guǎnlǐ: 管理 - Management, to Manage, to Supervise

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• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 管理 (guǎnlǐ), which translates to “management” or “to manage.” This page breaks down its meaning, from business administration and project supervision to managing your personal life and finances. Discover its cultural context in China's hierarchical structures and learn how to use it correctly in practical, everyday sentences to avoid common mistakes.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): guǎnlǐ
• Part of Speech: Verb / Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To manage, to supervise, to administer, to be in charge of; management, administration.
• In a Nutshell: 管理 (guǎnlǐ) is the fundamental term for “management” in Chinese. It encompasses the act of organizing, supervising, and controlling resources—whether they are people, projects, data, or even your own time. Think of it as bringing order and control to a system to achieve a specific goal.

• 管 (guǎn): The original meaning of this character was a “pipe” or “tube.” This evolved metaphorically to mean “to control” or “to be in charge of,” much like one controls the flow through a pipe. It implies authority and supervision.
• 理 (lǐ): This character means “reason,” “logic,” or “to put in order.” It's about arranging things according to a pattern or principle. You see it in words like `道理 (dàolǐ)` for “reason” and `整理 (zhěnglǐ)` for “to tidy up.”
• When combined, 管理 (guǎnlǐ) literally means “to control through reason/order.” It creates a powerful and precise term for the act of imposing structure and control to make a system function effectively.

In Chinese culture, 管理 (guǎnlǐ) often carries a more top-down, hierarchical connotation than the modern Western ideal of “collaborative management.” Traditionally influenced by Confucian values emphasizing social order and respect for authority, good `管理` was seen as maintaining a clear structure where everyone understands their place and follows instructions. The “管 (guǎn)” - control aspect - can sometimes be more pronounced. Compare this to the Western concept of “leadership.” While a Chinese `经理 (jīnglǐ - manager)` is expected to be a leader, the word 管理 (guǎnlǐ) itself focuses more on the function of administration, process, and control. In contrast, “leadership” in English often emphasizes vision, inspiration, and motivation. In a Chinese company, an effective manager is one who `管理`s well, ensuring smooth operations and clear command. This doesn't preclude inspiration, but the bedrock of their role is effective control and organization.

管理 (guǎnlǐ) is an extremely common and versatile word used across many domains.

• In Business: This is its most frequent context. It's used for managing a company (`管理公司`), a department (`管理部门`), employees (`管理员工`), or a project (`管理项目`). It is the standard, neutral term.
• In Technology: It's used for system administration, such as managing a database (`管理数据库`) or managing user accounts (`管理用户账户`).
• In Personal Life: It's often used for self-discipline and organization. You can 管理 your time (`管理时间`), your finances (`管理财务`), or even your health (`管理健康`).
• In Parenting and Education: A teacher must 管理 their classroom (`管理课堂纪律`). A parent might 管理 their child's internet usage. In this context, it can sometimes imply a stricter, more controlling approach, and overuse might be seen negatively (e.g., “You're too controlling!”).

