队

• Pinyin: duì
• Hanzi breakdown: 队 = 阝 (mound, left ear radical) + 人 — simplified from 隊

Meaning

Team; group; queue. Refers to an organised group of people or a line of people waiting.

Used for sports teams (足球队 — football team), work teams, military squads, and queues. The expression 排队 (to queue up) is derived from this character.

Examples

1. 我们学校的篮球队很厉害。 Our school's basketball team is very strong.
2. 请大家排好队。 Please line up in an orderly queue.
3. 他加入了一个足球队。 He joined a football team.

Usage Guide

Context: sports, organisations, queuing

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 你是哪个队的？(Which team are you on?)
• 排队买票的人很多。(There are a lot of people queuing to buy tickets.)

Don't Say

• 不要混淆'队'和'组' — 队 usually refers to a formal team or queue, while 组 means a smaller working group or section within a larger team.

Origin & History

Simplified from the traditional 隊. The original character combined 阝 (mound/hill) with 㒸, suggesting soldiers arranged on a hillside.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal