Definitions

shè (noun) society; organization; group

Etymology

Originally depicted a god () of the soil (). The meaning later shifted to "shrine", "congregation", and "society".

About

The character "社" is composed of the radical 示, which relates to spiritual or ceremonial matters, and the component 土, meaning earth, a structure that directly reflects its original meaning as a spirit of the soil or a local earth deity. In early usage, it denoted altars for such deities and the communal sacrifices performed there, which naturally associated the character with the people gathered for these rites. This connection to collective ritual activity gradually extended the meaning from a religious context to encompass the idea of a community or a group bound by common interests, and later it came to refer more abstractly to society itself or to specific organized bodies like associations and corporations.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我参加了学校团。

Wǒ cānjiā le xuéxiào shètuán.

I joined a school club.

这个区非常安静。

Zhège shèqū fēicháng ānjìng.

This community is very quiet.

会需要更多志愿者。

Shèhuì xūyào gèng duō zhìyuànzhě.

Society needs more volunteers.

公司经常组织交活动。

Gōngsī jīngcháng zǔzhī shèjiāo huódòng.

The company often organizes social events.

他负责报的编辑工作。

Tā fùzé bàoshè de biānjí gōngzuò.

He is responsible for editorial work at the newspaper.

他们正在开展会实践活动。

Tāmen zhèngzài kāizhǎn shèhuì shíjiàn huódòng.

They are carrying out social practice activities.

会保障体系正在不断完善。

Shèhuì bǎozhàng tǐxì zhèngzài búduàn wánshàn.

The social security system is constantly improving.

她的交媒体影响力很大。

Tā de shèjiāo méitǐ yǐngxiǎnglì hěn dà.

Her social media influence is very significant.