小组

• Pinyin: xiǎo zǔ
• Hanzi breakdown: 小 = small; 组 = 纟(silk radical) + 且 (moreover, phonetic), originally meaning to weave together, hence to organise

Meaning

Small group; team. A group of people working together on a task or project.

Commonly used in schools, workplaces, and organisations to describe a small team assigned to a particular task. Appears in many contexts: 学习小组 (study group), 工作小组 (work team), 小组讨论 (group discussion). More formal than just saying 一群人 (a group of people), as it implies an organised unit with a purpose.

Examples

1. 老师让我们分成四个小组。 The teacher asked us to divide into four groups.
2. 我们小组有五个人。 Our group has five people.
3. 每个小组要准备一个报告。 Each group needs to prepare a report.

Usage Guide

Context: school, workplace, meetings

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 我们小组明天要开会。(Our group has a meeting tomorrow.)
• 请大家分成小组讨论。(Please divide into groups for discussion.)

Don't Say

• 我和朋友是一个小组去吃饭 (Don't use 小组 for casual friend groups — 小组 implies an organised unit with a task; use 一起 or 一群朋友 for informal gatherings)

Origin & History

小 (xiǎo, small) + 组 (zǔ, group/to organise). Literally 'small group' — a compact, organised team.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal