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March 24, 2026
院长(院長)yuànzhǎng(yuan4zhang3)
院长 (yuànzhǎng) refers to the head or dean of a specific institution, such as a university or a department within it. This title signifies a leadership position with responsibilities that include managing faculty, overseeing academic programs, and representing the institution to external stakeholders.
Frequency#7196DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese universities, the 院长 plays a crucial role in academic governance, often holding significant influence in university policy and direction. This position reflects the importance of hierarchy and respect in Chinese educational institutions.
Memory Tip
Think of 院 (yuàn) as a 'yard' or 'courtyard' where activities happen, and 长 (zhǎng) sounds like 'zhang', which can remind you of someone 'growing' or 'leading'. Visualize a leader standing in a courtyard, guiding students and faculty, embodying the role of a dean.
Meanings of 院长
yuànzhǎng(yuan4zhang3)
1chair of board
2president (of a university etc)
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About 院长
院长Simplified
院長Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 院长
Podcast: 院长
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AI Study Notes for 院长
Quick Contrast
院长 (yuànzhǎng) vs 主任 (zhǔrèn) — use 院长 when referring specifically to the head of an institution, while 主任 is more general and can refer to heads of various departments or committees.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 院 (yuàn) as a 'yard' or 'courtyard' where activities happen, and 长 (zhǎng) sounds like 'zhang', which can remind you of someone 'growing' or 'leading'. Visualize a leader standing in a courtyard, guiding students and faculty, embodying the role of a dean.
Usage Notes
院长 is primarily used in formal contexts, particularly in academic settings. Common mistakes include confusing it with similar titles such as 校长 (xiàozhǎng), which means 'principal' or 'headmaster' of a school. Be mindful of the tone; 院长 has a falling tone (zhǎng) which can change the meaning if mispronounced.
HSK Study Tips
While 院长 may not appear in the HSK vocabulary, understanding its components can help learners connect with other words related to education, such as 学校 (xuéxiào) meaning 'school' or 教授 (jiàoshòu) meaning 'professor'. Focus on the context of academic hierarchy.
Cultural Note
In Chinese universities, the 院长 plays a crucial role in academic governance, often holding significant influence in university policy and direction. This position reflects the importance of hierarchy and respect in Chinese educational institutions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mix up 院长 with other leadership titles. For example, saying '我想成为一个校长' (wǒ xiǎng chéngwéi yīgè xiàozhǎng) when referring to a university department head is incorrect; the correct term is 院长.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 院长
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Cultural Notes for 院长
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese universities, the 院长 plays a crucial role in academic governance, often holding significant influence in university policy and direction. This position reflects the importance of hierarchy and respect in Chinese educational institutions.
Frequently Asked Questions about 院长
院长 refers specifically to the head of a college or department, while 校长 is used for the principal of a school or head of an entire university.
院长 is primarily used in educational contexts, especially for universities and colleges, and may not apply to other types of organizations.
Yes, 院长 is a formal title and should be used in professional or academic settings.
