Keywords: 组织, zǔzhī, zuzhi, organize in Chinese, organization in Chinese, Chinese word for organization, zuzhi meaning, what is 组织, student organization, Communist Party organization, biological tissue in Chinese.
Summary: Discover the meaning of 组织 (zǔzhī), a fundamental Chinese word that means both the action of “to organize” and the noun “organization.” This versatile term is essential for discussing everything from planning a party and joining a company to understanding its crucial role in Chinese politics (referring to the Party) and even its scientific use for biological “tissue.” Learn how to use zǔzhī correctly in social, professional, and cultural contexts.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): zǔ zhī
Part of Speech: Verb, Noun
HSK Level: HSK 4
Concise Definition: To organize, form, or constitute; an organization, group, or system; (biological) tissue.
In a Nutshell: Think of 组织 (zǔzhī) as a “building” word. As a verb, it's the act of building something structured—like organizing an event or forming a team. As a noun, it's the structure that has been built—a company, a club, a political party, or even the complex systems of cells that form the tissues in your body. It implies bringing separate parts together to create a functional whole.
Character Breakdown
组 (zǔ): This character is about forming a group. The radical on the left, 纟, represents silk threads. The original meaning was to weave or tie threads together. Today, it signifies a group, team, or the act of assembling things or people.
织 (zhī): This character also contains the silk radical 纟 and means “to weave” or “to knit.”
Combined Meaning: Together, 组织 (zǔzhī) literally means “to assemble and weave.” This beautiful and descriptive origin paints a picture of carefully intertwining individual strands (people, ideas, cells) to create a strong, complex, and interconnected fabric (an organization, a plan, or a tissue).
Cultural Context and Significance
组织 (zǔzhī) is more than just a direct translation of “organization”; it is deeply connected to the cultural fabric of China.
Collectivism vs. Individualism: In Western cultures, the focus is often on the individual. In China, the collective or group is traditionally more important. The word 组织 (zǔzhī) captures this value perfectly. Belonging to and contributing to an “organization”—be it the family, the company, or the nation—is a core social expectation. The success of the 组织 often precedes the success of the individual.
The “Capital O” Organization: In American culture, “the company” or “the firm” is a neutral business term. In China, “the Organization” (组织) carries significant political weight. It is often used as a specific and respectful term for the Communist Party of China (CPC). When someone says they want to “join the Organization” (加入组织), they mean they want to become a Party member. When a decision comes from “the Organization,” it implies an official, high-level directive from the Party. This is a critical nuance to understand in formal or political contexts.
Practical Usage in Modern China
组织 (zǔzhī) is a common word used in various registers, from casual conversation to formal government documents.
As a Verb (To Organize): This is the most common everyday usage. It's used when you are actively planning or forming something.
“Let's organize a trip.” (我们组织一次旅行吧。)
“She organized the charity event.” (她组织了这次慈善活动。)
As a Noun (An Organization/Group): This refers to any structured group of people.
A student organization: 学生组织 (xuéshēng zǔzhī)
A non-profit organization: 非营利组织 (fēiyínglì zǔzhī)
An international organization: 国际组织 (guójì zǔzhī)
As a Noun (Biological Tissue): In a scientific or medical context, 组织 refers to biological tissue.
English: After graduating, he hopes to get into a large corporate organization.
Analysis: This usage emphasizes the structure and system of the company, not just the business itself. It's slightly more formal than just saying 公司 (gōngsī).
Example 4:
医生需要检查他的脑组织样本。
Pinyin: Yīshēng xūyào jiǎnchá tā de nǎo zǔzhī yàngběn.
English: The doctor needs to examine his brain tissue sample.
Analysis: This shows the scientific/medical meaning of 组织 as “tissue.” The context makes the meaning clear.
Example 5:
他的组织能力非常强，总能把事情安排得井井有条。
Pinyin: Tā de zǔzhī nénglì fēicháng qiáng, zǒng néng bǎ shìqíng ānpái de jǐngjǐng-yǒutiáo.
