学会

• Pinyin: xué huì
• Hanzi breakdown: 学 = 学 (study), from 子 (child) learning; 会 = 人 (person) + 云 (cloud/say), meaning to gather or association

Meaning

Learned society; academic association. A professional organization for scholars in a particular field.

Refers to formal academic or professional organizations, not the verb 'to learn' (which is also 学会 but pronounced with different stress). Examples: 中国物理学会 (Chinese Physical Society), 计算机学会 (Computer Society). Related: 协会 (association), 研究会 (research society).

Examples

1. 他是中国语言学会的会员。 He is a member of the Chinese Linguistics Society.
2. 这篇论文将在学会年会上发表。 This paper will be presented at the society's annual conference.
3. 各大学会联合举办了这次国际研讨会。 Major academic societies jointly organized this international symposium.

Usage Guide

Context: academic, professional, scientific

Tone: official

Do Say

• 他加入了物理学会。(He joined the Physics Society.)
• 学会每年举办一次年会。(The society holds an annual conference each year.)

Don't Say

• 我想学会游泳 — 这里'学会'是动词'to learn'，意思不同。作为组织名词时，学会是一个专有名词

Origin & History

Compound of 学 (to study, learning) + 会 (association, society). Together meaning an association of scholars.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Academic