tuánjié: 团结 - Unity, Solidarity, To Unite

• Keywords: tuanjie, 团结, what does tuanjie mean, Chinese unity, Chinese solidarity, Chinese collectivism, unite in Chinese, teamwork in Chinese, HSK 5 vocabulary
• Summary: Discover the deep meaning of 团结 (tuánjié), a core Chinese concept representing unity, solidarity, and the power of collectivism. This guide explores how 团结 (tuánjié) is more than just “teamwork,” reflecting a profound cultural value in Chinese society, from national slogans to everyday office life. Understand its usage, cultural significance, and how to correctly use this essential HSK 5 term to describe the strength found in a group.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): tuánjié
• Part of Speech: Verb / Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To unite or rally together for a common purpose; unity or solidarity.
• In a Nutshell: 团结 (tuánjié) is the powerful idea of a group of people binding together, setting aside differences to achieve a shared, significant goal. It carries a strong, positive, and often formal connotation of a deep, purposeful bond. Think less about a temporary team for a project, and more about the “all for one, one for all” spirit that defines a family, a successful company, or even a nation.

• 团 (tuán): This character's original form depicts a round object, and it has evolved to mean “group,” “organization,” or “ball.” A circle has no beginning or end, symbolizing wholeness and inclusion. Think of a `社团 (shètuán)` (club) or a `团体 (tuántǐ)` (group/organization).
• 结 (jié): This character combines the “silk” radical (纟) with 吉 (jí - lucky). It means “to tie a knot,” “to bind,” or “to form.” It's the character used in `结婚 (jiéhūn)` (to marry) and `结果 (jiéguǒ)` (result, outcome).
• Together, 团结 (tuánjié) literally means “to tie a group into a knot.” This creates a powerful visual of individuals being bound together into a strong, cohesive, and inseparable unit.

In Chinese culture, which is heavily influenced by collectivism (集体主义, jítǐ zhǔyì), the well-being and goals of the group often take precedence over the individual. 团结 is the active expression of this value. It's not just a strategy for success; it's a moral virtue. A group that is 团结 is strong, harmonious, and resilient, while a group that is not is considered weak and dysfunctional. A useful Western comparison is the concept of “solidarity,” but 团结 is broader and more deeply embedded in daily life. While “solidarity” in English is often reserved for political movements or unions, 团结 is a principle applied to a family facing hardship, a classroom working on a project, a company striving for a quarterly target, and the nation as a whole. It is the practical application of the Confucian ideal of social harmony (和谐, héxié), where everyone understands their role and works together for the common good. It's frequently seen in national slogans and is a cornerstone of patriotic education, emphasizing that China's strength comes from the unity of its people.

团结 is a versatile term, but it generally carries a degree of seriousness and importance.

• In Politics and National Discourse: This is its most common and powerful context. Leaders often call for the people to 团结 to overcome challenges or achieve national goals. You will see it on banners, in newspapers, and in official speeches.
• In the Workplace: A manager might use this term to motivate their team. Calling for 团结 is a way of saying, “Let's stop the internal squabbles, focus on our shared objective, and function as a single, powerful unit.”
• In Schools: Teachers encourage students to be 团结, especially during group activities, sports competitions, or when representing the class or school. It fosters a sense of collective honor and responsibility.
• In Social and Family Life: While less common in casual chat, it can be used to describe a family or a group of neighbors who are very close-knit and supportive of one another, especially in times of crisis.

Its connotation is almost exclusively positive. It implies strength, loyalty, and a higher purpose.

