====== jí: 集 - to gather, collect; a collection, set ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** 集 meaning, jí meaning Chinese, how to use 集, Chinese word for collect, Chinese character for gather, 集 pinyin, 集合, 收集, 集中, 集市, Chinese market, episode in Chinese
  * **Summary:** Discover the meaning of 集 (jí), a fundamental Chinese character representing the concept of gathering and collecting. Learn how this single character, which originally depicted birds gathering on a tree, forms essential modern words related to assembly (集合), collection (收集), concentration (集中), and even traditional markets (集市). This guide provides a deep dive into its cultural significance, practical usage, and common compounds, making it an essential resource for any Mandarin learner.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** jí
  * **Part of Speech:** Verb, Noun, Measure Word
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 4
  * **Concise Definition:** To gather, assemble, or collect people or things; a collection, a set, or a market.
  * **In a Nutshell:** The core idea of 集 (jí) is bringing multiple separate items—be they people, objects, or ideas—together into a single, cohesive group or location. Imagine birds flocking to a tree, people collecting stamps, or a crowd assembling in a square. This concept of "coming together" is the essence of 集, and it extends to mean the resulting collection (like a book of essays) or the place of gathering (like a market).
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * The character 集 is a compound ideograph that tells a simple story.
  * **Top: 隹 (zhuī):** This is a radical representing a short-tailed bird.
  * **Bottom: 木 (mù):** This is the character for "tree" or "wood".
  * The combination of "bird" on top of "tree" creates a vivid image of **multiple birds gathering on a tree**. This original meaning of "to gather" or "to congregate" has been broadly applied over centuries to encompass the gathering of anything, from people and objects to thoughts and data.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
  * The concept of 集 resonates deeply with the collectivist nature of Chinese culture. The act of "gathering" is fundamental to family life, community, and social harmony. Terms like **家庭聚集** (jiātíng jùjí - family gathering) are central to cultural events like the Spring Festival.
  * Historically, the **集市** (jíshì), or rural market fair, was the vibrant heart of a town. It was more than a place of commerce; it was the primary social hub where people would gather to trade news, share gossip, and maintain community ties. This contrasts with the more transactional nature of a modern Western supermarket. The Chinese `集市` embodies a gathering of community, not just goods.
  * The idiom **集思广益** (jí sī guǎng yì), which means "to collect thoughts to reach a broader consensus," reflects a cultural value placed on group wisdom over individual genius. The idea is that by gathering ideas from everyone, a better, more harmonious outcome can be achieved.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
  * 集 is rarely used as a standalone verb in modern spoken Mandarin. It almost always appears as part of a two-character word.
==== As a Verb: Gathering and Collecting ====
  * **集合 (jíhé):** To assemble or gather (people), often in a formal or organized context like for soldiers, students, or a tour group.
  * **收集 (shōují):** To collect or gather (things), such as stamps, data, or information. This implies a purposeful collection.
  * **集中 (jízhōng):** To concentrate or focus. This can apply to attention, resources, or troops. It means gathering everything to a central point.
==== As a Noun: Collections and Markets ====
  * **文集 (wénjí):** An anthology or a collected works of an author.
  * **合集 (héjí):** A compilation or collection, often of music or videos from various sources.
  * **集市 (jíshì):** A traditional market or fair. To "go to the market" is **赶集 (gǎnjí)**.
  * **数据集 (shùjùjí):** A dataset (a very common term in modern tech and data science).
==== As a Measure Word: Episodes ====
  * A very common modern usage of 集 is as a measure word for episodes of a television series.
  * Example: **一集电视剧** (yī jí diànshìjù) - one episode of a TV show.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 老师让学生们在操场上**集合**。
    * Pinyin: Lǎoshī ràng xuéshēngmen zài cāochǎng shàng **jíhé**.
    * English: The teacher told the students to assemble on the playground.
    * Analysis: Here, `集合` is used in its most common sense: a formal assembly of people, directed by an authority figure.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 我从小就喜欢**收集**邮票。
    * Pinyin: Wǒ cóngxiǎo jiù xǐhuān **shōují** yóupiào.
    * English: I've loved collecting stamps since I was a child.
    * Analysis: `收集` refers to the hobby of collecting objects. It implies a deliberate and ongoing process of gathering.
  * **Example 3:**
    * 开会的时候，请大家**集中**注意力。
    * Pinyin: Kāihuì de shíhòu, qǐng dàjiā **jízhōng** zhùyìlì.
    * English: During the meeting, please concentrate your attention.
    * Analysis: `集中` is used abstractly here to mean "to focus" or "to centralize" one's mental energy.
  * **Example 4:**
    * 这个周末我们一起去**赶集**吧，听说很热闹。
    * Pinyin: Zhège zhōumò wǒmen yīqǐ qù **gǎnjí** ba, tīngshuō hěn rènào.
    * English: Let's go to the market fair this weekend, I hear it's very lively.
