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B1 adjective #7,000 most common 9 min read

密集型

mijixing Top 7,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 密集型 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 密集型 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you don't really need to use '密集型' (mìjíxíng) yet. It is a big word for beginners! However, you can think of it as a way to say 'many things in one place.' Imagine a box full of toys. If the box is very full, it is like a 'toy-intensive' box. You might see the first part of the word, '密' (mì), which means 'close together' or 'dense.' For example, if you see many people standing very close, that is '密集' (mìjí). Just remember that '型' (xíng) means 'type.' So, '密集型' is a 'type' of thing that has many things gathered together. You will mainly see this in news or school books about work and factories.

At the A2 level, you can start to recognize '密集型' (mìjíxíng) as a word used for industries. You probably know the word '工作' (work). In China, some jobs need many people to work together in one factory. This is called '劳动密集型' (labor-intensive). '劳动' (láodòng) means labor or hard work. You can use this word when you talk about why some things are made in certain places. For example, 'This factory needs many people' can be said more formally as 'This is a labor-intensive factory.' It is an adjective that describes a 'type' (型) of business. Don't worry about using it in daily chat, but try to remember it when you read about business.

At the B1 level, you should be able to use '密集型' (mìjíxíng) in more formal writing or discussions about the economy and society. This word is an adjective that means '-intensive.' It is almost always used with a noun in front of it. The most common ones are '劳动密集型' (labor-intensive), '资本密集型' (capital-intensive), and '技术密集型' (technology-intensive). You use it to describe the nature of a company or an industry. For example, if you are discussing why a smartphone is expensive, you might say it is because it comes from a '技术密集型' (technology-intensive) industry. It shows that you have a more professional vocabulary. Remember that '密集型' is for structural types, not just for a temporary crowd of people.

At the B2 level, you should use '密集型' (mìjíxíng) fluently in academic and professional contexts. You should understand that it describes a model of resource allocation. For instance, in a debate about urban development, you might talk about '人口密集型区域' (population-intensive areas) and the challenges they face with infrastructure. You should also be able to distinguish it from similar words like '集中' (concentrated) or '稠密' (dense). '密集型' implies a categorization. You will find this word frequently in economic reports, such as those discussing China's shift from 'labor-intensive' manufacturing to 'innovation-driven' or 'knowledge-intensive' (知识密集型) sectors. It is a key term for expressing complex industrial concepts clearly.

At the C1 level, you should master the nuances of '密集型' (mìjíxíng) and use it to describe abstract systems. Beyond just 'labor' or 'capital,' you can apply it to '数据密集型' (data-intensive) scientific research or '人才密集型' (talent-intensive) service industries. You should be able to discuss the socio-economic implications of these classifications—for example, how 'capital-intensive' industries create barriers to entry for small firms. Your usage should reflect an understanding that '型' signifies a paradigm or a structural model. You can also use it to modify more complex nouns, like '密集型住宅开发' (intensive residential development) or '密集型课程设计' (intensive curriculum design), showing a high level of precision in your descriptive language.

At the C2 level, '密集型' (mìjíxíng) becomes a tool for precise socio-economic and philosophical analysis. You can use it to critique different models of development, such as the transition from 'resource-intensive' (资源密集型) to 'sustainability-oriented' models. You should be comfortable using it in high-level policy analysis, identifying how 'information-intensive' (信息密集型) societies change the nature of labor and value. At this level, you might also use it metaphorically or in highly specialized fields, such as '计算密集型算法' (computation-intensive algorithms) in computer science. Your ability to deploy this term correctly within complex sentence structures—incorporating various modifiers and maintaining formal register—demonstrates a near-native command of professional and academic Chinese.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

密集型 in 30 Seconds

Used to classify industries by their primary resource (labor, capital, tech).
Acts like the English suffix '-intensive' in professional contexts.
Essential for discussing economics, urban planning, and industrial development.
Formed by 'dense gathering' (密集) and 'type/model' (型).

The Chinese term 密集型 (mìjíxíng) is a highly specific adjective used primarily in economic, industrial, and sociological contexts to describe a system, industry, or activity that is characterized by a high concentration or intensive use of a particular factor. To understand this word, we must break it down into its constituent parts: 密 (mì) meaning dense or thick, 集 (jí) meaning to gather or collect, and 型 (xíng) meaning type or model. When combined, 密集 (mìjí) functions as 'concentrated' or 'dense,' and adding 型 transforms it into a categorizing adjective meaning '-intensive type.'

