jǔxíng: 举行 - To Hold (an event), To Conduct

• Keywords: juxing, 举行, hold an event in Chinese, conduct a meeting in Chinese, Chinese word for conference, HSK 4 vocabulary, jǔxíng meaning, Chinese grammar for events, formal Chinese verbs, 举办 vs 举行.
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese verb 举行 (jǔxíng), which means 'to hold' or 'to conduct' a formal event. This guide covers how to use jǔxíng to talk about holding a meeting, a wedding, or a conference in Chinese. Explore practical examples, cultural context, and common mistakes to master this key HSK 4 vocabulary word and sound more like a native speaker.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jǔxíng
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: 4
• Concise Definition: To hold, conduct, or carry out a planned, formal event or activity.
• In a Nutshell: 举行 (jǔxíng) is the go-to verb in Chinese for formal, organized events. Think of it as the action of officially “lifting up” (举) and “carrying out” (行) an activity like a conference, ceremony, or competition. It implies a significant degree of planning and officiality, making it different from simply “having” a casual party.

• 举 (jǔ): This character means “to lift,” “to raise,” or “to hold up.” The top part originally depicted a pestle and mortar, and the bottom part is a hand (手), suggesting the act of lifting something. In a metaphorical sense, it means to initiate or bring something forward for all to see.
• 行 (xíng): This character means “to go,” “to walk,” or “to carry out.” It originally looked like a crossroads, symbolizing movement and action. Here, it means to put something into action or to execute a plan.
• Together, 举行 (jǔxíng) literally means “to lift up and carry out.” This combination perfectly captures the meaning of formally launching and executing a planned event. It's not just happening; it is being actively and officially conducted.

• Formality and Ceremony: The use of 举行 reflects the importance placed on ceremony, procedure, and formality in Chinese culture. Important events like weddings, graduations, and official meetings aren't just informal gatherings; they are respected occasions that are properly conducted. Using this word signals that an event is significant and organized.
• Comparison to English: In English, we use a variety of verbs for events: “throw a party,” “have a meeting,” “run a competition,” or “hold a conference.” Chinese simplifies this for formal events with 举行. However, the nuance is key. “Throwing a party” is casual and spontaneous, a concept completely opposite to the feeling of 举行. 举行 is closer to the English “to hold a summit” or “to conduct a ceremony,” where the formality is baked into the verb itself.
• Related Values: This term connects to the cultural value of order (秩序, zhìxù) and doing things the “proper” way. It implies that an event has been thoughtfully planned and is being executed according to a schedule or protocol, showing respect for the occasion and its participants.

• Formality is Key: 举行 is almost exclusively used for formal, planned, and often public or semi-public events. You would never use it for a casual hangout with friends.
• Common Collocations: It pairs with nouns for official events.
  • 举行会议 (jǔxíng huìyì) - to hold a meeting/conference
  • 举行婚礼 (jǔxíng hūnlǐ) - to hold a wedding ceremony
  • 举行考试 (jǔxíng kǎoshì) - to hold/conduct an exam
  • 举行比赛 (jǔxíng bǐsài) - to hold a competition
  • 举行仪式 (jǔxíng yíshì) - to hold a ceremony
  • 举行活动 (jǔxíng huódòng) - to hold an activity/event
• Sentence Structure:

1. Subject + 举行 + Event: 公司将举行年会。(Gōngsī jiāng jǔxíng niánhuì.) - The company will hold its annual meeting.

  2.  **Event + 在 + Place + 举行:** 会议在三楼会议室**举行**。(Huìyì zài sānlóu huìyìshì jǔxíng.) - The meeting is held in the third-floor conference room. (This passive-like structure is very common).

