统制 (tǒng zhì) — (verb) to control centrally, to command (an economy, resources, etc.); (noun) centralized control, command system

Definition

统制 (tǒngzhì) refers to centralized, top-down control — typically of an economy, resources, or military operations — stronger and more systematic than ordinary 管理.

verb
to control centrallyto command (an economy, resources, etc.)
noun
centralized controlcommand system
Easily confused

Examples

  • ，统制。
    Zhàn zhēng qī jiān, zhèng fǔ tǒng zhì le suǒ yǒu zhòng yào wù zī.
    During the war, the government centrally controlled all important supplies.
  • 统制。
    Zhè ge guó jiā de jīng jì shí xíng yán gé de zhōng yāng tǒng zhì.
    This country's economy implements strict centralized control.
  • 统制。
    Jūn shì tǒng zhì yāo qiú gè jí zhǐ huī guān fú cóng tǒng yī zhǐ huī.
    Military command requires commanders at all levels to obey unified orders.

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.

统tǒngunify
制zhìcontrol

统 carries the sense of unifying or governing, and 制 carries control or regulation; together they mean centralized control.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 統; 统 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
充
充chōng統tǒng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 統 uses 糸 as a meaning part and 充 as a sound part; the simplified 统 is a later shorthand, so this story is about 統, not about 统's parts.

Open 统 →

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

The form 制 pairs 朱 (tree) with 刀 (knife), showing the act of cutting a tree.

Open 制 →

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