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集体 (jí tǐ) — collective; group

Definition

集体 is a collective — a group acting as a single unit, often with shared interests (集体利益). Compared to 组 (a small working team) and 团体 (an organization), it emphasizes unity and shared identity rather than structure.

noun
collectivegroup
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 集体，。
    Wǒ men shì gè jí tǐ, yào hù xiāng bāng zhù.
    We are a group; we should help each other.
  • 集体。
    jí tǐ De shì qing dà jiā yì qǐ zuò.
    Collective matters are done by everyone together.
  • 集体。
    Tā jiā rù le zhè ge jí tǐ.
    He joined this group.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

集jígathered
体tǐbody

集 suggests gathered together and 体 denotes a body or entity, giving a group or collective.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

集 pairs 隹 (bird) with 木 (tree), showing birds on a tree, hence a gathering.

Open 集 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 體; 体 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
骨骨gǔbone
Sound part声符shēngfú
豊
豊lǐ體tǐ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 體 pairs 骨 (bone) with 豊 as a sound part; this note is about 體, not about the parts of 体.

Open 体 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5HSK 2.0 Level 5Groups & Organizations

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