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.
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.