You'll often encounter 主席 (zhǔ xí) when talking about leaders in Chinese-speaking contexts. It specifically refers to a chairman or a presiding officer, someone who leads a meeting or an organization. Think of it as the person in charge, making sure things run smoothly. For example, you might hear about the 'Chairman of the Board' or the 'chairman of a committee.' This word is quite common, especially in formal settings and news.
When you hear the word "主席" (zhǔ xí), think of a leader in charge of a meeting or an organization. It's similar to "chairman" or "president" in English, but it doesn't always imply the highest possible leader. For example, the person leading a specific committee might be called a "主席." It’s a very common term in official contexts.
“主席” (zhǔ xí) is a formal term, most commonly translated as “chairman” or “chairwoman.” You'll often hear it in political contexts, such as the Chairman of the Communist Party, but it also applies to the presiding officer of a meeting or the head of a committee.
Think of it as the person who leads or is in charge of a formal group or event. For example, a school principal might be referred to as the meeting's 主席 when they are leading a staff meeting.
The Chinese word 主席 (zhǔxí) directly translates to "chairman" or "chairwoman." It refers to the person who leads a meeting, organization, or committee. Think of it as the head or presiding officer. For example, in a company, the chairman of the board would be called 董事主席 (dǒngshì zhǔxí).
This term is also widely used in political contexts, such as referring to the head of a political party or the leader of a country. A well-known historical example is Chairman Mao (毛主席, Máo Zhǔxí). While it can be a formal title, it's essentially about the person who is in charge and guides the proceedings.
§ Mistake 1: Overusing 主席 for any 'leader'
Many learners think 主席 (zhǔ xí) can be used for any leader, like a company CEO or a team leader. This is incorrect. While 主席 does mean 'chairman' or 'presiding officer,' it's usually reserved for specific, formal contexts, especially in political or organizational settings. You wouldn't use it for your boss at work unless they hold a very specific, high-level 'chairman' position within the company's board.
- Wrong
- 我的公司主席很忙。(Wǒ de gōngsī zhǔxí hěn máng.)
This sentence usually sounds awkward unless your company literally has a 'chairman' and you're referring to them. More commonly, you'd say '我的老板很忙' (Wǒ de lǎobǎn hěn máng – My boss is busy).
- Right
- 公司董事会主席发表了讲话。(Gōngsī dǒngshìhuì zhǔxí fābiǎole jiǎnghuà.)
The chairman of the company's board of directors gave a speech.
§ Mistake 2: Confusing 主席 with 'President' or 'Manager'
While 'chairman' can sometimes be translated as 'president' in specific contexts (e.g., President of a university's board of trustees), it's not a direct equivalent to the 'President' of a country (总统 zǒngtǒng) or a general 'manager' (经理 jīnglǐ). These roles have different responsibilities and connotations. Using 主席 instead of 总统 or 经理 will sound very strange and incorrect to native speakers.
- Wrong
- 美国主席今天访问了中国。(Měiguó zhǔxí jīntiān fǎngwènle Zhōngguó.)
This is wrong. The leader of the United States is the President (总统), not the Chairman (主席).
- Right
- 美国总统今天访问了中国。(Měiguó zǒngtǒng jīntiān fǎngwènle Zhōngguó.)
The US President visited China today.
§ Mistake 3: Not understanding the political context
In Chinese, 主席 carries significant historical and political weight due to figures like 毛主席 (Máo Zhǔxí - Chairman Mao). When used in a political context, it often refers to the head of a political party or a major state body. Be mindful of this strong association, especially when discussing historical or political topics. Using it casually in such contexts might unintentionally evoke these associations.
- Example of political use
- 中共中央军事委员会主席 (Zhōnggòng Zhōngyāng Jūnshì Wěiyuánhuì Zhǔxí)
Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China.
§ Mistake 4: Using it for informal meeting facilitators
While 主席 can mean 'presiding officer,' it's generally for formal meetings with a designated chair. For a casual team meeting or a discussion among friends, you wouldn't typically use 主席 for the person leading it. You'd use more general terms like 主持人 (zhǔchírén - host/moderator) or simply say '谁来主持?' (shéi lái zhǔchí - Who will lead/host?).