• Example 1:
  • 他负责管理我们公司的市场部。
  • Pinyin: Tā fùzé guǎnlǐ wǒmen gōngsī de shìchǎngbù.
  • English: He is responsible for managing our company's marketing department.
  • Analysis: A standard, neutral use of 管理 in a business context. It refers to the professional function of being in charge of a department.
• Example 2:
  • 一位好的经理不仅要会管理业务，还要会管理人心。
  • Pinyin: Yī wèi hǎo de jīnglǐ bùjǐn yào huì guǎnlǐ yèwù, hái yào huì guǎnlǐ rénxīn.
  • English: A good manager must not only know how to manage business operations, but also how to manage people's hearts and minds.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights a deeper aspect of management—it's not just about tasks (`业务`), but also about understanding and motivating people (`人心`).
• Example 3:
  • 你需要学会如何有效地管理你的时间。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ xūyào xuéhuì rúhé yǒuxiào de guǎnlǐ nǐ de shíjiān.
  • English: You need to learn how to manage your time effectively.
  • Analysis: This shows 管理 used in the context of personal development and self-discipline.
• Example 4:
  • 这个软件可以帮助我们更好地管理客户信息。
  • Pinyin: Zhège ruǎnjiàn kěyǐ bāngzhù wǒmen gèng hǎo de guǎnlǐ kèhù xìnxī.
  • English: This software can help us better manage customer information.
  • Analysis: Here, 管理 refers to organizing and controlling data, a common usage in IT and business systems.
• Example 5:
  • 这家酒店的管理很出色，服务员都非常专业。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā jiǔdiàn de guǎnlǐ hěn chūsè, fúwùyuán dōu fēicháng zhuānyè.
  • English: This hotel's management is outstanding; the staff are all very professional.
  • Analysis: In this sentence, 管理 is used as a noun, referring to the overall system of administration and supervision.
• Example 6:
  • 作为父母，管理孩子的上网时间很重要。
  • Pinyin: Zuòwéi fùmǔ, guǎnlǐ háizi de shàngwǎng shíjiān hěn zhòngyào.
  • English: As parents, managing a child's screen time is very important.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates 管理 in a family or parenting context, implying supervision and setting rules.
• Example 7:
  • 城市管理是一个复杂的问题，涉及到交通、卫生和安全。
  • Pinyin: Chéngshì guǎnlǐ shì yīgè fùzá de wèntí, shèjí dào jiāotōng, wèishēng hé ānquán.
  • English: Urban management is a complex issue, involving transportation, sanitation, and safety.
  • Analysis: Here, 管理 is used as a noun in a public administration or civics context.
• Example 8:
  • 我们需要一个新的系统来管理库存。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen xūyào yīgè xīn de xìtǒng lái guǎnlǐ kùcún.
  • English: We need a new system to manage inventory.
  • Analysis: A classic example from logistics and operations management.
• Example 9:
  • 他因为管理不善，公司亏了很多钱。
  • Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi guǎnlǐ bù shàn, gōngsī kuīle hěn duō qián.
  • English: Due to his poor management, the company lost a lot of money.
  • Analysis: This shows the negative form, `管理不善` (guǎnlǐ bù shàn), meaning “mismanagement” or “poorly managed.”
• Example 10:
  • 这个项目的成功归功于我们团队高效的管理。
  • Pinyin: Zhège xiàngmù de chénggōng guīgōng yú wǒmen tuánduì gāoxiào de guǎnlǐ.
  • English: The success of this project is attributed to our team's efficient management.
  • Analysis: 管理 is used as a noun to describe the process that led to success. `高效的管理` (gāoxiào de guǎnlǐ) is a common and positive collocation.

• `管理 (guǎnlǐ)` vs. `领导 (lǐngdǎo)`: This is a key distinction.
  • `管理` is about process and systems. You manage tasks, resources, and schedules to ensure order and efficiency.
  • `领导 (lǐngdǎo)` is about people and vision. You lead a team, inspire followers, and set a direction.
  • A good boss does both, but the words are not interchangeable. You 管理 a project, but you 领导 a nation.
• `管理 (guǎnlǐ)` vs. `负责 (fùzé)`:
  • `负责 (fùzé)` means “to be responsible for.” It describes a duty or an assigned task.
  • `管理` implies a broader authority that includes supervision and control.
  • Example: “我负责更新网站 (Wǒ fùzé gēngxīn wǎngzhàn)” means “I am responsible for updating the website.” It doesn't mean I manage the entire web team. My boss, however, `管理`s the whole team.
• The “Controlling” Connotation: While neutral in business, be careful when using `管` or `管理` in personal relationships. A sentence like “你别管我!” (Nǐ bié guǎn wǒ!) means “Don't control me!” or “Mind your own business!” It implies unwanted interference. Using 管理 on a peer or romantic partner can sound condescending and overly controlling.

• 领导 (lǐngdǎo) - Leadership; to lead. Focuses on inspiring people and setting a vision.
• 经理 (jīnglǐ) - Manager. The job title for someone whose primary function is `管理`.
• 主管 (zhǔguǎn) - Supervisor; director. A person in charge, often of a smaller team or specific function. It is very similar to a manager.
• 负责 (fùzé) - To be responsible for. Describes a duty or task assigned to someone, which is a component of being managed.
• 控制 (kòngzhì) - To control. Often implies a more direct, firm, and sometimes forceful level of control than `管理`.
• 经营 (jīngyíng) - To operate; to run (a business). Focuses more on the commercial and operational aspects, like strategy and profitability.
• 行政 (xíngzhèng) - Administration; administrative. Refers to the bureaucratic and organizational tasks that support `管理`.
• 整理 (zhěnglǐ) - To tidy up; to put in order. The physical or digital act of organizing things, which is a core part of the `理` in `管理`.