群策群力 (qún cè qún lì) — to work together with collective wisdom and effort; to pool ideas and resources

Definition

A formal chengyu meaning everyone pools their ideas and effort toward a shared goal. It emphasizes joint brainstorming plus joint action, stronger than just 合作.

idiom
to work together with collective wisdom and effortto pool ideas and resources

Examples

  • 群策群力，。
    Zhè ge xiàng mù xū yào wǒ men qún cè qún lì, cái néng àn shí wán chéng.
    This project requires us to pool our ideas and efforts in order to finish on time.
  • ，群策群力，。
    Miàn duì kùn nan, dà jiā qún cè qún lì, hěn kuài jiù zhǎo dào le jiě jué bàn fǎ.
    Facing difficulties, everyone worked together with collective ideas and strength, and soon found a solution.
  • 群策群力，。
    Gōng sī tí chàng qún cè qún lì de jīng shén, gǔ lì měi wèi yuán gōng tí chū jiàn yì.
    The company promotes a spirit of collective brainstorming and teamwork, encouraging every employee to offer suggestions.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

群策collective plans
群qúncollective策cèplans
偏正Modifier + head
群力collective effort
群qúncollective力lìeffort
偏正Modifier + head

Collective plans joined with collective effort means pooling ideas and energy.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
羊羊yáng
Sound part声符shēngfú
君
君jūn群
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

群 pairs 羊, a sheep, to point to a herd or group, with 君 giving the sound.

Open 群 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
竹竹zhúbamboo
Sound part声符shēngfú
朿
朿cì策cè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

策 pairs 竹 (bamboo) with 朿 as a sound part.

Open 策 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
羊羊yáng
Sound part声符shēngfú
君
君jūn群
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

群 pairs 羊, a sheep, to point to a herd or group, with 君 giving the sound.

Open 群 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

力 is drawn as either an arm bending out from the side of the body or a wooden plough.

Open 力 →

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