- Wrong
- 这次小组讨论的主席是谁？(Zhè cì xiǎozǔ tǎolùn de zhǔxí shì shéi?)
This sounds too formal for a 'group discussion.'
- Right
- 这次小组讨论谁来主持？(Zhè cì xiǎozǔ tǎolùn shéi lái zhǔchí?)
Who will lead this group discussion?
§ Key Takeaways for 主席 (zhǔ xí)
- 主席 is for specific, formal leadership roles, often in political, organizational, or academic governance contexts.
- Do not use it as a general term for 'leader' or 'boss.'
- Distinguish it from 总统 (zǒngtǒng - president) and 经理 (jīnglǐ - manager).
- Be aware of its political connotations in certain contexts.
How Formal Is It?
"公司的主席将会在下周宣布新的政策。 (The chairman of the company will announce the new policy next week.)"
"这次会议的主持人是谁？ (Who is the host/presider of this meeting?)"
"这次活动由小王负责。 (Xiao Wang is in charge of this activity.)"
"我们班的班长很负责任。 (Our class monitor is very responsible.)"
"我们公司的大佬今天心情很好。 (Our big boss is in a good mood today.)"
Fun Fact
The term '主席' gained significant political prominence in 20th century China, particularly with '毛主席' (Chairman Mao), becoming an iconic title for the highest leader of a political party or state.
Examples by Level
毛主席是中国共产党的创始人之一。
Chairman Mao was one of the founders of the Communist Party of China.
这次会议的主席是王先生。
The chairman of this meeting is Mr. Wang.
她被选为学生会主席。
She was elected chairman of the student union.
公司的主席发表了重要讲话。
The company's chairman delivered an important speech.
联合国大会由一位主席主持。
The UN General Assembly is presided over by a chairman.
他在党内担任过主席的职务。
He held the position of chairman in the party.
请问，主席先生，我可以提个问题吗？
Excuse me, Mr. Chairman, may I ask a question?
新的主席带来了很多改革。
The new chairman brought many reforms.
毛泽东曾担任中国共产党中央委员会主席。
Mao Zedong once served as chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.
这位主席在会议上发表了重要讲话。
This chairman delivered an important speech at the meeting.
他被选为学生会主席。
He was elected chairman of the student union.
公司主席宣布了新的发展战略。
The company chairman announced a new development strategy.
会议由一位经验丰富的主席主持。
The meeting was chaired by an experienced presiding officer.
主席台上的领导们正在交流。
The leaders on the rostrum (chairman's platform) are communicating.
请问，哪位是本次会议的主席？
Excuse me, who is the chairman of this meeting?
作为小组主席，他负责协调各项工作。
As the group chairman, he is responsible for coordinating various tasks.
Tips
Basic Meaning
主席 (zhǔxí) literally means chairman or presiding officer. Think of someone in charge of a meeting or organization.
Common Usage
You'll often hear this in the context of political leaders, like Chairman Mao (毛主席 - Máo zhǔxí) or the chairman of a company board (董事会主席 - dǒngshìhuì zhǔxí).
Formal Setting
This word is generally used in more formal settings. For informal group leaders, you might use different terms.
Verb Usage
It can also be used as a verb, meaning 'to preside over' or 'to chair' a meeting. For example, '他主席了这次会议' (Tā zhǔxí le zhè cì huìyì) means 'He chaired this meeting'.
Meeting Context
In a meeting, the person leading it is often referred to as the 主席. They control the agenda and discussions.
Don't Confuse with Boss
While a chairman is in charge, don't confuse 主席 with a general 'boss' or 'manager'. Those have different terms in Chinese.
Historical Significance
Understanding 主席 is important for grasping Chinese history and politics, especially regarding figures like Chairman Mao Zedong.
Phrase with 'Party'
You might hear '党主席' (dǎng zhǔxí) which means Party Chairman, referring to the head of a political party.