Economic Classification: In economics, this word is the standard way to classify industries. For example, a factory that requires thousands of manual laborers is called a 劳动密集型 (láodòng mìjíxíng) or 'labor-intensive' industry. Conversely, a semiconductor plant requiring billions in machinery is a 资本密集型 (zīběn mìjíxíng) or 'capital-intensive' industry.

随着科技的发展，中国正在从密集型制造业向技术密集型产业转型。 (With the development of technology, China is transforming from intensive manufacturing to technology-intensive industries.)

Beyond economics, you might encounter this word in urban planning or logistics. A 'population-intensive' area (人口密集型) refers to a place where many people live or work in a small space. It differs from the simple word for 'crowded' (拥挤 - yōngjǐ) because 密集型 implies a structural or inherent characteristic of the setup rather than a temporary state of being full of people. It describes the *nature* of the entity.

Resource Allocation: It is used to highlight which resource is being 'consumed' or 'utilized' most heavily. If a project requires immense amounts of data processing, it might be called 数据密集型 (shùjù mìjíxíng) or 'data-intensive.'

这家公司属于典型的资本密集型企业。 (This company belongs to a typical capital-intensive enterprise.)

In academic writing, you will see this word used to describe research methods. An 'information-intensive' study (信息密集型) implies that the research involves a high volume of data points per unit of analysis. It is a formal word; you wouldn't use it to describe a crowded subway during a casual conversation, but you would use it in a report about urban transit efficiency.

Structural Nuance: The use of '型' suggests a model or a paradigm. It isn't just that things are close together; it's that the 'model' of the thing relies on that density to function.

农业正在向知识密集型方向转变。 (Agriculture is shifting toward a knowledge-intensive direction.)

Using 密集型 correctly requires understanding its role as a classificatory adjective. It almost always modifies a noun like 产业 (chǎnyè - industry), 企业 (qǐyè - enterprise), or 行业 (hángyè - profession). It is rarely used on its own without a prefix that specifies *what* is intensive.

Grammar Pattern: [Noun] + 密集型 + [Noun]: This is the most common structure. The first noun identifies the resource (labor, capital, tech), and the second noun identifies the entity (industry, company).

纺织业通常被认为是劳动密集型产业。 (The textile industry is usually considered a labor-intensive industry.)

When you want to describe a transition or a state of being, you can use the structure '属于...密集型' (belongs to the ...-intensive type). This is common in analytical reports. For example, '该项目属于技术密集型' (This project belongs to the technology-intensive type). Note that the '型' is essential here; without it, the sentence would feel incomplete or informal.

Comparative Usage: You can compare different types of industries using this word. For instance, comparing the cost of labor vs. the cost of machinery.

与劳动密集型企业相比，资本密集型企业对资金的需求更高。 (Compared with labor-intensive enterprises, capital-intensive enterprises have a higher demand for funds.)

In more abstract or modern contexts, you might see '人才密集型' (talent-intensive). This describes high-end service sectors or creative industries where the primary 'input' is the skill and intelligence of the employees. It’s a way to dignify an industry by highlighting its reliance on human capital rather than just 'labor' (which implies manual work).

软件开发是一个典型的知识密集型行业。 (Software development is a typical knowledge-intensive industry.)

Finally, consider the usage in describing geographical distributions. '建筑密集型区域' (building-intensive area) refers to an area with a high density of construction. This is often used in environmental impact reports or urban heat island effect studies. The word adds a layer of professional precision that words like 'crowded' or 'full' lack.

Advanced Pattern: [Adverb] + 密集型: Sometimes used with '高度' (highly) to emphasize the intensity. '高度密集型' means 'highly intensive.'

这些高度密集型的住宅区需要更好的消防设施。 (These highly intensive residential areas need better fire-fighting facilities.)

You are most likely to encounter 密集型 in three primary environments: the news, educational settings, and corporate offices. It is not a word children use on the playground, but it is a word that high school students learn in geography and economics classes across the Chinese-speaking world.

