Chinese Character: 队 (Duì - Team; Queue)
1. Character Basics
Radical: 阝 (Mound radical)
Stroke Count: 4 (Number of strokes: 4)
Structure Analysis: 会意字，从阜（山丘），从人。本义指队列（如"队伍"），现指组织单位（如"球队"）(Ideogrammic compound: "阜" (mound) + "人" (people). Originally meant "formation", now means "organized group".)
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: Duì (Fourth tone)
3. Meaning
Team; group; queue; line; formation; troop; corps; unit; squad; company; organization.
4. Common Words
- 队伍 (duì wu) Procession
- 队长 (duì zhǎng) Team leader
- 排队 (pái duì) Queue up
- 军队 (jūn duì) Army troop
5. Grammar & Usage
The character 队 (duì) is primarily used as a noun, referring to teams or groups:
- As a noun: Refers to a team, group, or formation. Example: 团队 (tuán duì) - team
- In compound words: Often combined with other characters to specify types of teams. Example: 球队 (qiú duì) - sports team
- Verbal usage: When combined with verbs. Example: 组队 (zǔ duì) - to form a team
- Measure word usage: For teams or groups. Example: 一队人 (yī duì rén) - a group of people
- Idiomatic expressions: 排队等候 (pái duì děng hòu) - to wait in line
6. Cultural Background
The character 队 (duì) has important cultural implications in China:
- Chinese culture places great emphasis on collective identity and teamwork, reflected in the frequent use of 队 in organizational contexts.
- Traditional Chinese society was structured around various 队伍 (duì wu) - teams and groups - such as family clans and village associations.
- Military organization in ancient China developed sophisticated systems of 队 (units) that influenced modern organizational structures.
- Chinese education emphasizes 团队合作 (tuán duì hé zuò) - teamwork - as a core value from an early age.
- Popular Chinese sports like basketball and table tennis highlight the importance of 队伍精神 (duì wu jīng shén) - team spirit.
- Modern Chinese society continues to value organized groups, from workplace teams to community organizations.
7. Example Sentence
Queue up for security check. 排队进行安全检查。
Basketball team needs coordination. 篮球队需要协作。
8. Memory Tips
Combine "阝" (mound) + "人" (people) → People standing in formation. 组合“阝”+“人”→ 人们排列成队形。