====== jíhé: 集合 - To Assemble, Gather; A Set, Collection ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** jihe, 集合, Chinese for assemble, Chinese for gather, set theory in Chinese, Chinese word for collection, how to use jihe, jihe vs juji, HSK 4 vocabulary, Chinese group activities
  * **Summary:** Learn the versatile Chinese word **集合 (jíhé)**, which means "to assemble," "to gather," or a "set/collection." This guide explores its use in various contexts, from a teacher calling students to assemble in a schoolyard to its specific meaning as a "set" in mathematics. Understand its cultural connection to collectivism and learn to distinguish it from similar words like [[聚集]] (jùjí) and [[见面]] (jiànmiàn) through practical examples.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** jí hé
  * **Part of Speech:** Verb, Noun
  * **HSK Level:** 4
  * **Concise Definition:** To gather or assemble people for a specific purpose; a collection of items or a set in mathematics.
  * **In a Nutshell:** **集合 (jíhé)** is about organized gathering. It’s not a spontaneous "crowding around" but a planned assembly, usually called by a person in authority (a teacher, a tour guide, a manager). Think of a school assembly or a team huddle. As a noun, it refers to a complete collection or the mathematical concept of a "set."
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **集 (jí):** This character's ancient form shows birds (隹) on a tree (木). It vividly portrays the idea of birds gathering or flocking together on a branch. By itself, it means to gather, to collect, or a collection.
  * **合 (hé):** This character means to join, combine, close, or suit. Think of it as two parts (like a lid and a box) coming together to form a whole.
When combined, **集合 (jíhé)** literally means "to gather and join." This fusion of characters creates a strong sense of a group being brought together into a single, organized unit for a common purpose.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
While **集合 (jíhé)** is a functional word, its frequent use reflects the importance of the **collective (集体, jítǐ)** in Chinese culture. The act of "assembling" is a fundamental part of life in schools, companies, and even community activities. It reinforces group identity, discipline, and order.
In a Western context, a call to "assemble" might sometimes be met with groans (e.g., a mandatory boring meeting). In China, responding to a call to **集合** is often an unquestioned, neutral-to-positive action that signifies efficiency and group cohesion. A teacher shouting "**集合**!" on the playground is a call to order and shared activity, a cornerstone of the structured school environment. This contrasts with the Western emphasis on individualistic freedom, where unscheduled group assembly can feel like an imposition. The word, therefore, carries a subtext of structure, purpose, and collective action that is deeply ingrained in the social fabric.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
**集合** is used in several distinct contexts, ranging from highly formal to conceptually abstract.
  * **As a Verb (To Assemble/Gather):** This is its most common usage. It implies an organized gathering at a specific time and place, usually initiated by a leader.
    * **School & Military:** The quintessential use. Teachers, instructors, and officers use it as a command.
    * **Tour Groups:** Tour guides constantly use it to gather tourists before moving to the next location.
    * **Workplace:** Managers use it to call for team meetings or project huddles.
  * **As a Noun (A Set/Collection):**
    * **Mathematics:** This is a very specific and important meaning. **集合** is the standard term for a "set" (e.g., a set of numbers).
    * **A Curated Collection:** It can refer to a complete collection of items, like an author's "collected works" (作品**集合**) or a musician's album compilation. For a personal hobby like stamp collecting, the word [[收藏]] (shōucáng) is more common for the *act* of collecting, while **集合** might describe the finished collection.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:** 
    * 老师说我们下课后在操场**集合**。
    * Pinyin: Lǎoshī shuō wǒmen xiàkè hòu zài cāochǎng **jíhé**.
    * English: The teacher said we will assemble on the playground after class.
    * Analysis: A classic example of **集合** used in a school setting. It's a clear instruction from a person in authority.
  * **Example 2:** 
    * 导游要求所有游客早上八点在大厅**集合**。
    * Pinyin: Dǎoyóu yāoqiú suǒyǒu yóukè zǎoshang bā diǎn zài dàtīng **jíhé**.
    * English: The tour guide requires all tourists to gather in the lobby at 8 AM.
    * Analysis: This shows the word's use in organized activities like tourism. It implies a schedule and a purpose (starting the day's tour).
  * **Example 3:** 
    * 所有员工，请马上到会议室**集合**开会！
    * Pinyin: Suǒyǒu yuángōng, qǐng mǎshàng dào huìyìshì **jíhé** kāihuì!
    * English: All employees, please assemble in the conference room for a meeting immediately!
    * Analysis: A common and slightly urgent command in a workplace context.
  * **Example 4:** 
    * 我们的**集合**地点是公园的南门。
    * Pinyin: Wǒmen de **jíhé** diǎn shì gōngyuán de nánmén.