• Example 1:
  • 团结就是力量。
  • Pinyin: Tuánjié jiùshì lìliàng.
  • English: Unity is strength.
  • Analysis: This is a famous and powerful slogan, often used in political and motivational contexts. It perfectly encapsulates the core meaning of the word.
• Example 2:
  • 经理要求我们团结一致，完成这个项目。
  • Pinyin: Jīnglǐ yāoqiú wǒmen tuánjié yīzhì, wánchéng zhège xiàngmù.
  • English: The manager requires us to unite as one to complete this project.
  • Analysis: Here, 团结 is used as a verb. The phrase `团结一致 (tuánjié yīzhì)` is a common collocation meaning “to be solidly united” or “to unite as one.”
• Example 3:
  • 老师告诉我们，一个班级最重要的就是团结。
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī gàosù wǒmen, yīgè bānjí zuì zhòngyào de jiùshì tuánjié.
  • English: The teacher told us that the most important thing for a class is unity.
  • Analysis: In this sentence, 团结 functions as a noun, representing the concept of unity itself. This is a common way teachers foster a collective spirit in the classroom.
• Example 4:
  • 遇到困难时，我们家总能团结起来。
  • Pinyin: Yù dào kùnnán shí, wǒmen jiā zǒng néng tuánjié qǐlái.
  • English: When encountering difficulties, our family can always unite.
  • Analysis: The directional complement `起来 (qǐlái)` signifies the beginning and continuation of the action of uniting. It shows the process of coming together.
• Example 5:
  • 只有团结合作，我们的球队才能赢得比赛。
  • Pinyin: Zhǐyǒu tuánjié hézuò, wǒmen de qiúduì cái néng yíngdé bǐsài.
  • English: Only by uniting and cooperating can our team win the game.
  • Analysis: This example pairs 团结 with `合作 (hézuò)`. 团结 describes the team's spirit and mindset, while 合作 describes their actions.
• Example 6:
  • 这种团结的精神非常令人感动。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhǒng tuánjié de jīngshén fēicháng lìng rén gǎndòng.
  • English: This spirit of solidarity is very moving.
  • Analysis: Here, 团结 acts as an adjective modifying `精神 (jīngshén - spirit)`. This highlights the abstract, emotional quality of the concept.
• Example 7:
  • 全体人民团结起来，共同抗击自然灾害。
  • Pinyin: Quántǐ rénmín tuánjié qǐlái, gòngtóng kàngjí zìrán zāihài.
  • English: The entire population united to collectively fight against the natural disaster.
  • Analysis: A typical example from news or official reports, demonstrating the term's use on a national scale for a major event.
• Example 8:
  • 他善于团结同事，所以很受大家欢迎。
  • Pinyin: Tā shànyú tuánjié tóngshì, suǒyǐ hěn shòu dàjiā huānyíng.
  • English: He is good at uniting his colleagues, so he is very popular with everyone.
  • Analysis: This shows 团结 as a transitive verb, with “colleagues” as the object. It describes a person's leadership or social skill.
• Example 9:
  • 缺乏团结是他们团队失败的主要原因。
  • Pinyin: Quēfá tuánjié shì tāmen tuánduì shībài de zhǔyào yuányīn.
  • English: A lack of unity was the main reason for their team's failure.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the absence of 团结 to explain a negative outcome, reinforcing its importance.
• Example 10:
  • 让我们团结起来，为更美好的未来而奋斗！
  • Pinyin: Ràng wǒmen tuánjié qǐlái, wèi gèng měihǎo de wèilái ér fèndòu!
  • English: Let's unite and strive for a better future!
  • Analysis: A classic call to action, often used at the end of a speech to inspire a group. It pairs 团结 with `奋斗 (fèndòu - to strive, to struggle)`.

• 团结 (tuánjié) vs. 合作 (hézuò): This is the most common point of confusion.
  • `合作 (hézuò)` means “to cooperate” or “collaborate.” It's often functional, transactional, and can be temporary. Two rival companies can `合作` on one project.
  • `团结 (tuánjié)` implies a deeper, more emotional and ideological bond. It's about a shared identity and spirit. You `团结` with your comrades, not your competitors.
• Overusing 团结 for Casual Situations: Because it carries weight, using 团结 for trivial matters sounds strange or overly dramatic.
  • Incorrect: 我们团结起来去买午饭吧。 (Wǒmen tuánjié qǐlái qù mǎi wǔfàn ba.) - “Let's unite to go buy lunch.”
  • Correct: 我们一起去买午饭吧。 (Wǒmen yīqǐ qù mǎi wǔfàn ba.) - “Let's go buy lunch together.”
  • Rule of Thumb: If the goal isn't significant or doesn't require overcoming a challenge, use `一起 (yīqǐ)` (together) instead.

• 合作 (hézuò) - To cooperate. More about functional collaboration than the deep, spiritual bond of 团结.
• 集体主义 (jítǐ zhǔyì) - Collectivism. The social and political philosophy that provides the cultural foundation for why 团结 is so highly valued.
• 和谐 (héxié) - Harmony. The ideal social state that unity (团结) is meant to achieve and preserve.
• 凝聚力 (níngjùlì) - Cohesion; cohesive force. This is the measurable “stickiness” or strength of a group, which is a direct result of being 团结.
• 一致 (yīzhì) - Unanimous; identical; consistent. Often paired with 团结 to mean “solidly united” (`团结一致`).
• 力量 (lìliàng) - Strength; power. Famously follows 团结 in the slogan “团结就是力量” (Unity is strength).
• 奋斗 (fèndòu) - To struggle; to strive. The kind of effort that a united group often undertakes to achieve its goals.
• 分裂 (fēnliè) - To split; to divide; division. The direct and most feared antonym of 团结.