dǒngshìhuì: 董事会 - Board of Directors

• Keywords: 董事会, dongshihui, board of directors in Chinese, Chinese business vocabulary, corporate governance in China, company board, learn Chinese for business, 董事长, HSK 5 vocabulary.
• Summary: Learn the meaning and usage of 董事会 (dǒngshìhuì), the Chinese term for a company's “Board of Directors.” This guide breaks down the characters, explains its critical role in Chinese corporate governance, and provides practical example sentences. Understand how the 董事会 functions in modern China and how it compares to its Western counterpart, a key concept for anyone learning Chinese for business.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): dǒng shì huì
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: The board of directors of a corporation or organization.
• In a Nutshell: 董事会 (dǒngshìhuì) is the formal, official term for the group of people elected by shareholders to oversee a company. Think of it as the highest level of management, responsible for major strategic decisions, not the day-to-day tasks. It's a crucial term in business, finance, and corporate news.

• 董 (dǒng): To direct, supervise, or manage. This character implies a position of authority and oversight.
• 事 (shì): Matter, affair, business, or item of work. It refers to the company's business and affairs.
• 会 (huì): Meeting, assembly, or association. It signifies a formal gathering or group.

These three characters combine literally to mean an “assembly (会) for directing (董) business matters (事),” which is a perfect description of a “Board of Directors.”

In China, the 董事会 (dǒngshìhuì) is the pinnacle of corporate authority, just as a “Board of Directors” is in the West. However, there are cultural and structural nuances to be aware of.

• Comparison to a Western Board: While both are responsible for company strategy and oversight, the power within a Chinese 董事会 is often more concentrated in the hands of the Chairman, the 董事长 (dǒngshìzhǎng). The Chairman can wield immense influence, sometimes acting as both chairman and CEO, blurring the lines of governance that are often kept separate in Western companies.
• State Influence: In State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) and even many large private companies, it's common for the 董事会 to include Party representatives. This means major corporate decisions are often aligned with national policy and government objectives, a factor less direct in most Western corporations. This dynamic reflects the value of collective goals and national interest, which can sometimes supersede pure shareholder profit motives.
• Decision-Making: While Western boards often value open debate and dissent, Chinese boards may place a higher emphasis on presenting a unified front. Decisions are often discussed and aligned upon before the formal meeting, reflecting a cultural preference for harmony (和谐, héxié) and avoiding open conflict.

董事会 (dǒngshìhuì) is a formal term used almost exclusively in business, legal, and financial contexts. You will not hear it in casual daily conversation unless someone is specifically discussing their company's structure or a major business news story.

• In Business Meetings: Used when discussing high-level strategy, approvals for major investments, or executive appointments. “This plan needs 董事会 approval.”
• In the News: Media reports on corporate earnings, mergers, or scandals will frequently mention the 董事会 and its decisions.
• In Formal Documents: Appears in annual reports, company charters (章程, zhāngchéng), and legal filings.

The term is neutral and carries a serious, formal weight. It is never used informally.