    * English: Our assembly point is the south gate of the park.
    * Analysis: Here, **集合** is used as a noun within the compound word **集合点 (jíhé diǎn)**, meaning "assembly point" or "meeting spot."
  * **Example 5:** 
    * 军队在天亮前完成了**集合**。
    * Pinyin: Jūnduì zài tiānliàng qián wánchéngle **jíhé**.
    * English: The troops completed their assembly before dawn.
    * Analysis: This highlights the formal, disciplined connotation of **集合**, especially in a military context.
  * **Example 6:** 
    * 在数学中，我们学习了关于**集合**的概念。
    * Pinyin: Zài shùxué zhōng, wǒmen xuéxíle guānyú **jíhé** de gàiniàn.
    * English: In mathematics, we learned about the concept of sets.
    * Analysis: This demonstrates the specific, academic usage of **集合** as a noun for a mathematical "set."
  * **Example 7:** 
    * 所有偶数的**集合**是无限的。
    * Pinyin: Suǒyǒu ǒushù de **jíhé** shì wúxiàn de.
    * English: The set of all even numbers is infinite.
    * Analysis: Another clear mathematical example, showing **集合** used to define a specific group of elements.
  * **Example 8:** 
    * 这本书是作者短篇小说的**集合**。
    * Pinyin: Zhè běn shū shì zuòzhě duǎnpiān xiǎoshuō de **jíhé**.
    * English: This book is a collection of the author's short stories.
    * Analysis: **集合** is used here as a noun to mean a curated "collection" or anthology of works.
  * **Example 9:** 
    * 如果发生火灾，请大家在指定的安全区**集合**。
    * Pinyin: Rúguǒ fāshēng huǒzāi, qǐng dàjiā zài zhǐdìng de ānquán qū **jíhé**.
    * English: If there is a fire, everyone please assemble in the designated safety area.
    * Analysis: This shows its use in emergency procedures, emphasizing order and safety.
  * **Example 10:** 
    * 我们**集合**了团队所有人的智慧才解决了这个问题。
    * Pinyin: Wǒmen **jíhé**le tuánduì suǒyǒu rén de zhìhuì cái jiějuéle zhège wèntí.
    * English: We gathered the wisdom of everyone on the team to finally solve this problem.
    * Analysis: A more abstract usage. Here, **集合** means to "pool" or "bring together" intangible things like wisdom or ideas.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **集合 (jíhé) vs. 聚集 (jùjí):** This is a critical distinction.
    * **集合 (jíhé)** is **organized and purposeful**. It's a planned assembly, often called by a leader. (e.g., A teacher assembles students).
    * **[[聚集]] (jùjí)** is **spontaneous and unorganized**. It's a crowd forming on its own. (e.g., People gathering to watch a street performance).
    * **Incorrect:** 街上**集合**了很多人看热闹。(A lot of people *assembled* on the street to watch the excitement.) - This is wrong because the crowd formed spontaneously.
    * **Correct:** 街上**聚集**了很多人看热闹。
  * **集合 (jíhé) vs. 见面 (jiànmiàn):**
    * **集合 (jíhé)** is for a group, often larger, with a formal purpose.
    * **[[见面]] (jiànmiàn)** is "to meet," usually for one-on-one or small, informal encounters.
    * **Incorrect:** 我明天要和我的一个朋友**集合**。(I'm going to *assemble* with one of my friends tomorrow.) - This sounds comically formal, as if you are mobilizing a troop of one.
    * **Correct:** 我明天要和我的一个朋友**见面**。
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[聚集]] (jùjí) - To congregate or gather spontaneously. The key contrast to the organized nature of **集合**.
  * [[集中]] (jízhōng) - To concentrate or focus (e.g., attention, resources). Shares the character **集** but refers to focus rather than physical assembly.
  * [[聚会]] (jùhuì) - A party, a get-together. A social gathering, which is a type of assembly but much more informal than **集合**.
  * [[开会]] (kāihuì) - To hold a meeting. A very common and specific purpose for a **集合** in a business or formal setting.
  * [[集体]] (jítǐ) - Collective; group. The noun for the entity that is often called to **集合**. The concept of the collective is culturally linked to the action of **集合**.
  * [[收集]] (shōují) - To collect, gather (items, stamps, data). Focuses on the process of acquiring things, whereas **集合** can also be the resulting collection itself.
  * [[集合点]] (jíhé diǎn) - Assembly point, meeting point. A fixed location for a planned gathering.
  * [[团队]] (tuánduì) - A team. A type of group that would frequently be asked to **集合**.