News and Media: When watching CCTV Finance or reading 'Caixin,' you will hear this word constantly. Analysts discuss how the 'labor-intensive' (劳动密集型) advantage of Southeast Asia is attracting factories away from China, or how China is investing in 'technology-intensive' (技术密集型) sectors to move up the value chain.

新闻报道：政府将支持技术密集型企业的发展。 (News report: The government will support the development of technology-intensive enterprises.)

In the academic sphere, specifically in urban studies or economics, professors use 密集型 to describe data sets or spatial distributions. A lecture on 'Data-Intensive Science' (数据密集型科学) would focus on the shift from hypothesis-driven research to data-driven discovery. Here, the word signifies a fundamental shift in how work is performed.

Corporate Strategy: In a boardroom, a CEO might say, 'Our business model is too labor-intensive; we need to automate.' In Chinese, they would say '我们的模式太偏向劳动密集型了' (Our model is too biased toward the labor-intensive type).

在董事会会议上，他们讨论了资本密集型投资的风险。 (At the board meeting, they discussed the risks of capital-intensive investments.)

Another common place is in government white papers or five-year plans. The Chinese government frequently uses these terms to outline national goals, such as moving from 'resource-intensive' (资源密集型) growth to 'innovation-driven' growth. Understanding this word is key to understanding Chinese economic policy and the 'Belt and Road Initiative' discussions.

Urban Planning: When talking about 'High-density housing,' experts often use '人口密集型住宅' to describe skyscrapers or apartment complexes in cities like Hong Kong or Shanghai.

这种人口密集型的社区对公共交通的要求很高。 (This kind of population-intensive community has high requirements for public transportation.)

One of the most frequent errors learners make is confusing 密集型 (mìjíxíng) with the simple adjective 密集 (mìjí). While they share the same root, their grammatical functions and nuances are distinct. 密集 is a general adjective meaning 'dense' or 'crowded,' while 密集型 is a categorizing noun-modifier meaning '-intensive type.'

Mistake: Using '密集型' to describe a crowd: Incorrect: 这里的广场非常密集型 (The square here is very intensive-type). Correct: 这里的广场人流非常密集 (The flow of people in this square is very dense).

错误：地铁里的人很密集型。 (Wrong: People in the subway are very intensive-type.)

Another common mistake is omitting the '型' (xíng) when talking about economic sectors. In English, we say 'labor intensive' as an adjective. In Chinese, if you just say '劳动密集,' it sounds like a verb phrase ('labor is gathering') rather than a classification. You must include the '型' to indicate it is a *type* of industry.

Structural Error: Always remember: [Resource] + 密集 + 型 + [Industry/Entity]. Skipping any of these parts makes the sentence sound unprofessional or unclear.

Learners also often confuse 密集型 with 集中 (jízhōng). 集中 means 'to concentrate' or 'to focus' (often used as a verb). For example, '注意力集中' (concentrate attention). You cannot use 密集型 for mental focus. 密集型 is about physical or structural density of resources, not the act of focusing one's mind.

正确用法：这是一家劳动密集型的工厂。 (Correct use: This is a labor-intensive factory.)

Lastly, be careful with the prefix. You can't just put any word before 密集型. Stick to established economic and technical terms. While you could technically coin 'pizza-intensive' (披萨密集型), it would sound bizarre. Use it for labor, capital, technology, knowledge, and data.

To master 密集型, it is helpful to compare it with other words that express density, concentration, or intensity. Each of these has a specific domain of use.

密集 (mìjí) vs. 密集型 (mìjíxíng): '密集' is a simple adjective for physical density (e.g., a dense forest, a dense schedule). '密集型' is a technical classification for an industrial or systemic type.
集中 (jízhōng) vs. 密集型 (mìjíxíng): '集中' means 'to concentrate' or 'centralized.' It is often a verb or a state of power (e.g., centralized power). '密集型' describes the resource ratio in a production process.
稠密 (chóumì) vs. 密集型 (mìjíxíng): '稠密' is specifically used for population or vegetation density (e.g., 人口稠密 - densely populated). It is more descriptive and less technical than '密集型.'

相比于人口稠密的城市，这个开发区更像是一个资本密集型的枢纽。 (Compared to a densely populated city, this development zone is more like a capital-intensive hub.)