Comparing with '会长'
While both can mean 'president' or 'chairman' in some contexts, 主席 is often for larger, more formal bodies. '会长' (huìzhǎng) is more common for associations or clubs.
Listen for Context
Always pay attention to the context when you hear 主席 to understand who or what exactly is being referred to. It's often a high-ranking position.
Word Origin
Composed of '主' (zhǔ - master, host) and '席' (xí - mat, seat, banquet).
Original meaning: The combination originally referred to the 'host of a banquet' or 'one who occupies the main seat'. Over time, it evolved to mean the person presiding over an assembly.
Sino-Tibetan, Sinitic languages, Chinese.Cultural Context
In modern Chinese culture and politics, '主席' is a highly respected and formal title. It is primarily used for leaders of major organizations, political parties, or national bodies. For instance, the President of China is often referred to as '国家主席' (guójiā zhǔxí, National Chairman).
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Political meetings or organizations
- 主席台 (zhǔxítái) - podium, rostrum
- 当选主席 (dāngxuǎn zhǔxí) - elected chairman
- 会议主席 (huìyì zhǔxí) - meeting chairman
Company board meetings
- 董事会主席 (dǒngshìhuì zhǔxí) - chairman of the board
- 公司主席 (gōngsī zhǔxí) - company chairman
Academic conferences or committees
- 委员会主席 (wěiyuánhuì zhǔxí) - committee chairman
- 学术会议主席 (xuéshù huìyì zhǔxí) - academic conference chairman
Sports events or organizations
- 体育协会主席 (tǐyù xiéhuì zhǔxí) - sports association chairman
- 赛事主席 (sàishì zhǔxí) - event chairman
Historical figures (e.g., Mao Zedong)
- 毛主席 (Máo Zhǔxí) - Chairman Mao
- 前主席 (qián zhǔxí) - former chairman
Conversation Starters
"你觉得一个好的会议主席应该具备哪些特质？ (Nǐ juéde yī ge hǎo de huìyì zhǔxí yīnggāi jùbèi nǎxiē tèzhì?) - What qualities do you think a good meeting chairman should have?"
"你们公司的董事会主席是谁？ (Nǐmen gōngsī de dǒngshìhuì zhǔxí shì shuí?) - Who is the chairman of your company's board?"
"你对毛主席的领导有什么看法？ (Nǐ duì Máo Zhǔxí de lǐngdǎo yǒu shénme kànfǎ?) - What are your thoughts on Chairman Mao's leadership?"
"在你的文化中，主席这个职位有什么特别的意义吗？ (Zài nǐ de wénhuà zhōng, zhǔxí zhè ge zhíwèi yǒu shénme tèbié de yìyì ma?) - In your culture, does the position of 'chairman' have any special significance?"
"如果让你当一个活动的主席，你会怎么组织？ (Rúguǒ ràng nǐ dāng yī ge huódòng de zhǔxí, nǐ huì zěnme zǔzhī?) - If you were the chairman of an event, how would you organize it?"
Journal Prompts
描述一个你曾经参加过的会议，并思考主席是如何引导会议进程的。 (Miáoshù yī ge nǐ céngjīng cānjiā guo de huìyì, bìng sīkǎo zhǔxí shì rúhé yǐndǎo huìyì jìnchéng de.) - Describe a meeting you've attended and think about how the chairman guided the process.
如果你是公司董事会的主席，你会提出哪些改革建议？ (Rúguǒ nǐ shì gōngsī dǒngshìhuì de zhǔxí, nǐ huì tíchū nǎxiē gǎigé jiànyì?) - If you were the chairman of a company's board, what reform suggestions would you propose?
探讨一下“主席”这个词在中文语境中的不同用法和含义。 (Tàntǎo yīxià “zhǔxí” zhè ge cí zài Zhōngwén yǔjìng zhōng de bùtóng yòngfǎ hé hányì.) - Explore the different uses and meanings of the word "主席" in Chinese contexts.
