“Four Noes and Two Directs” Is a Full Embodiment of the Party’s Fine Work Style

Recently, multiple provincial Party secretaries have conducted in-depth grassroots research using the “four noes and two directs” method—no issuing notices, no advance greetings, no listening to reports, no official accompaniment, directly going to the grassroots and directly arriving at the site. This is not only a pragmatic measure to improve the leadership style but also a vivid manifestation of the Party’s fine work style. The “four noes and two directs” originally originated from a covert inspection and supervision mechanism in the field of production safety, aimed at preventing inspected units from preparing in advance and concealing hazards. Today, it has expanded from a specialized work method into an important way for leading cadres to conduct research and ascertain actual conditions, profoundly reflecting and centrally embodying the consistent fine traditions and distinctive characteristics of the Communist Party of China.

近期，多位省委书记以不发通知、不打招呼、不听汇报、不用陪同，直奔基层、直插现场的“四不两直”方式深入基层调研，这既是改进领导作风的务实举措，更是党的优良作风的生动彰显。“四不两直”最初源于安全生产领域的暗查暗访机制，旨在规避被检查单位提前准备、掩盖隐患。如今，它已从专项工作方法拓展为领导干部开展调研、体察实情的重要方式，深刻映照和集中体现了中国共产党一以贯之的优良传统与鲜明特质。

The “four noes and two directs” is a vivid expression of the work style of seeking truth from facts and being pragmatic and realistic. Seeking truth from facts is the living soul of Marxism and the fundamental ideological method by which the Party has led the people to achieve brilliant victories in revolution, construction, and reform and opening up. Investigation and research, as a heirloom of the Party, are the foundation for planning affairs and the path to success. However, for a period, some research degenerated into a formalistic “going through the motions”: routes planned in advance, sites carefully selected, materials repeatedly polished, filled with beautiful empty words and rigorous clichés. Some localities even developed “classic research routes,” with the masses sarcastically remarking, “sitting in the car and touring, looking through the glass.” This kind of potted-plant-style, show-style research deviates from the original intent of investigation and research and fails to touch the real situation at the grassroots. The “four noes and two directs” discards preset procedures, breaks established routines, and uses the direct method of no notices, no greetings, and no listening to reports to go straight to the grassroots frontline. Its core purpose is to ascertain the real situation, discover genuine problems, and provide a solid basis for scientific decision-making and precise policy implementation. It can be said that the “four noes and two directs” is precisely the direct manifestation of the work style of seeking truth from facts and being pragmatic and realistic in research work in the New Era.

“四不两直”是实事求是、求真务实作风的鲜明体现。实事求是是马克思主义活的灵魂，是党领导人民取得革命、建设和改革辉煌胜利的根本思想方法。调查研究作为党的传家宝，是谋事之基、成事之道。然而，曾有一段时期，部分调研沦为“走过场”的形式主义：路线提前规划、点位精心挑选、材料反复打磨，满是漂亮的空话与严谨的套话。一些地方甚至出现“经典调研线路”，群众戏称“坐在车里转、隔着玻璃看”。这种盆景式、作秀式调研，背离了调查研究的初衷，难以触及基层真实情况。“四不两直”摒弃预设流程、打破固有套路，以不发通知、不打招呼、不听汇报的直接方式，直奔基层一线。它的核心目的就是摸清实情、发现真问题，为科学决策、精准施策提供坚实依据。可以说，“四不两直”正是实事求是、求真务实作风在新时代调研工作中的直接彰显。

The “four noes and two directs” is a vivid practice of the work style of maintaining close ties with the masses. Maintaining close ties with the masses is one of the Party’s three fine work styles, [1]1 The “Four No’s and Two Directs” (四不两直) refers to a working method for research and inspection: issuing no notice, making no announcement, requiring no reports, and arranging no welcome; going directly to the grassroots and directly to the scene. It is intended to cut through formalism and obtain an unvarnished picture of conditions on the ground. demonstrating the fundamental purpose of serving the people wholeheartedly, and is the lifeline and fundamental working line for the Party to maintain enduring vitality. As early as during his work in Zhengding, Hebei, Comrade Xi Jinping often conducted research without advance