• Example 1:
  • 公司正在组建新的董事会。
  • Pinyin: Gōngsī zhèngzài zǔjiàn xīn de dǒngshìhuì.
  • English: The company is in the process of forming a new board of directors.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows the basic use of the term in a common business activity. 组建 (zǔjiàn) means “to form” or “to establish.”
• Example 2:
  • 这个决定必须得到董事会的批准。
  • Pinyin: Zhège juédìng bìxū dédào dǒngshìhuì de pīzhǔn.
  • English: This decision must receive the approval of the board of directors.
  • Analysis: This highlights the board's authority. 得到…的批准 (dédào…de pīzhǔn) is a common and formal way to say “get the approval of…”
• Example 3:
  • 董事会明天上午十点召开紧急会议。
  • Pinyin: Dǒngshìhuì míngtiān shàngwǔ shí diǎn zhàokāi jǐnjí huìyì.
  • English: The board of directors will hold an emergency meeting at 10 AM tomorrow morning.
  • Analysis: 召开会议 (zhàokāi huìyì) is the formal verb for “to hold a meeting.”
• Example 4:
  • 他是我们董事会里最年轻的成员。
  • Pinyin: Tā shì wǒmen dǒngshìhuì lǐ zuì niánqīng de chéngyuán.
  • English: He is the youngest member on our board of directors.
  • Analysis: This shows how to talk about the members (成员, chéngyuán) of the board.
• Example 5:
  • 董事会主席对公司的未来发展非常有信心。
  • Pinyin: Dǒngshìhuì zhǔxí duì gōngsī de wèilái fāzhǎn fēicháng yǒu xìnxīn.
  • English: The chairman of the board is very confident about the company's future development.
  • Analysis: Introduces the related term 主席 (zhǔxí), often used for “chairman.” The full title is 董事长 (dǒngshìzhǎng).
• Example 6:
  • 股东们对董事会的决议表示不满。
  • Pinyin: Gǔdōngmen duì dǒngshìhuì de juéyì biǎoshì bùmǎn.
  • English: The shareholders expressed dissatisfaction with the board of directors' resolution.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows the relationship between shareholders (股东, gǔdōng) and the board, and introduces the word for a formal resolution (决议, juéyì).
• Example 7:
  • CEO需要向董事会汇报季度业绩。
  • Pinyin: CEO xūyào xiàng dǒngshìhuì huìbào jìdù yèjì.
  • English: The CEO needs to report the quarterly performance to the board of directors.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates the reporting structure. 向…汇报 (xiàng…huìbào) means “to report to…”
• Example 8:
  • 根据公司章程，董事会每年至少要开四次会。
  • Pinyin: Gēnjù gōngsī zhāngchéng, dǒngshìhuì měinián zhìshǎo yào kāi sì cì huì.
  • English: According to the company's articles of association, the board of directors must meet at least four times a year.
  • Analysis: 章程 (zhāngchéng) means “bylaws” or “articles of association,” a key document in corporate governance.
• Example 9:
  • 她在三十五岁时就进入了公司的董事会。
  • Pinyin: Tā zài sānshíwǔ suì shí jiù jìnrù le gōngsī de dǒngshìhuì.
  • English: She joined the company's board of directors at the age of thirty-five.
  • Analysis: 进入 (jìnrù) literally means “to enter,” and is used here to mean “joining” the board.
• Example 10:
  • 董事会的职责是为所有股东创造长期价值。
  • Pinyin: Dǒngshìhuì de zhízé shì wèi suǒyǒu gǔdōng chuàngzào chángqī jiàzhí.
  • English: The duty of the board of directors is to create long-term value for all shareholders.
  • Analysis: A classic textbook definition of the board's role. 职责 (zhízé) means “duty” or “responsibility.”

• 董事会 (dǒngshìhuì) vs. 会议 (huìyì): A common mistake for beginners is to confuse 董事会 with a general meeting.
  • 董事会 is the group of people (the Board).
  • 会议 (huìyì) is the event of a meeting.
  • Correct: 董事会要开一个会议。(Dǒngshìhuì yào kāi yí ge huìyì.) - The Board of Directors is going to have a meeting.
  • Incorrect: 我要去一个董事会。 (Wǒ yào qù yí ge dǒngshìhuì.) - This sounds like you are going to physically become a board of directors, which is nonsensical. You should say “I'm going to a board meeting” (我要去开董事会会议 - wǒ yào qù kāi dǒngshìhuì huìyì, or more simply, 我要去开个会 - wǒ yào qù kāi ge huì).
• 董事会 (dǒngshìhuì) vs. 管理层 (guǎnlǐcéng): Don't confuse the board with the management team.
  • 董事会 (Board): Strategic, high-level, long-term vision. They appoint the CEO.
  • 管理层 (guǎnlǐcéng) (Management Team): Operational, day-to-day running of the company. They report to the CEO, who reports to the board.

• 董事长 (dǒngshìzhǎng) - Chairman of the Board. The leader of the 董事会.
• 董事 (dǒngshì) - A single Director; a member of the 董事会.
• 股东 (gǔdōng) - Shareholder. The owners of the company who elect the 董事会.
• 股东大会 (gǔdōng dàhuì) - General Shareholder's Meeting. The event where shareholders vote on major issues, including electing the 董事会.
• 首席执行官 (shǒuxí zhíxíng guān) - Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The top executive, appointed by and reporting to the 董事会.
• 管理层 (guǎnlǐcéng) - The management team. The group of senior managers responsible for daily operations, distinct from the 董事会.
• 公司治理 (gōngsī zhìlǐ) - Corporate Governance. The entire system of rules and practices by which a company is directed and controlled; the 董事会 is the core of this system.
• 决议 (juéyì) - Resolution. A formal decision made by the 董事会 or another formal body.
• 章程 (zhāngchéng) - Articles of Association / Bylaws. The formal document that defines the company's rules, including the powers and duties of the 董事会.