In terms of opposites, you might look at words like 稀疏 (xīshū), which means sparse or thin. However, there isn't a direct technical opposite like 'sparse-intensive.' Instead, you would describe an industry as being 'low-labor' or 'automated.' The technical opposite of a 'labor-intensive industry' is often a 'technology-intensive industry' (技术密集型产业).

Alternative: 导向型 (dǎoxiàngxíng): Sometimes 'intensive' is replaced by 'oriented.' For example, 'export-oriented' is 出口导向型 (chūkǒu dǎoxiàngxíng). While '密集型' focuses on internal resource use, '导向型' focuses on the external market goal.

知识密集型服务业是未来经济增长的关键。 (Knowledge-intensive service industries are the key to future economic growth.)

In some contexts, you can use 高强度 (gāo qiángdù), which means 'high intensity' (like a workout). But 密集型 is better for structural descriptions, while 高强度 is better for describing the level of effort or pressure over a short time.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The character '密' originally depicted a house in the mountains, implying a hidden or secluded place, which later evolved to mean 'dense' like a forest.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /miː tɕiː ɕjəŋ/

US /mi tʃi ʃjɛŋ/

The primary stress in Chinese is often evenly distributed, but the falling 4th tone on 'mì' gives it a strong initial emphasis.

Rhymes With

情形 (qíngxíng) 进行 (jìnxíng) 发行 (fāxíng) 流行 (liúxíng) 执行 (zhíxíng) 举行 (jǔxíng) 五行 (wǔxíng) 典型 (diǎnxíng)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'mì' as a flat tone (1st) instead of falling (4th).
Confusing the 'x' in 'xíng' with an English 'sh' sound; it is more of a hissed 's' with the tongue behind the lower teeth.
Failing to rise enough on the 'jí' and 'xíng' syllables.
Combining all three syllables into one breath without clear tonal distinction.
Pronouncing 'jí' like the English word 'gee' instead of a rising 'jee'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 4/5

Requires recognition of three distinct characters and understanding of economic concepts.

Writing 5/5

Writing '密集' involves many strokes and requires precision.

Speaking 3/5

Tones are clear, but the 'x' sound in 'xíng' can be tricky for English speakers.

Listening 3/5

Common in news; easy to identify once you know the pattern.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

密集型劳动技术

Learn Next

集约型附加值产业链核心竞争力转型升级

Advanced

要素禀赋规模经济边际收益结构性改革创新驱动

Grammar to Know

Adjective + 型 as a Suffix

除了密集型，还有导向型、服务型、生产型。

Nouns as Adjectives

Labor (劳动) acts as an adjective modifying 密集型.

The use of 属于 (belong to)

这家公司属于资本密集型。

The use of 向 (towards) with 转型

企业向技术密集型转型。

Modifier + Noun (的)

劳动密集型的产业 (The 'de' is optional but common).

Examples by Level

这里的人很多，非常密集。

There are many people here, very dense.

Here we use '密集' (dense) instead of '密集型' because we are describing a crowd, not a business type.

这个工厂很大，人很密集。

This factory is big, and people are very dense.

'密集' describes the physical state of the people inside.

密集的小房子。

Dense small houses.

Simple use of '密集' as an adjective for physical objects.

书架上的书很密集。

The books on the shelf are very dense.

Using '密集' to describe objects packed together.

密集型的工作。

Intensive type of work.

A1-level introduction to the '-intensive' concept.

我们要学习密集的课程。

We need to study an intensive course.

Using '密集' to describe a schedule.

城市里的建筑很密集。

Buildings in the city are very dense.

Describing urban density.

这种密集的感觉我不喜欢。

I don't like this dense feeling.

Using '密集' to describe a feeling of being crowded.

这是一家劳动密集型工厂。

This is a labor-intensive factory.

Introduction of the standard economic phrase '劳动密集型'.

有些工作是密集型的。

Some jobs are intensive-type.

Using '密集型' as a predicate with '是'.

人口密集型的城市很热闹。

Population-intensive cities are very lively.

Describing a 'type' of city based on population.

这个地方属于密集型区域。

This place belongs to an intensive-type area.

Using '属于' (belongs to) with '密集型'.