English: His organizational skills are excellent; he can always arrange things in perfect order.
Analysis: Here, 组织 is used as part of a compound noun, 组织能力 (zǔzhī nénglì), meaning “organizational ability/skills.”
Example 6:
作为一个领导，你必须服从组织的决定。
Pinyin: Zuòwéi yīgè lǐngdǎo, nǐ bìxū fúcóng zǔzhī de juédìng.
English: As a leader, you must obey the Organization's decision.
Analysis: This is a classic example of the politically-loaded meaning. “The Organization” (with a capital O in English) implies the Party or a higher authority within a government/state-owned enterprise structure.
English: Our school has many student organizations, for example, the drama club and the debate team.
Analysis: A very practical use for students. 学生组织 is the standard term for “student organization” or “student group.”
Example 9:
公司的组织结构图清晰地展示了部门之间的关系。
Pinyin: Gōngsī de zǔzhī jiégòu tú qīngxī de zhǎnshìle bùmén zhījiān de guānxì.
English: The company's organizational chart clearly shows the relationships between departments.
Analysis: Here, 组织 is part of the compound noun 组织结构 (zǔzhī jiégòu), or “organizational structure.” This is common business vocabulary.
Example 10:
经过多年的努力，他终于加入了组织。
Pinyin: Jīngguò duōnián de nǔlì, tā zhōngyú jiārù le zǔzhī.
English: After many years of effort, he finally joined the Organization.
Analysis: Like example 6, this strongly implies joining the Communist Party. The lack of a specific name for the organization is the key clue.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
组织 (zǔzhī) vs. 安排 (ānpái): This is a common point of confusion.
组织 (zǔzhī) is about *creating the structure* or *forming the group* from scratch. It's foundational. (We need to organize a volunteer team.)
安排 (ānpái) is about *arranging the logistics* for an existing structure or plan. It's about scheduling and details. (I will arrange the meeting time for the team.)
Incorrect: 我会组织会议的时间。 (Wǒ huì zǔzhī huìyì de shíjiān.) → “I will organize the meeting's time.” This is awkward.
Correct: 我会安排会议的时间。 (Wǒ huì ānpái huìyì de shíjiān.) → “I will arrange the meeting time.”
组织 (zǔzhī) vs. 公司 (gōngsī):
A 公司 (gōngsī) is a specific type of 组织 (zǔzhī)—one focused on business/commerce.
组织 is a broader, more abstract term that includes non-profits, clubs, governments, etc. You can say a 公司 has a good 组织结构 (organizational structure), but you would typically introduce where you work by saying “我在一个公司工作” (I work at a company), not “我在一个组织工作” (I work at an organization), which sounds vague.
Ignoring the Political Context: The biggest mistake a learner can make is to miss the heavy political connotation of 组织 in certain contexts. If you're in a formal setting in China and hear people talking about “the Organization's plan” (组织的计划) or “trusting the Organization” (相信组织), they are almost certainly referring to the Communist Party. Using it casually in this way can sound strange or lead to misunderstandings.
Related Terms and Concepts
安排 (ānpái) - To arrange. More focused on logistics and scheduling than the foundational act of forming a group.
机构 (jīgòu) - Institution, agency. Often refers to an official or governmental body, like a research institute (研究机构) or financial institution (金融机构). It's a type of 组织.
团体 (tuántǐ) - Group, team. Often less formal than 组织, emphasizing the collection of people rather than the structure. A tour group is a 旅游团体.
公司 (gōngsī) - Company, corporation. The most common word for a for-profit business, which is a specific type of 组织.
社团 (shètuán) - Association, club. Most commonly used for student clubs or community societies (e.g., 学生社团).
结构 (jiégòu) - Structure. Often used with 组织 to describe the internal framework of an organization (组织结构).
成立 (chénglì) - To establish, to found. This is the action verb you use when you create a new organization. (e.g., 成立一个新公司 - to establish a new company).
集体 (jítǐ) - Collective. A noun that strongly emphasizes the group over the individual, central to the idea of collectivism.