目前的觀念史和概念史研究，可以分為三種不同的理論來源。與之相關，近年的觀念史和概念史研究，以關鍵詞的語義變遷為研究對象者多，而對於詞彙的具體使用則少。本文以康有為對「社會」一詞的使用為例，探討康有為較多使用這一詞彙的原因。與一般理解不同，康有為在甲午至戊戌年間並不專倚皇權作為變政的手段。在此背景下，「合群立會」是康積聚政治勢力的主要手段。在他所編譯的《日本變政考》中對「社會」一詞的使用，主要是基於中文傳統用法的延續，但已有所選擇、偏重。為服務於自己結社集會的主張，康對「社會」大加發揮，實際上大多已偏離了日文原意。但正是在這種誤解與沿用之間，「社會」一詞重新獲得了生命力，新的用法也被輸入中國。

Current studies on the history of ideas or conceptual history have three theoretical origins. In recent years, the study of the history of ideas or conceptual history focused more on the changing meanings of key words than on their specific uses. This article analyzes the purpose of Kang Youwei's reuse of this word ＂Shehui.＂ The author argues that other than popular understanding of Kang, he did not see the authority of the Emperor as the only way to make reform in the Wuxu period (1895-1898). On the other hand, ＂making groups＂ is the main way for him to gain political influence. Kang's reuse of ＂Shehui＂ in his A Study of the Institutional Reforms in Japan was mostly a continuation of the word's tradition meaning, with a particular emphasis. Kang reinterpreted ＂Shehui＂ for his political proposal to make groups, so the meaning of the term had diverged from its original meaning in Japanese. However, the word ＂Shehui＂ gained vitality through Kang's misinterpretation and reinterpretation, and its new meaning was introduced to China.