huìyì: 会议 - Meeting, Conference

• Keywords: 会议, huiyi, what does huiyi mean, Chinese for meeting, Chinese for conference, business meeting in China, 開會, 开会, kāihuì, formal meeting, Chinese business culture
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 会议 (huìyì), which means “meeting” or “conference.” This comprehensive guide explores its meaning, cultural significance in Chinese business, and practical, everyday usage. We break down how to properly use 会议 as a noun and the crucial related verb 开会 (kāihuì), meaning “to have a meeting.” With over 10 example sentences and cultural insights, you'll master how to talk about and navigate meetings in China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): huìyì
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: A planned gathering of people for discussion or a specific purpose; a meeting or conference.
• In a Nutshell: 会议 (huìyì) is the standard, formal word for any organized meeting. Think of a business meeting, a team huddle, a parent-teacher meeting, or a large international conference. It implies a structured agenda and a clear purpose, setting it apart from a casual chat or a social get-together.

• 会 (huì): This character's ancient form depicted people gathering under a roof. Its core meaning is “to meet,” “to gather,” or “an assembly.”
• 议 (yì): This character is composed of the “speech” radical `讠` on the left and `义` (yì), which means “meaning” or “righteousness,” on the right. Together, `议` means “to discuss,” “to deliberate,” or “an opinion.”

When combined, 会议 (huìyì) literally means a “gathering for discussion,” perfectly capturing the essence of a meeting.

In Western, particularly American, business culture, meetings are often seen as forums for open debate, brainstorming, and challenging ideas to find the best solution. In China, the function of a 会议 (huìyì) can be quite different due to cultural values like collectivism, hierarchy, and `面子 (miànzi)` or “face.” A Chinese 会议 is often not the place where a decision is made, but rather the place where a decision that has already been made behind the scenes is formally announced and consensus is solidified. The primary goals are often to: 1. Reinforce Hierarchy: The seating arrangement, who speaks first, and who is allowed to speak at all clearly communicates the power structure. Publicly disagreeing with a superior is a major faux pas that would cause them to lose face. 2. Build Consensus: The meeting serves to get everyone on the same page and align with the leadership's direction. It is a tool for creating group harmony, not fostering individual debate. 3. Disseminate Information: It's a top-down method for managers and leaders to deliver instructions, updates, and strategies to their subordinates. While modern companies are adopting more Western-style brainstorming sessions, the traditional, formal nature of the 会议 remains deeply ingrained in Chinese corporate and government culture.

会议 (huìyì) is a high-frequency word, especially in professional and official settings. The most common way to talk about the *action* of having a meeting is with the verb-object phrase `开会 (kāihuì)`, which literally means “to open a meeting.” * In Business and Government * This is the most common context. You'll constantly hear people say they need to `开会 (kāihuì)`.

• “I'm in a meeting.” - `我在开会。(Wǒ zài kāihuì.)`
• “We have a meeting this afternoon.” - `我们下午有个会议。(Wǒmen xiàwǔ yǒu ge huìyì.)`

* In Daily Life * While not used for casual get-togethers, 会议 appears in more structured civilian contexts.

• Parent-teacher conference: `家长会 (jiāzhǎnghuì)`
• Homeowners' association meeting: `业主会议 (yèzhǔ huìyì)`

* Formality * 会议 is neutral to formal. For an informal get-together with friends, you would use `聚会 (jùhuì)`. For a casual chat, you'd use `聊天 (liáotiān)`.