资本密集型企业需要很多钱。

Capital-intensive enterprises need a lot of money.

Learning the term for industries that require high investment.

这种衣服是劳动密集型产品。

This kind of clothing is a labor-intensive product.

Applying the adjective to a 'product' (产品).

我们需要更多技术密集型产业。

We need more technology-intensive industries.

Using '技术密集型' to describe modern industry.

密集型的训练很辛苦。

Intensive training is very hard.

Describing a 'type' of training session.

随着工资上涨，劳动密集型企业面临挑战。

As wages rise, labor-intensive enterprises face challenges.

Using the term in a socio-economic context.

高科技行业通常是技术密集型的。

High-tech industries are usually technology-intensive.

Explaining the nature of high-tech sectors.

政府鼓励发展知识密集型服务业。

The government encourages the development of knowledge-intensive service industries.

Formal sentence structure regarding government policy.

这家公司正在向资本密集型转型。

This company is transforming toward being capital-intensive.

Using '向...转型' (transform toward) with the word.

密集型产业对环境的影响很大。

Intensive industries have a great impact on the environment.

Discussing the consequences of industrial types.

这种农业模式是资源密集型的。

This agricultural model is resource-intensive.

Applying the term to agriculture and resources.

软件行业是典型的人才密集型行业。

The software industry is a typical talent-intensive industry.

Using '人才' (talent) as a prefix.

我们需要优化密集型产业的结构。

We need to optimize the structure of intensive industries.

Using '优化' (optimize) and '结构' (structure).

该地区的经济增长主要依靠劳动密集型出口。

The economic growth of this region mainly relies on labor-intensive exports.

Analyzing the source of economic growth.

资本密集型项目往往具有较高的准入门槛。

Capital-intensive projects often have high barriers to entry.

Using '准入门槛' (barriers to entry) in a business context.

数据密集型科学正在改变我们的研究方式。

Data-intensive science is changing the way we do research.

Describing a paradigm shift in science.

这些企业属于高度密集型的生产模式。

These enterprises belong to a highly intensive production model.

Using '高度' (highly) as an intensifier.

城市的人口密集型特征导致了交通拥堵。

The population-intensive characteristics of the city lead to traffic congestion.

Linking physical characteristics to social problems.

向技术密集型产业升级是必然的选择。

Upgrading to technology-intensive industries is an inevitable choice.

Using '升级' (upgrade) and '必然' (inevitable).

知识密集型企业更注重员工的培训。

Knowledge-intensive enterprises pay more attention to employee training.

Discussing corporate priorities.

这种密集型的资源开发是不可持续的。

This kind of intensive resource development is unsustainable.

Critiquing sustainability in resource management.

在资本密集型产业中，规模效应非常明显。

In capital-intensive industries, economies of scale are very obvious.

Using technical economic terms like '规模效应' (economies of scale).

信息密集型社会对个人隐私提出了新的挑战。

Information-intensive societies pose new challenges to personal privacy.

Discussing societal impacts of information density.

该项研究采用的是一种计算密集型的算法。

The study employs a computation-intensive algorithm.

Using '计算密集型' in a technical computer science context.

劳动密集型产业的转移是全球分工的结果。

The transfer of labor-intensive industries is the result of global division of labor.

Analyzing global economic trends.

密集型住宅区的防火安全至关重要。

Fire safety in intensive residential areas is of vital importance.

Using '至关重要' (vitally important) for formal emphasis.

我们要从要素密集型增长转向创新驱动型增长。

We must shift from factor-intensive growth to innovation-driven growth.

Using '要素密集型' (factor-intensive) to describe traditional growth.

这些高度密集型的设施需要精密的操作流程。

These highly intensive facilities require precise operating procedures.

Describing operational requirements for dense systems.

知识密集型产品的附加值通常更高。

The added value of knowledge-intensive products is usually higher.

Using '附加值' (added value) in economic analysis.

资本密集型与劳动密集型产业的博弈影响着国家的产业政策。

The game between capital-intensive and labor-intensive industries influences national industrial policies.

Using '博弈' (game/contest) to describe industrial competition.

在数据密集型发现的时代，实证研究的范式正在发生改变。

In the era of data-intensive discovery, the paradigm of empirical research is undergoing a change.