“四不两直”是密切联系群众作风的生动实践。密切联系群众是党的三大优良作风之一，彰显着全心全意为人民服务的根本宗旨，是党永葆生机活力的生命线与根本工作路线。早在河北正定工作期间，习近平同志调研便常不打招呼、直奔一线，深入乡村、工厂、农户家中了解真实民情，他曾说：“要抽时间到乡亲们中走一走看一看。”这种朴素而深刻的工作方法，正是密切联系群众的典范。“四不两直”直奔基层、直插现场，不搞层层陪同、不做表面文章，让干部从会议室、文件堆里走出来，走到田间地头、社区楼宇、工厂车间，与群众坐在一条板凳上说话、面对面交心。这种方式拆掉了群众与干部之间的“隔心墙”，让群众敢讲真话、愿说实话，使干部真正成为群众的贴心人。因此，“四不两直”正是密切联系群众优良作风的生动实践。

The “Four No’s and Two Directs” is a concrete manifestation of the style of courageously carrying out criticism and self-criticism. Criticism and self-criticism are also one of the Party’s three fine traditions; their core essence lies in confronting contradictions, facing problems squarely, and turning the blade inward. For a long time, a minority of units and cadres have been accustomed to “reporting only the good news and not the bad,” covering up problems, skirting the serious and dwelling on the trivial, and even engaging in fraud and whitewashing. This unhealthy atmosphere not only conceals contradictions but also weakens the Party’s cohesion and combat effectiveness. The “Four No’s and Two Directs” insists on issuing no notice, making no announcement, and requiring no accompaniment; in essence, it discards the concealing mentality of “reporting only the good news and not the bad,” actively going deep into the grassroots to discover real problems, find the root causes of problems, and analyze the crux of problems. This method requires leading cadres to listen not only to “words of praise” but also to “unpleasant advice”; to examine not only the “glossy and beautiful” positive side but also the “dark corners” of the negative side. This fully embodies the fine tradition of Communists who dare to turn the blade inward and engage in self-innovation; it is the contemporary inheritance and practical application of the weapon of criticism and self-criticism.

“四不两直”是勇于开展批评与自我批评作风的具体彰显。批评与自我批评也是党的三大优良作风之一，其核心要义在于直面矛盾、正视问题、刀刃向内。长期以来，少数单位和干部习惯于“报喜不报忧”，对问题遮遮掩掩、避重就轻，甚至弄虚作假、粉饰太平。这种不良风气不仅掩盖了矛盾，更削弱了党的凝聚力和战斗力。“四不两直”坚持不发通知、不打招呼、不用陪同，本质上就是摒弃“报喜不报忧”的遮掩心态，主动深入基层发现真问题、找准问题根源、剖析问题症结。这种方式要求领导干部既要听“赞美之词”，更要听“逆耳之言”；既要看“光鲜亮丽”的正面，也要查“阴暗角落”的反面。这充分体现了共产党人勇于刀刃向内、自我革新的优良作风，是对批评与自我批评这一武器的当代传承与实践运用。

The “Four No’s and Two Directs” is a powerful interpretation of the style of Party members and cadres who dare to take responsibility and work with genuine effort. Daring to take responsibility and being good at taking action are core traits of good cadres in the New Era and important yardsticks for measuring the Party spirit cultivation and performance capability of Party members and cadres. The “Four No’s and Two Directs” breaks the conventional model of research, directly confronting the complex situations at the grassroots and the potential contradictions and problems; it requires not only the courage to face problems but also the sense of responsibility to tackle difficulties. In reality, some cadres are accustomed to “horseback-gazing” research and “layer-upon-layer accompaniment” inspections, with a retinue of attendants and great pomp, which seems to save effort and worry but is in fact a manifestation of formalism and bureaucracy, essentially a sign of not daring to touch contradictions and being unwilling to bear responsibility. Choosing the “Four No’s and Two Directs” means actively abandoning the comfort zone of “advance preparation,” actively sinking to the front line, and directly facing contradictions and challenges; it allows one to see the real difficulties at the grassroots and also to hear the sharp criticisms from the masses. Only those cadres who truly take the cause to heart and shoulder responsibility on their shoulders can consciously apply and adhere to the “Four No’s and Two Directs” working method. It can be said that this method is a clear hallmark of Party members and cadres who discard empty achievements, dare to take responsibility, and work with genuine effort.

“四不两直”是党员干部勇于担当、真抓实干作风的有力诠释。敢于担当、善于作为，是新时代好干部的核心特质，也是衡量党员干部党性修养、履职能力的重要标尺。“四不两直”打破常规调研模式，直面基层复杂情况、直面潜在矛盾问题，既需要直面问题的勇气，更需要攻坚克难的担当。现实中，部分干部习惯“走马观花”式调研、“层层陪同”式督查，前呼后拥、排场十足，看似省心省力，实则是形式主义、官僚主义的体现，本质上是不敢触碰矛盾、不愿承担责任的表现。而选择“四不两直”，意味着主动放弃“事先准备”的舒适区，主动沉到一线、直面矛盾挑战，既可看到基层真实的困难，也能听到群众的尖锐批评。只有那些真正把事业放在心上、把责任扛在肩上的干部，才能自觉运用并坚持好“四不两直”工作法。可以说，这一方式正是党员干部摒弃虚功、勇于担当、真抓实干的鲜明标识。

The “Four No’s and Two Directs” is an inevitable requirement of the style of hard struggle and practicing economy. Hard struggle, diligence, and frugality are the Party’s fine traditions and the core essence of the spirit of the Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulations; they are an important guarantee for the Party’s journey and growth. In the past, some research activities involved issuing notices in advance, making preparations at every level, and arranging accompaniment everywhere; grassroots units expended a great deal of human, material, and financial resources to prepare for inspections and research that ended up being mere formalities with little effect, causing enormous waste of public resources. In March 2023, the General Office of the Central Committee of the CPC issued the “Work Plan on Promoting Large-Scale Research Across the Party,” which clearly requires that research work be conducted with light baggage, practice economy, and avoid layer-upon-layer accompaniment. The “Four No’s and Two Directs,” with its principles of issuing no notice and requiring no accompaniment, simplifies procedures, reduces the burden on the grassroots, and eliminates resource waste, allowing cadres to use their limited energy and resources on the cutting edge. This is both an inheritance of the fine tradition of hard struggle and a strict implementation of the spirit of the Central Committee’s Eight-Point Regulations; it is a direct embodiment of the style of hard struggle and practicing economy in research work in the New Era.

“四不两直”是艰苦奋斗、厉行节约作风的必然要求。艰苦奋斗、勤俭节约是党的优良传统，也是中央八项规定精神的核心要义，是我们党一路走来、发展壮大的重要保证。以往部分调研，提前发通知、层层做准备、处处搞陪同，基层单位耗费大量人力、物力、财力筹备迎检调研却流于形式、成效甚微，造成公共资源的极大浪费。2023年3月，中共中央办公厅印发《关于在全党大兴调查研究的工作方案》，明确要求调研工作轻车简从、厉行节约、不搞层层陪同。“四不两直”以不发通知、不用陪同为准则，简化流程、减轻基层负担、杜绝资源浪费，让干部把有限的精力和资源用在刀刃上。这既是对艰苦奋斗优良传统的继承，也是对中央八项规定精神的严格落实，是艰苦奋斗、厉行节约作风在新时代调研工作中的直接体现。

(Author’s bio: Liu Haifei, male, Associate Researcher at the Institute of Marxism, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and Lead Professor at the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.)

（作者简介：刘海飞，男，中国社会科学院马克思主义研究院副研究员、中国社会科学院大学主讲教授。）