Abstract: Represented by ChatGPT, DeepSeek, and Ernie Bot, generative artificial intelligence is an important engine for the digital transformation of Chinese language education in China. It can promote the transformation of the traditional teacher-student bidirectional relationship in Chinese classrooms to a triangular communication model of teacher-machine-student, presenting an opportunity for the high-quality development of Chinese language education. The value of generative artificial intelligence in empowering Chinese language education is manifested in: human-machine collaboration, promoting efficient teaching by Chinese language teachers; human-machine co-creation, enhancing the personalization of students' Chinese language learning; and human-machine co-evaluation, promoting diversified evaluation of Chinese language education. However, generative artificial intelligence in Chinese language education also faces a series of risks: difficulties in language application practice, challenges in enhancing core competencies; the teacher-student interaction is superficial, making it difficult to generate emotional resonance; students tend to rely on AI when using it, making it difficult to form aesthetic creativity; difficulties in distinguishing the truth and falsehood of knowledge, leading to dilemmas in digital ethics of Chinese language. To address the challenges posed by generative artificial intelligence to Chinese language education, the following strategies can be adopted: adhering to the educational value of Chinese language disciplines, enhancing the digital intelligence literacy of educational subjects, regulating digital ethics in Chinese language education, and actively promoting the high-quality and efficient application of generative artificial intelligence in the digital transformation of Chinese language education.