Definitions

tuán (adjective) round; circular
tuán (noun,verb) ball; lump; roll into a ball
tuán (noun) group; organization; society
tuán (verb) to unite; to form a group

Etymology

Simplified form of . Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

About

The character "团", meaning group or circle, originates from the traditional form "團", which visually combined the enclosure radical "囗" with the phonetic and semantic component "專", the latter depicting a hand spinning a wheel and conveying notions of concentration or something round. This structure originally denoted things shaped into a round or collective form, such as a military regiment or a ball of thread. Over time, its meaning generalized from a physical, often circular, gathering to signify any collective body or organization, like a delegation or a troupe. The character's simplification replaced the complex internal component "專" with "才", a change that streamlined its writing but removed the original phonetic clue, leaving the enclosing "囗" as the primary carrier of its collective meaning.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我们是一个队。

Wǒmen shì yī gè tuánduì.

We are a team.

旅游去了故宫。

Lǚyóutuán qùle Gùgōng.

The tour group went to the Forbidden City.

要揉一揉。

Miàntuán yào róu yī róu.

The dough needs to be kneaded.

那个集很大。

Nàgè jítuán hěn dà.

That conglomerate is very big.

结合作能成功。

Tuánjié hézuò néng chénggōng.

Unity and cooperation can lead to success.

委通知了会议。

Tuánwěi tōngzhīle huìyì.

The Youth League committee notified the meeting.

他急得转。

Tā jí de tuántuán zhuǎn.

He is so anxious that he is running around.

圆饭象征聚。

Tuányuán fàn xiàngzhēng tuánjù.

Reunion dinner symbolizes reunion.