• Example 1:
  • 我们明天上午九点有一个重要的会议。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen míngtiān shàngwǔ jiǔ diǎn yǒu yí ge zhòngyào de huìyì.
  • English: We have an important meeting at 9 AM tomorrow.
  • Analysis: A standard, common sentence. Note the use of `有 (yǒu)` to mean “to have” a meeting (noun).
• Example 2:
  • 你能帮我预订一间会议室吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ néng bāng wǒ yùdìng yì jiān huìyìshì ma?
  • English: Can you help me book a conference room?
  • Analysis: This shows how 会议 can be combined with `室 (shì)` meaning “room” to form the compound noun `会议室 (huìyìshì)`.
• Example 3:
  • 对不起，我现在正在开会，晚点给你回电话。
  • Pinyin: Duìbuqǐ, wǒ xiànzài zhèngzài kāihuì, wǎndiǎn gěi nǐ huí diànhuà.
  • English: Sorry, I'm in a meeting right now, I'll call you back later.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses `开会 (kāihuì)`, the verb form. This is more common in spoken Chinese than saying `我正在一个会议里 (wǒ zhèngzài yí ge huìyì lǐ)`.
• Example 4:
  • 这次会议的议程是什么？
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì huìyì de yìchéng shì shénme?
  • English: What is the agenda for this meeting?
  • Analysis: Introduces a key related term, `议程 (yìchéng)`, meaning “agenda.”
• Example 5:
  • 老板要求所有员工都必须参加年度会议。
  • Pinyin: Lǎobǎn yāoqiú suǒyǒu yuángōng dōu bìxū cānjiā niándù huìyì.
  • English: The boss requires all employees to attend the annual conference.
  • Analysis: `参加会议 (cānjiā huìyì)` means “to participate in/attend a meeting.” `年度 (niándù)` means “annual.”
• Example 6:
  • 会议开了三个小时，大家都累了。
  • Pinyin: Huìyì kāi le sān ge xiǎoshí, dàjiā dōu lèi le.
  • English: The meeting went on for three hours, and everyone was tired.
  • Analysis: Here, `开 (kāi)` is used as the verb for the subject `会议`. This structure emphasizes the meeting itself as the actor.
• Example 7:
  • 由于技术问题，我们不得不推迟会议。
  • Pinyin: Yóuyú jìshù wèntí, wǒmen bùdébù tuīchí huìyì.
  • English: Due to technical issues, we had to postpone the meeting.
  • Analysis: `推迟会议 (tuīchí huìyì)` is a useful phrase meaning “to postpone a meeting.”
• Example 8:
  • 他将代表公司去北京参加一个国际会议。
  • Pinyin: Tā jiāng dàibiǎo gōngsī qù Běijīng cānjiā yí ge guójì huìyì.
  • English: He will represent the company to attend an international conference in Beijing.
  • Analysis: Shows how 会议 can scale up to mean “conference.” `国际 (guójì)` means “international.”
• Example 9:
  • 会议结束后，请把会议纪要发给大家。
  • Pinyin: Huìyì jiéshù hòu, qǐng bǎ huìyì jìyào fā gěi dàjiā.
  • English: After the meeting ends, please send the meeting minutes to everyone.
  • Analysis: Introduces another useful business term, `会议纪要 (huìyì jìyào)`, or “meeting minutes.”
• Example 10:
  • 他在会议上提出了一个很好的建议。
  • Pinyin: Tā zài huìyì shàng tíchū le yí ge hěn hǎo de jiànyì.
  • English: He put forward a very good suggestion at the meeting.
  • Analysis: `在会议上 (zài huìyì shàng)` literally means “on the meeting” and is the standard way to say “at/in the meeting.”

• `会议` (noun) vs. `开会` (verb): This is the most critical distinction for learners. 会议 is the *thing* (a meeting). 开会 (kāihuì) is the *action* (to have a meeting).
  • Incorrect: `我明天要会议。` (Wǒ míngtiān yào huìyì.)
  • Correct: `我明天要开会。` (Wǒ míngtiān yào kāihuì.)
  • Correct: `我明天有一个会议。` (Wǒ míngtiān yǒu yí ge huìyì.)
• “False Friend”: `会议` (huìyì) vs. `约会` (yuēhuì): This is a classic pitfall. While they both involve meeting people, their connotations are completely different.
  • `会议 (huìyì)` is a professional or formal meeting.
  • `约会 (yuēhuì)` is a social appointment, and most often, a romantic date.
  • Incorrect Usage: `我和我女朋友晚上有个会议。` (Wǒ hé wǒ nǚpéngyou wǎnshang yǒu ge huìyì.) - This sounds like you're having a business meeting with your girlfriend.
  • Correct Usage: `我和我女朋友晚上有个约会。` (Wǒ hé wǒ nǚpéngyou wǎnshang yǒu ge yuēhuì.)
• Formality: Do not use 会议 to describe a casual plan to meet a friend for coffee. For that, you would use `见面 (jiànmiàn)` (to meet up) or `聚会 (jùhuì)` (a get-together/party).

• 开会 (kāihuì) - The essential verb phrase “to hold a meeting” or “to attend a meeting.”
• 会议室 (huìyìshì) - Conference room; meeting room. (Literally “meeting room”).
• 参加 (cānjiā) - The verb “to participate in” or “to attend,” frequently used with `会议`.
• 议程 (yìchéng) - The agenda for a meeting.
• 会谈 (huìtán) - More formal than `会议`; refers to “talks” or “negotiations,” often at a high level (e.g., diplomatic talks).
• 座谈会 (zuòtánhuì) - A symposium, forum, or panel discussion. Emphasizes sitting and talking together.
• 聚会 (jùhuì) - An informal party or social gathering; the social counterpart to the professional `会议`.
• 约会 (yuēhuì) - A social appointment or a romantic date. Crucial to distinguish from `会议`.
• 主席 (zhǔxí) - The chairperson of a meeting, committee, or even a country.
• 讨论 (tǎolùn) - To discuss; the core activity of many meetings. A `讨论会 (tǎolùnhuì)` is a “discussion meeting.”