思考一个你所了解的历史人物，他曾担任过“主席”的职位。这个人对历史产生了什么影响？ (Sīkǎo yī ge nǐ suǒ liǎojiě de lìshǐ rénwù, tā céng dānrèn guo “zhǔxí” de zhíwèi. Zhè ge rén duì lìshǐ chǎnshēng le shénme yǐngxiǎng?) - Think about a historical figure you know who held the position of 'chairman'. What impact did this person have on history?
想象一下在一个国际会议上，你作为主席需要协调不同国家的代表。你会怎么做？ (Xiǎngxiàng yīxià zài yī ge guójì huìyì shàng, nǐ zuòwéi zhǔxí xūyào xiétiáo bùtóng guójiā de dàibiǎo. Nǐ huì zěnme zuò?) - Imagine you are the chairman at an international conference, needing to coordinate representatives from different countries. What would you do?
Test Yourself 84 questions
Listen for 'He is the chairman.'
Listen for 'Hello, chairman.'
Listen for 'Who is the chairman?'
Read this aloud:
他是主席。
Focus: zhǔ xí
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
主席。
Focus: zhǔ xí
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
你好，主席。
Focus: nǐ hǎo, zhǔ xí
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This sentence means 'He is the chairman.' In Chinese, the structure is Subject + Verb + Object.
This phrase means 'the chairman of the meeting.' The particle '的' (de) is used to show possession or a descriptive relationship.
This sentence means 'Our chairman has arrived.' '我们' (wǒmen) means 'we/our', and '来了' (lái le) means 'has arrived'.
公司会议上，李先生被选为新一届的___。
In a company meeting, Mr. Li was chosen to be the new chairman.
这次国际会议由一位经验丰富的___主持。
This international conference was presided over by an experienced chairman.
请问，今天会议的___是谁？
Excuse me, who is the chairman of today's meeting?
学校的辩论赛，老师请了一位教授做___。
For the school debate, the teacher invited a professor to be the presiding officer.
他常常在各种重要的会议上担任___。
He often serves as the chairman in various important meetings.
大家都在等待___宣布会议开始。
Everyone is waiting for the chairman to announce the start of the meeting.
This sentence means 'We welcome the chairman.' The standard word order in Chinese is Subject-Verb-Object.
This sentence means 'The meeting is presided over by the chairman.' '由' (yóu) indicates the agent in a passive construction.
This sentence means 'The chairman is speaking.' '正在' (zhèngzài) indicates an action in progress.
The meeting is presided over by Chairman Wang.
Mr. Chairman, please allow me to speak.
She is the organizing chairman of this event.
Read this aloud:
我们的主席在讲话。
Focus: zhǔ xí
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
你认为谁会是下一任主席？
Focus: xià yī rèn zhǔ xí
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
主席宣布会议开始。
Focus: xuān bù
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
The correct order is 'Today's meeting's chairman is Mr. Li'. '今天会议的' modifies '主席'.
The sentence structure is 'He was chosen as the new committee chairman'. '被选为' means 'was chosen as'.
The sentence means 'The chairman announced the meeting's start'. '宣布' means 'announced'.
会议由一位经验丰富的___主持。
The sentence indicates that someone experienced is leading the meeting. '主席' (chairman/presiding officer) fits this context perfectly, whereas the other options (audience, listener, tourist) do not.
他被选为新一届委员会的___。
The sentence implies that someone was elected to lead a new committee. '主席' (chairman) is the most suitable choice here, indicating a leadership role. '成员' (member), '秘书' (secretary), and '顾问' (consultant) do not convey the same sense of elected leadership.
___的演讲鼓舞了所有与会者。
The sentence describes an inspiring speech given to attendees. Typically, a '主席' (chairman/presiding officer) would give such a speech in a formal setting, making it the correct answer. The other options are irrelevant professions.
在股东大会上，公司的___宣布了新的发展战略。
At a shareholders' meeting, it is the '主席' (chairman) of the company who would typically announce new development strategies. The other options are not appropriate for this role in such a context.
