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March 24, 2026
组(組)zǔ(zu3)
The character 组 (zǔ) primarily means 'to form' or 'to organize', and is often used to describe the act of assembling groups, teams, or sections. It can also serve as a classifier for sets or series of items, such as people or batteries, indicating its versatility in both formal and informal contexts.
Strokes8Radical纟Frequency#861DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, teamwork and organization are highly valued, often reflected in school projects and workplace environments where group activities are emphasized. The concept of 组 is integral to understanding collective efforts in various aspects of life.
Memory Tip
Imagine a team (组) of people coming together to form a circle, symbolizing unity and organization. The 'Z' in Zǔ sounds like 'group', and the character's structure resembles a group of individuals standing together in formation.
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AI Study Notes for 组
Quick Contrast
团队 (tuánduì) vs 组 (zǔ): use 组 when referring to a more general or informal grouping, while 团队 specifically denotes a team with a common goal or purpose.
Usage Notes
Be careful to use 组 in the correct context; it is often used in organizational settings, such as in schools, workplaces, or clubs. Common collocations include 组队 (forming a team) and 组织 (to organize). Pay attention to the tone, as mispronouncing it can change the meaning entirely.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 组 connects to other words related to organization and teamwork such as 组织 (to organize) and 团体 (group). Focus on using it in various contexts, especially in discussions about collaboration or structuring information.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 组 with 组建 (to establish a group) and use them interchangeably. For example, saying '我组建一个团队' instead of '我组一个团队' can lead to awkward phrasing. The correct form should emphasize the concept of forming rather than establishing.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 组
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How Well Do You Know 组?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 组 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
组 = 纟 + 且. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 组
IDS Structure⿰纟且
组Full Character
=
纟si1
left
且qie3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 组?
How to say group in Chinese
“group” in Chinese is组zǔ
The character 组 (zǔ) primarily means 'to form' or 'to organize', and is often used to describe the act of assembling groups, teams, or sections. It can also serve as a classifier for sets or series of items, such as people or batteries, indicating its versatility in both formal and informal contexts.
When to use 组
Be careful to use 组 in the correct context; it is often used in organizational settings, such as in schools, workplaces, or clubs. Common collocations include 组队 (forming a team) and 组织 (to organize). Pay attention to the tone, as mispronouncing it can change the meaning entirely.
组 or something close to it
团队 (tuánduì) vs 组 (zǔ): use 组 when referring to a more general or informal grouping, while 团队 specifically denotes a team with a common goal or purpose.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 组 with 组建 (to establish a group) and use them interchangeably. For example, saying '我组建一个团队' instead of '我组一个团队' can lead to awkward phrasing. The correct form should emphasize the concept of forming rather than establishing.
Write 组
组
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Grammar Patterns of 组
组 carries 7 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
In the end, we all decided to organize a concert for Easter.
12
战后，为制定宪法组织了一次会议。
zhàn hòu， ， wéi zhì dìng xiàn fǎ zǔ zhī le yī cì huì。
After the war, a convention was set up to frame a constitution.
13
他写了一组非常单调枯燥的曲子。
tā xiě le yī zǔ fēi cháng dān tiáo kū zào de qū zǐ。
He has written a batch of very samey tunes.
14
他给他的计算机编制了一套程序，以比较所有可能的组合。
tā gěi tā de jì suàn jī biān zhì le yī tào chéng xù， ， yǐ bǐ jiào suǒ yǒu kě néng de zǔ。
He programmed his computer to compare all the possible combinations.
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Cultural Notes for 组
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, individualism is often emphasized over group organization, while in China, forming and working within groups is more commonly prioritized.
Word Family of 组
Words Containing This Character20
组织zǔzhīto organize組織
组zǔto form組
小组xiǎozǔgroup小組
组合zǔhéto assemble組合
组成zǔchéngto form組成
重组chóngzǔto reorganize重組
组建zǔjiànto organize組建
剧组jùzǔcast and crew劇組
机组unit (apparatus)機組
组长zǔzhǎnggroup leader組長
分组fēnzǔto divide into groups分組
组装zǔzhuāngto assemble and install組裝
工作组work team工作組
专案组special investigation team (legal or judicial)專案組
组织者organizer組織者
软组织soft tissue軟組織
世贸组织WTO (World Trade Organization)世貿組織
党组party leadership group黨組
芯片组chipset芯片組
组件module組件
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 组
What does 组织 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 组
While both 组 (zǔ) and 团 (tuán) can refer to groups, 组 typically emphasizes the idea of organization or classification, while 团 often refers to a team or a collective that has a more cohesive function. For example, 组 might be used for study groups, whereas 团 is more common for sports teams.
Yes, 组 (Zǔ) can also be used as a surname in China, although it is less common compared to other surnames. It's important to note that the meaning of characters can vary significantly based on their context.
组 (zǔ) means 'to organize' or 'to group.' It can refer to a team or a collection of people or things that are categorized together. Additionally, it is used as a classifier for sets or series.
You can use 组 (zǔ) to refer to a group or team, for example, '我们是一个团队' (Wǒmen shì yī gè tuánduì) meaning 'We are a team.' Additionally, you can use it to describe organizing something, such as '我在组一个活动' (Wǒ zài zǔ yī gè huódòng) meaning 'I am organizing an event.'
You can say '我们组了一个团队' (We formed a team).
Yes, 组 can be a surname, although it's less common than others.
While both relate to organization, 组 focuses more on forming groups, while 组织 is more about the act of organizing in a broader sense.
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