Using '范式' (paradigm) and '实证研究' (empirical research).

这种密集型的土地利用模式对生物多样性构成了威胁。

This intensive land-use model poses a threat to biodiversity.

Analyzing environmental consequences with '构成了威胁'.

密集型金融服务的渗透率反映了一个地区的经济活跃度。

The penetration rate of intensive financial services reflects the economic activity of a region.

Using '渗透率' (penetration rate) and '活跃度' (activity level).

全球价值链的重构使得传统的密集型分类变得模糊。

The reconstruction of global value chains makes traditional intensive classifications blurred.

Critiquing the traditional classification system.

高度密集型的城市群建设需要跨区域的协调机制。

The construction of highly intensive city clusters requires cross-regional coordination mechanisms.

Discussing regional governance and '协调机制'.

这种知识密集型的创新生态系统是该市的核心竞争力。

This knowledge-intensive innovation ecosystem is the city's core competitiveness.

Using '生态系统' (ecosystem) and '核心竞争力' (core competitiveness).

探讨密集型生产方式对劳动力市场结构性失业的影响。

Explore the impact of intensive production methods on structural unemployment in the labor market.

A complex academic thesis-style sentence.

Synonyms

集约紧凑集中

Antonyms

分散稀疏

Common Collocations

劳动密集型

资本密集型

技术密集型

知识密集型

人口密集型

数据密集型

人才密集型

资源密集型

密集型训练

密集型住宅

Common Phrases

密集型产业

— Industries that rely heavily on a specific resource (labor, capital, etc.).

这些密集型产业为当地提供了大量就业。

密集型企业

— A company characterized by high resource concentration.

作为一家技术密集型企业，研发是核心。

密集型增长

— Economic growth driven by high input of resources.

过去那种密集型增长模式已经不可持续。

密集型研发

— Research and development involving high concentration of resources.

新药的开发需要密集型的资金投入。

密集型布局

— A high-density arrangement or distribution.

商场在市中心进行了密集型布局。

密集型排班

— An intensive scheduling system with many shifts.

为了赶进度，工厂采用了密集型排班。

密集型课程

— A course with a very tight and heavy schedule.

暑期密集型英语课程非常受欢迎。

密集型投放

— Concentrated release or placement (often used in advertising).

品牌在春节期间进行了密集型广告投放。

密集型管理

— A management style characterized by high oversight or resource focus.

这种密集型管理模式虽然高效，但员工压力大。

密集型网络

— A high-density network (like 5G base stations).

5G时代需要更密集型的基站建设。

Often Confused With

密集型 vs 密集 (mìjí)

A general adjective for 'dense.' Use it for crowds or objects, not industrial classifications.

密集型 vs 集中 (jízhōng)

Means 'concentrated' or 'to focus.' Used for attention, power, or location.

密集型 vs 稠密 (chóumì)

Specifically for population or forest density. More descriptive than technical.

Idioms & Expressions

"密密麻麻"

— Very dense and numerous; used for small things like insects or writing.

纸上写满了密密麻麻的小字。

Descriptive

"密不透风"

— So dense that not even wind can pass; often used for crowds or secrets.

房间里挤得密不透风。

Idiomatic

"鳞次栉比"

— Row upon row of buildings, like fish scales and teeth of a comb; very dense urban landscape.

街道两旁的摩天大楼鳞次栉比。

Literary

"集腋成裘"

— Many small things gathered together make a big thing; related to the 'gathering' aspect of '集'.

虽然每笔捐款不多，但集腋成裘，也是一笔巨款。

Literary

"人才济济"

— A large gathering of talented people; similar to '人才密集型'.

这家科研机构人才济济。

Neutral

"聚沙成塔"

— Gathering sand to make a tower; similar to collecting resources.

我们要聚沙成塔，共同克服困难。

Idiomatic

"熙熙攘攘"

— Crowded and bustling with people.

市场上熙熙攘攘，非常热闹。

Descriptive

"星罗棋布"

— Spread out like stars in the sky or pieces on a chess board; opposite of dense/intensive.

湖泊在平原上星罗棋布。

Literary

"水泄不通"

— So crowded that not even water can leak through.

会场被围得水泄不通。

Idiomatic

"比肩继踵"

— Shoulder to shoulder and heel to heel; extremely crowded.

节日里的步行街比肩继踵。

Literary

Easily Confused

密集型 vs 集约 (jíyuē)

Both relate to 'intensive' in economics.

'集约' focuses on efficiency and quality of growth, while '密集型' focuses on the quantity of a specific resource used.

集约经营 (Intensive management) vs 劳动密集型 (Labor-intensive).

密集型 vs 密集 (mìjí)

They share the same root.

'密集' is a descriptive state (dense), whereas '密集型' is a classification of a model (intensive-type).

密集的建筑 (Dense buildings) vs 劳动密集型产业 (Labor-intensive industry).

密集型 vs 集中 (jízhōng)

Both imply things being in one place.

'集中' is often a verb or a state of centralization, while '密集型' is a structural adjective.

集中精力 (Concentrate energy) vs 技术密集型 (Tech-intensive).

密集型 vs 拥挤 (yōngjǐ)

Both mean 'crowded' in English context.

'拥挤' is about a temporary state of too many people/things, while '密集型' is about the inherent nature of a system.

拥挤的地铁 (Crowded subway) vs 人口密集型城市 (Population-intensive city).

密集型 vs 重型 (zhòngxíng)

Both are industrial adjectives.

'重型' refers to weight/scale (heavy duty), while '密集型' refers to resource concentration.

重型坦克 (Heavy tank) vs 资本密集型产业 (Capital-intensive industry).

Sentence Patterns

这是一种[Noun]密集型的[Noun]。

这是一种劳动密集型的工厂。

[Industry]属于[Type]密集型产业。

纺织业属于劳动密集型产业。

随着...，...向...密集型转型。

随着科技进步，工厂向技术密集型转型。

[Type]密集型企业对[Resource]的需求很高。

资本密集型企业对资金的需求很高。

相比于...，...更具有密集型的特征。

相比于传统农业，现代农业更具有技术密集型的特征。

在[Context]下，密集型[Noun]面临着...的压力。

在全球化背景下，劳动密集型产业面临着成本上升的压力。

[Type]密集型的发展模式已不再适应...。

资源密集型的发展模式已不再适应可持续发展的要求。

探讨密集型[Noun]与[Concept]之间的内在逻辑。

探讨密集型生产方式与劳动力结构之间的内在逻辑。

Word Family

Nouns

密集度 (mìjídù) - Density

密集性 (mìjíxìng) - Intensiveness/Denseness

Verbs

密集 (mìjí) - To gather densely

集中 (jízhōng) - To concentrate

Adjectives

密集 (mìjí) - Dense

密集型 (mìjíxíng) - Intensive-type

劳动密集型

资本密集型

技术密集型

知识密集型

资源密集型

How to Use It

frequency

Common in business, news, and academic Chinese.

Common Mistakes

地铁里的人很密集型。 → 地铁里的人很密集。
You cannot use '密集型' to describe a temporary state of being crowded. It must describe a type or category.
劳动密集企业。 → 劳动密集型企业。
In Chinese, the '型' is necessary to complete the classification adjective.
我的注意力很密集型。 → 我的注意力很集中。
For mental focus, use '集中' (jízhōng), not '密集型'.
这种工作非常密集型。 → 这种工作是密集型的。
Like other '型' words, it is better used as a classification with '是' rather than following '非常'.
森林里树木很密集型。 → 森林里树木很密集。
Description of natural density uses '密集', not the 'type' suffix.

Tips

Use it as a Suffix

Always think of '密集型' as a suffix that follows a noun. It categorizes the thing that follows it.

Learn the Big Three

Memorize '劳动密集型', '资本密集型', and '技术密集型' together. They cover 90% of the word's usage.

Tone Accuracy

Make sure 'mì' is a sharp falling tone. If you say 'mí', people might hear 'riddle' (谜) instead.

Stroke Order

Practice writing '密' and '集' several times. They are high-stroke characters that appear frequently in formal texts.

Economic Context

Use this word when discussing China's development. It's a key term in the 'Made in China' narrative.

Don't confuse with 拥挤

If people are pushing on a bus, it's '拥挤'. If a city has a high population density by design, it's '人口密集型'.

Business Professional

Using this word in a job interview or business meeting will make you sound much more professional.