请大家欢迎我们的会议___，李先生！
When formally welcoming someone to lead a meeting, '主席' (chairman/presiding officer) is the correct term to use. '客人' (guest), '朋友' (friend), and '邻居' (neighbor) are informal and do not fit the context of a meeting leader.
国际组织通常会有一个___来协调各项事务。
An international organization requires a '主席' (chairman/presiding officer) to coordinate its various affairs, indicating a leadership and organizational role. '普通成员' (ordinary member), '志愿者' (volunteer), and '实习生' (intern) do not hold this specific leadership function.
公司董事会选举了一位新的___。
公司董事会通常会选举一位主席来领导会议和决策。
联合国大会的___宣布会议开始。
在国际会议中，通常由主席来宣布会议的开始和结束。
他因为在辩论赛中表现出色，被选为学生会的___。
学生会的领导职务通常被称为主席。
在正式会议中，'主席'一词可以用来指代主持会议的人。
是的，'主席'就是指主持会议或组织的人。
一个国家的元首通常也被称为'主席'。
并非所有国家的元首都被称为'主席'，例如，有些是总统或国王。
在日常口语中，我们很少使用'主席'来称呼一个组织的负责人。
在某些语境下，比如党组织、学生会等，'主席'仍然是常见的称谓。
The sentence is about someone being elected as the new chairman.
The sentence describes who is chairing the meeting.
This sentence is about the reception of the chairman's speech.
Read this aloud:
请你用“主席”这个词造一个句子。
Focus: zhǔ xí
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
描述一个你知道的，担任“主席”职位的人。
Focus: zhǔ xí
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
如果你是一个会议的主席，你会如何开始会议？
Focus: 如、果、你、是、主、席
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This sentence means 'Today's meeting is presided over by the chairman.' The structure is 'Time + Event + by + Person + Action'.
This sentence means 'They elected him as the new chairman.' The structure is 'Subject + Verb + Object + as + Noun'.
This sentence means 'The chairman is currently delivering an important speech.' The structure is 'Subject +正在 (indicating ongoing action) + Verb + Object'.
在这次重要的国际会议上，他被推选为会议___，负责协调各方讨论。
根据上下文，他负责协调会议讨论，因此“主席”是最合适的词，表示会议的主持人。
公司董事会选举了一位新的___，以领导公司未来的发展方向。
董事会通常会选举一位“主席”来领导，而不是经理、员工或顾问。
每次年度股东大会，我们都会见到那位德高望重的___，他总是能掌控全场。
在股东大会上，德高望重且能掌控全场的人通常是“主席”。
在联合国的紧急会议中，各国代表一致推举他担任___，以应对当前的国际危机。
在紧急会议中，各国代表推举的通常是“主席”，负责主持和协调。
我们社团的___在这次活动中表现出了卓越的领导才能，使得活动圆满成功。
在社团中，表现出卓越领导才能并使得活动圆满成功的人通常是“主席”。
在辩论赛中，___负责维持秩序，确保每位辩手都有公平的发言机会。
在辩论赛中，维持秩序和确保公平发言机会是“主席”的职责。
你认为一位优秀的会议主席需要具备哪些素质？请用中文描述至少三点。
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
一位优秀的会议主席需要具备卓越的组织能力，确保会议流程顺畅。其次，清晰的沟通能力也至关重要，以便有效引导讨论。最后，保持公正和中立的态度能赢得与会者的信任。
请用中文写一个句子，描述一位主席如何处理一场有争议的讨论。
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
面对激烈的争议，主席巧妙地引导各方阐述观点，最终促成了一个双方都能接受的解决方案。
假设你是一位国际组织的主席，请用中文写一段话，简要介绍你的职责。
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
作为本国际组织的主席，我的主要职责是协调成员国之间的合作，代表组织对外发声，并确保各项议程的顺利推进。
根据这段文字，主席在致辞中主要强调了什么？
Read this passage:
在一次重要的国际峰会上，主席在开幕致辞中强调了全球合作的重要性。他指出，当前世界面临的诸多挑战，需要各国齐心协力才能有效应对。随后，主席详细阐述了未来一年的工作重点，并呼吁各成员国积极参与到各项倡议中来。
根据这段文字，主席在致辞中主要强调了什么？
文章明确提到“主席在开幕致辞中强调了全球合作的重要性”。
文章明确提到“主席在开幕致辞中强调了全球合作的重要性”。
这段文字主要描述了会议主席的哪些行为？
Read this passage:
某公司年度股东大会气氛热烈，讨论围绕着公司的未来发展战略展开。当有股东提出质疑时，会议主席耐心听取意见，并请相关部门负责人进行详细解答。在投票环节，主席严格遵循议事规则，确保了投票的公平性和透明度。
这段文字主要描述了会议主席的哪些行为？
文章中提到“会议主席耐心听取意见，并请相关部门负责人进行详细解答”，以及“确保了投票的公平性和透明度”。
文章中提到“会议主席耐心听取意见，并请相关部门负责人进行详细解答”，以及“确保了投票的公平性和透明度”。
主席在处理这项决议时，采取了哪些策略来促成其通过？
Read this passage:
联合国大会上，各国代表就一项重要决议展开了激烈的辩论。大会主席灵活运用议事规则，适时暂停辩论，并组织非正式磋商，最终帮助各方找到了共同点，促成了决议的通过。他的领导艺术受到了广泛赞扬。
主席在处理这项决议时，采取了哪些策略来促成其通过？
文章明确指出“大会主席灵活运用议事规则，适时暂停辩论，并组织非正式磋商，最终帮助各方找到了共同点，促成了决议的通过”。
文章明确指出“大会主席灵活运用议事规则，适时暂停辩论，并组织非正式磋商，最终帮助各方找到了共同点，促成了决议的通过”。
The correct order is '主席 (chairman) + 宣布 (announced) + 会议 (meeting) + 开始 (start)'. The chairman announced the start of the meeting.
The correct order is '新政策 (new policy) + 由 (by) + 主席 (chairman) + 制定 (formulated)'. The new policy was formulated by the chairman.
The correct order is '主席 (chairman) + 发表了 (delivered) + 重要 (important) + 讲话 (speech)'. The chairman delivered an important speech.
The chairman delivered an important speech at the meeting.
He was elected as the new chairman.
The members of the presidium are discussing the proposal.
Read this aloud:
在国际会议中，如何得体地称呼不同国家的主席？
Focus: 主席 (zhǔ xí)
You said:
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Read this aloud:
如果你是一个跨国公司的主席，你认为最重要的是什么？
Focus: 主席 (zhǔ xí)
You said:
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Read this aloud:
请你用“主席”这个词描述一个你尊敬的领导人。
Focus: 主席 (zhǔ xí)
You said:
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Basic Meaning
主席 (zhǔxí) literally means chairman or presiding officer. Think of someone in charge of a meeting or organization.
Common Usage
You'll often hear this in the context of political leaders, like Chairman Mao (毛主席 - Máo zhǔxí) or the chairman of a company board (董事会主席 - dǒngshìhuì zhǔxí).
Formal Setting
This word is generally used in more formal settings. For informal group leaders, you might use different terms.
Verb Usage
It can also be used as a verb, meaning 'to preside over' or 'to chair' a meeting. For example, '他主席了这次会议' (Tā zhǔxí le zhè cì huìyì) means 'He chaired this meeting'.
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
More academic words
缺席
B1The state of being absent from a place or event where one is expected to be, such as a class, meeting, or ceremony.
抽象的
A2Abstract.
抽象地
B1In an abstract manner; conceptually.
艰深
B1Profound; abstruse; recondite.
学术性
A2Academic; scholarly; relating to education and scholarship.
学术化
B1Academic; characterized by formal study or research.
学术会议
A2Academic conference; a formal meeting for academic discussions.
学术交流
B1Exchange of ideas, information, and research among scholars.
学术期刊
B1A periodical publication containing scholarly articles.
教务处
A2Academic affairs office; department handling educational administration.
