树立

• Pinyin: shù lì
• Hanzi breakdown: 树 = 木 + 尌 (wood + upright — a tree; to plant upright); 立 = 大 + 一 (a person standing + the ground — to stand; to establish)

Meaning

To establish; to set up; to foster or build (a reputation, model, standard, or image).

Used exclusively for establishing abstract things: 树立典型 (to set up a model example), 树立形象 (to build an image), 树立权威 (to establish authority), 树立信心 (to build confidence). Never used for physically constructing structures.

Examples

1. 这所百年名校在长期办学实践中树立了严谨治学、追求卓越的学术精神，这种精神气质已深深融入历代校友的职业行为方式和社会责任担当之中。 Over a long history of running the school, this century-old institution has established a rigorous academic spirit and a pursuit of excellence, a temperament that has become deeply woven into generations of alumni’s professional conduct and sense of social responsibility.
2. 法治政府建设的关键在于通过一系列具体制度安排，树立法律在公共事务中的最高权威，确保行政权力在法律轨道内运行而非凌驾于法律之上。 The key to building a government under the rule of law is to establish, through a series of concrete institutional arrangements, the highest authority of law in public affairs, ensuring administrative power operates within the legal framework rather than above the law.
3. 真实可复制的榜样更能赢得认同，脱离生活实际的完美标杆反而难以树立正面典型。 A genuine, replicable role model is more likely to win recognition, while a flawless benchmark detached from real life is actually hard to hold up as a positive example.

Usage Guide

Context: education, politics, law, business, culture

Tone: constructive

Do Say

• 国际社会期待大国在气候治理上树立实质性引领，而不是只在峰会上喊口号，却在国内迟迟不落实减排行动。(The international community expects major powers to set real leadership in climate governance, not just shout slogans at summits while delaying domestic emission cuts.)
• 企业文化不能只靠口号，更要靠领导在关键时刻的稳定行为，为员工树立价值观落地的真实范本。(Corporate culture cannot rely on slogans alone; leaders must show steady behavior at key moments and set a real model of values in action.)

Don't Say

• 树立 for physical construction or erection of structures — 树立 is used exclusively for establishing abstract things such as standards, models, reputations, and images; for physically erecting something use 竖立 (to erect vertically) or 建立 (to build; to establish)

Origin & History

树 (tree; to plant upright — 木 wood + 尌 upright figure) + 立 (to stand; to establish — 大 a person + 一 the ground)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal