanisms that prevent abuse of power.

This term is frequently used in official discourse, anti-corruption campaigns, government reports, and civic education in China and other Chinese-speaking regions. It appears in slogans (e.g., 'building a clean government'), institutional names (e.g., the National Commission of Supervision), and academic discussions on political ethics. While rooted in Confucian ideals of virtuous leadership, modern usage also reflects international standards of good governance and rule of law.