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董事 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
董事dǒngshìboard memberHSK 7, unknown, 20 strokes, rank #12646, Very Hard
dǒngshì(dong3shi4)dong shi T3
  1. 1board member
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March 24, 2026

董事dǒngshì(dong3shi4)

董事 (dǒngshì) refers to a board member or director within a corporate structure. It signifies an individual who has been appointed to make important decisions regarding the management and operation of a company. This term is commonly used in business contexts, especially when discussing corporate governance and leadership roles.

Strokes20Frequency#12646DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In China, corporate governance often involves a board of directors that plays a crucial role in company operations, reflecting a hierarchical business culture where decision-making authority is concentrated at the top.

Memory Tip

Imagine a '董' (dǒng) who '事' (shì) has the authority to decide on important matters in a company. Visualize a distinguished figure sitting at a large boardroom table, making critical decisions that shape the company's future. The character '董' also resembles a person with a hat, indicating leadership.

Meanings of 董事

dǒngshì(dong3shi4)
1board member
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 董事

董事Simplified
20Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

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Podcast: 董事

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AI Study Notes for 董事

Quick Contrast

监事 (jiānshì) - use 董事 when referring to a member of the board responsible for decision-making, whereas 监事 specifically refers to a supervisor or auditor who oversees the board's activities.

Usage Notes

Students often confuse 董事 with similar terms like 经理 (jīnglǐ, manager) or 执行官 (zhíxíngguān, CEO). While 董事 refers specifically to board members, 经理 denotes a managerial position. It's primarily used in formal business contexts, so ensure you use it appropriately in professional settings.

HSK Study Tips

While 董事 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it connects to common business-related terms that learners may encounter in higher levels. Focus on understanding its usage in context with other business terms such as 公司 (gōngsī, company) and 领导 (lǐngdǎo, leadership).

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes mistakenly use 董事 when discussing general management roles. For example, saying '我想成为一个董事' (Wǒ xiǎng chéngwéi yīgè dǒngshì) when they mean 'I want to be a manager' is incorrect. Instead, use 经理 for that context.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 董事

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Component Characters

董Dǒngto supervise
12 strokes艹
View full entry
事shìmatter
HSK 18 strokes亅
View full entry

How to say board member in Chinese

“board member” in Chinese is董事dǒngshì

董事 (dǒngshì) refers to a board member or director within a corporate structure. It signifies an individual who has been appointed to make important decisions regarding the management and operation of a company. This term is commonly used in business contexts, especially when discussing corporate governance and leadership roles.

When to use 董事

Students often confuse 董事 with similar terms like 经理 (jīnglǐ, manager) or 执行官 (zhíxíngguān, CEO). While 董事 refers specifically to board members, 经理 denotes a managerial position. It's primarily used in formal business contexts, so ensure you use it appropriately in professional settings.

董事 or something close to it

监事 (jiānshì) - use 董事 when referring to a member of the board responsible for decision-making, whereas 监事 specifically refers to a supervisor or auditor who oversees the board's activities.

What learners get wrong

Learners sometimes mistakenly use 董事 when discussing general management roles. For example, saying '我想成为一个董事' (Wǒ xiǎng chéngwéi yīgè dǒngshì) when they mean 'I want to be a manager' is incorrect. Instead, use 经理 for that context.

Write 董事

董
事

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Cultural Notes for 董事

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western contexts, board members may have a more diverse range of responsibilities and may be more involved in day-to-day operations compared to their Chinese counterparts, where the hierarchy is more pronounced.

Frequently Asked Questions about 董事

董事 refers specifically to a member of the board of directors, while 经理 refers to a manager who is responsible for overseeing daily operations.

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