Listen for News Keywords

When you hear '产业' (industry), '密集型' is often nearby. Listen for them as a pair.

Data-Intensive

In the AI era, '数据密集型' (data-intensive) is becoming very popular. Use it to talk about big data.

Visual Cues

Visualize a crowded factory for '劳动密集型' and a bank vault for '资本密集型'.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Mi' as 'Me', 'Ji' as 'Joining', and 'Xing' as 'X-ray'. 'Me Joining the X-ray Type' business—which is very tech-intensive!

Visual Association

Imagine a factory floor packed with thousands of workers (labor-intensive) vs. a room full of expensive servers (data-intensive).

Word Web

劳动 (Labor) 资本 (Capital) 技术 (Technology) 产业 (Industry) 密集 (Dense) 转型 (Transformation) 结构 (Structure) 要素 (Factor)

Challenge

Try to find three different news articles online that use '密集型' and identify which resource (labor, capital, tech) they are discussing.

Word Origin

The term is a modern compound formed in the 20th century to translate Western economic concepts like 'labor-intensive' and 'capital-intensive.'

Original meaning: 密 (dense) + 集 (gather) + 型 (type). Literally 'a type characterized by dense gathering.'

Sino-Tibetan (Chinese).

Cultural Context

There are no major taboos, but using '劳动密集型' to describe a high-end tech firm would be seen as an insult to their sophistication.

In English, we often use '-intensive' as a suffix. In Chinese, '密集型' functions exactly the same way but is slightly more formal.

China's Five-Year Plans (frequent use of industrial types). Economic textbooks by famous Chinese economists like Lin Yifu. News reports on the 'demographic dividend' (人口红利) and labor-intensive shifts.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Economic News

劳动密集型产业转移
技术密集型产品出口
资本密集型项目投资
产业结构升级

Urban Planning

人口密集型区域
密集型住宅开发
交通密集型地段
城市热岛效应

Academic Research

数据密集型科学
知识密集型服务
信息密集型社会
密集型样本分析

Corporate Strategy

人才密集型管理
密集型研发投入
向技术密集型转型
密集型市场布局

Education

密集型课程安排
密集型语言训练
密集型考试周
知识点密集

Conversation Starters

"你觉得劳动密集型产业在未来会被机器人完全取代吗？"

"在你的国家，哪些行业是典型的资本密集型？"

"你是更喜欢在人才密集型的公司工作，还是在资源密集型的公司？"

"现在的教育是不是变得越来越‘知识密集型’了？"

"为了发展技术密集型产业，政府应该提供什么样的支持？"

Journal Prompts

描述一个你见过的劳动密集型工作场景，并谈谈你的感受。

分析你所在的行业，它属于哪种密集型？为什么？

如果我们要建设一个‘数据密集型’的智慧城市，你认为最大的挑战是什么？

写一段关于中国从劳动密集型向技术密集型转型的评论。

反思你自己的学习方法，它是‘密集型’的还是‘分散型’的？

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, you should use '密集' (mìjí) or '拥挤' (yōngjǐ). '密集型' is for classifying types of businesses or systems, not for describing a temporary crowd.

The most common prefixes are 劳动 (láodòng - labor), 资本 (zīběn - capital), and 技术 (jìshù - technology).

It is a formal word. You will see it in news, textbooks, and business reports, but rarely in casual daily conversation.

Usually, yes. It modifies nouns like 产业 (industry), 企业 (enterprise), or 行业 (profession). If used alone, it usually follows '属于' (belongs to).

Labor-intensive (劳动密集型) relies on many workers, while technology-intensive (技术密集型) relies on advanced science and engineering.

It is not standard. Instead, use '费时' (time-consuming) or '高强度' (high-intensity). '密集型' is more for physical or economic resources.

It has a '宀' (roof) on top, followed by '必' (must) with a '山' (mountain) tucked inside the '必' strokes. It is a complex character!

Yes, it is the standard term across all Chinese-speaking regions for industrial classification.

There isn't one direct word. Usually, you would describe an industry as '自动化' (automated) or '粗放型' (extensive/wasteful) depending on the context.

Yes, '密集型训练' is sometimes used to describe a very tight and high-volume training schedule, though '高强度' is more common.