• Example 1:
  • 我们公司下周一将举行一个重要的会议。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī xià zhōuyī jiāng jǔxíng yí ge zhòngyào de huìyì.
  • English: Our company will hold an important meeting next Monday.
  • Analysis: A classic and straightforward example of using 举行 in a business context. The event is a formal “meeting” (会议).
• Example 2:
  • 他们计划明年夏天在海边举行婚礼。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen jìhuà míngnián xiàtiān zài hǎibiān jǔxíng hūnlǐ.
  • English: They plan to hold their wedding ceremony at the seaside next summer.
  • Analysis: A wedding (婚礼) is a perfect example of a formal, planned ceremony where 举行 is the appropriate verb.
• Example 3:
  • 这次国际比赛将在北京举行。
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì guójì bǐsài jiāng zài Běijīng jǔxíng.
  • English: This international competition will be held in Beijing.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the common passive-like structure where the event is the subject. “The competition will be held…” is a very natural way to phrase this in both languages.
• Example 4:
  • 学校每年都会举行一次运动会。
  • Pinyin: Xuéxiào měi nián dōu huì jǔxíng yí cì yùndònghuì.
  • English: The school holds a sports meet every year.
  • Analysis: A “sports meet” (运动会) is a large, organized school event, making 举行 the correct choice.
• Example 5:
  • 毕业典礼于上午九点准时举行。
  • Pinyin: Bìyè diǎnlǐ yú shàngwǔ jiǔ diǎn zhǔnshí jǔxíng.
  • English: The graduation ceremony was held punctually at 9 AM.
  • Analysis: Again, the event (graduation ceremony) is the subject. The formal character 于 (yú) meaning “at” is often used with 举行 in written or formal announcements.
• Example 6:
  • 博物馆正在举行一个关于现代艺术的展览。
  • Pinyin: Bówùguǎn zhèngzài jǔxíng yí ge guānyú xiàndài yìshù de zhǎnlǎn.
  • English: The museum is currently holding an exhibition on modern art.
  • Analysis: Shows the use of 正在 (zhèngzài) to indicate an ongoing, formally held event like an exhibition (展览).
• Example 7:
  • 政府为新政策举行了新闻发布会。
  • Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ wèi xīn zhèngcè jǔxíng le xīnwén fābùhuì.
  • English: The government held a press conference for the new policy.
  • Analysis: A “press conference” (新闻发布会) is an official event, perfectly suited for 举行.
• Example 8:
  • 许多国家将举行选举来决定新的领导人。
  • Pinyin: Xǔduō guójiā jiāng jǔxíng xuǎnjǔ lái juédìng xīn de lǐngdǎorén.
  • English: Many countries will hold elections to decide on new leaders.
  • Analysis: Elections (选举) are highly formal, organized national events.
• Example 9:
  • 开幕式举行得非常成功。
  • Pinyin: Kāimùshì jǔxíng de fēicháng chénggōng.
  • English: The opening ceremony was held very successfully.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the complement of degree (得 de) to describe how the event was held.
• Example 10:
  • 由于天气恶劣，原定的庆祝活动没有举行。
  • Pinyin: Yóuyú tiānqì èliè, yuándìng de qìngzhù huódòng méiyǒu jǔxíng.
  • English: Due to the bad weather, the originally scheduled celebration was not held.
  • Analysis: Shows the negative form, simply using 没有 (méiyǒu) before the verb.

• 举行 (jǔxíng) vs. 办 (bàn) vs. 开 (kāi)

This is the most common point of confusion for learners. They can all mean “to hold” but have different levels of formality and focus.

• 举行 (jǔxíng): Most formal. Focuses on the act of conducting the event itself. Used for ceremonies, conferences, competitions, etc.
• 办 (bàn): Means “to organize, to run, to handle.” It emphasizes the entire process of planning and logistics, not just the event's execution. You can 办 a wedding (implying you arrange everything), or 办 a visa (handle the procedure). It's very versatile.
• 开 (kāi): Means “to open” or “to start.” It's the most common and least formal verb for meetings (开会) and parties (开派对). It focuses on the initiation of the gathering.
• Common Mistake: Using 举行 for casual events.
• Incorrect: 我们明天晚上要举行一个生日派对。
• (Wǒmen míngtiān wǎnshang yào jǔxíng yí ge shēngrì pàiduì.)
• Why it's wrong: This sounds comically formal, as if you're holding a state-sponsored birthday ceremony.
• Correct: 我们明天晚上要开一个生日派对。(kāi - most common) or 我们明天晚上要办一个生日派对。(bàn - emphasizes you're the organizer).
• “Holding” an object vs. an event:

Be careful not to confuse 举行 with other verbs for “hold.” To physically hold an object in your hands, you would use 拿 (ná) or 抱着 (bàozhe). 举行 is exclusively for abstract events.

• 举办 (jǔbàn) - To host, to sponsor, to organize. Very similar to 举行, but often highlights the role of the organizer or host entity.
• 开 (kāi) - To open, to hold (a meeting/party). The less formal, more common alternative for meetings and parties.
• 进行 (jìnxíng) - To be in progress, to carry on. Describes an activity that is currently underway. An event might be 举行 (held) at 8 PM, and from 8 PM onwards it is 进行 (in progress).
• 活动 (huódòng) - Activity, event. This is the general noun for the “thing” that is being held (举行).
• 仪式 (yíshì) - Ceremony. A very common type of formal event that is held (举行).
• 会议 (huìyì) - Meeting, conference. A noun that is a very frequent object of the verb 举行.
• 参加 (cānjiā) - To participate, to attend. The verb for what attendees do at an event that is being 举行'ed.
• 庆祝 (qìngzhù) - To celebrate. An action or purpose often associated with an event that is held.