    * Analysis: `赶集` is a very common and colloquial phrase. It captures the cultural activity of going to a traditional, bustling market.
  * **Example 5:**
    * 这部电视剧一共有五十**集**。
    * Pinyin: Zhè bù diànshìjù yīgòng yǒu wǔshí **jí**.
    * English: This TV series has fifty episodes in total.
    * Analysis: This demonstrates the use of `集` as a measure word for TV episodes. This is an essential vocabulary point for discussing modern media.
  * **Example 6:**
    * 鲁迅先生的**文集**是现代文学的瑰宝。
    * Pinyin: Lǔ Xùn xiānshēng de **wénjí** shì xiàndài wénxué de guībǎo.
    * English: Mr. Lu Xun's collected works are a treasure of modern literature.
    * Analysis: `文集` refers to a collection of literary works by a single author.
  * **Example 7:**
    * 为了解决这个问题，我们需要**集思广益**。
    * Pinyin: Wèile jiějué zhège wèntí, wǒmen xūyào **jí sī guǎng yì**.
    * English: To solve this problem, we need to pool our wisdom and thoughts.
    * Analysis: This is a chengyu (idiom) that literally means "gather thoughts, broaden benefits." It's a formal way to say "let's brainstorm."
  * **Example 8:**
    * 公司决定将所有资源**集中**到这个新项目上。
    * Pinyin: Gōngsī juédìng jiāng suǒyǒu zīyuán **jízhōng** dào zhège xīn xiàngmù shàng.
    * English: The company decided to concentrate all its resources on this new project.
    * Analysis: Similar to concentrating attention, `集中` here means gathering and focusing tangible resources on a single goal.
  * **Example 9:**
    * 港口上堆满了五颜六色的**集装箱**。
    * Pinyin: Gǎngkǒu shàng duī mǎnle wǔyánliùsè de **jízhuāngxiāng**.
    * English: The port was piled high with colorful shipping containers.
    * Analysis: `集装箱` (jízhuāngxiāng), or "container," literally means "gathered-loading-box," a box for gathering goods to be loaded.
  * **Example 10:**
    * 这部纪录片的第三**集**讨论了环境保护问题。
    * Pinyin: Zhè bù jìlùpiàn de dì sān **jí** tǎolùnle huánjìng bǎohù wèntí.
    * English: The third episode of this documentary discussed environmental protection issues.
    * Analysis: Another example of `集` as a measure word, used here with an ordinal number (第三, dì sān, "the third").
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **Mistake 1: Using 集 alone as a verb.**
    * In modern Chinese, you rarely use 集 by itself to mean "to gather." It almost always needs a second character.
    * **Incorrect:** 我**集**了很多邮票。 (Wǒ jíle hěnduō yóupiào.)
    * **Correct:** 我**收集**了很多邮票。 (Wǒ shōujíle hěnduō yóupiào.)
    * The single-character use of 集 sounds very classical or literary and is out of place in normal conversation.
  * **Mistake 2: Confusing 集合 (jíhé) with 聚会 (jùhuì).**
    * While both mean "to gather," **集合 (jíhé)** implies an organized, often mandatory assembly with a specific purpose (like a military formation or a tour group meeting).
    * **聚会 (jùhuì)** refers to a social gathering, like a party or a casual get-together with friends. You would have a `朋友聚会` (péngyǒu jùhuì - a get-together with friends), not a `朋友集合`.
  * **Mistake 3: Confusing 集中 (jízhōng) with 专注 (zhuānzhù).**
    * Both can mean "to focus." However, **集中 (jízhōng)** means to "gather to a central point." It can be used for attention, power, or resources.
    * **专注 (zhuānzhù)** specifically refers to mental focus and deep concentration, often on a single task. While you can `集中注意力` (concentrate attention), `专注` implies a deeper state of absorption.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[集合]] (jíhé) - To assemble; a set (mathematics). A more formal term for gathering people for a purpose.
  * [[收集]] (shōují) - To collect, to gather. Emphasizes the purpose behind gathering items, like for a hobby or research.
  * [[集中]] (jízhōng) - To concentrate, centralize. Focuses on bringing things (tangible or intangible) to a single point.
  * [[聚集]] (jùjí) - To congregate, to crowd together. Often used to describe a crowd of people gathering spontaneously.
  * [[聚会]] (jùhuì) - A party, a (social) gathering. Stresses the social and recreational aspect of getting together.
  * [[开会]] (kāihuì) - To have a meeting. A gathering specifically for discussion and business, distinct from a social `聚会` or a formal `集合`.
  * [[市场]] (shìchǎng) - Market. A more general and modern term for a market, including abstract concepts like "the stock market." A `集市` is specifically a physical, often traditional, market fair.
  * [[合集]] (héjí) - A compilation, an anthology. A collection of works, often from different artists or sources, gathered into one volume or playlist.