集体

• Pinyin: jí tǐ
• Hanzi breakdown: 集 = 隹 (short-tailed bird) + 木 (tree), depicting birds gathering on a tree; 体 = 亻(person) + 本 (root), meaning bodily form

Meaning

Collective; group; community. Refers to a group of people united for a shared purpose or belonging to the same organisation.

Used in contexts like school, work, sports teams, and social groups to emphasise the group as a whole rather than individuals. Common compounds include 集体活动 (group activity), 集体荣誉 (collective honour), and 集体决定 (collective decision). Carries a strong sense of solidarity.

Examples

1. 这次活动是集体参加的，每个人都很开心。 Everyone joined this activity as a group and had a great time.
2. 我们班集体去博物馆参观了。 Our whole class went to visit the museum together.
3. 集体的利益比个人的利益更重要。 The interests of the collective are more important than individual interests.

Usage Guide

Context: school, work, social, civic

Tone: inclusive

Do Say

• 我们要有集体精神，互相帮助。(We should have a collective spirit and help one another.)
• 这是集体的决定，大家都同意了。(This is a collective decision that everyone agreed to.)

Don't Say

• 我和我的朋友是一个集体。(Avoid using 集体 for casual friendship groups — it implies formal membership or institutional belonging. Say 我们这群朋友 instead.)

Origin & History

Compound of 集 (to gather, collect) and 体 (body, form), conveying the idea of a gathered body of people.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal