结合

• Pinyin: jié hé
• Hanzi breakdown: 结 = 纟(silk) + 吉 (auspicious, phonetic), meaning to tie or conclude; 合 = 亼 (gather) + 口 (mouth), meaning to join together

Meaning

To combine; to integrate; to unite. To bring different elements together into a unified whole.

Used for combining ideas, methods, or theories with practice. Also used formally for marriage (union). In everyday language, it often appears in phrases like 理论结合实际 (combine theory with practice). More formal than 合在一起.

Examples

1. 学习要把理论和实践结合起来。 Study requires combining theory with practice.
2. 这首歌结合了中国和西方的音乐风格。 This song blends Chinese and Western musical styles.
3. 工作和生活要好好结合。 You need to balance work and life well.

Usage Guide

Context: academic, workplace, everyday, writing

Tone: analytical

Do Say

• 请结合自己的经验谈一谈。(Please share your thoughts drawing on your own experience.)
• 中西结合的菜越来越受欢迎。(Dishes combining Chinese and Western styles are becoming more popular.)

Don't Say

• 请把这两块木头结合。(Don't use 结合 for physically joining objects — use 连接 or 拼接. 结合 is for abstract or conceptual merging.)

Origin & History

Compound of 结 (to tie, to knot) and 合 (to join, to combine), together meaning 'to tie together' — to unite or merge different elements.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal