"Harmonious society" was one of the phrases that popped up most often in the media last year, according to an annual media language analysis.

"'Harmonious society', a term regularly cited by political leaders and during the 16th Communist Party of China Central Committee's 6th plenary session, appeared very frequently in leading Chinese newspapers, radios and televisions last year," according to a report released on Friday.

Others phrases listed include "new socialist countryside", "Qinghai-Tibet Railway", "innovation", "socialist sense of honor and disgrace", "Sino-African forum", "Long March spirit", "consumption tax", "intangible heritage" and "anti-Chen demonstration", the protest against the Taiwan leader.

The report, jointly released by the National Language Resources Tracing and Research Center, Beijing Language and Culture University and Communication University of China, includes other popular phrases like "snails", which sent people to hospital, and "red-yolk eggs", which were contaminated with a dangerous dye.

"House price", "raising dogs", "Liu Xiang", a Chinese Olympic champion hurdler, and "Huang Jianxiang", a well-known Chinese soccer commentator who shouted "Forza Italia" to express his support for the Italian football team during a World Cup match broadcast live last June, are also listed.

The selected phrases are based on analysis of about 15 leading Chinese newspapers, 12 mainstream television programs and seven radio channels.

(Xinhua News Agency January 13, 2007)