Meaning
主席 refers to the head or presiding officer of an organization, committee, or meeting. It is commonly used for leaders of political parties, companies, associations, and other formal bodies. The term became widely known through titles like 毛主席 (Chairman Mao).
Usage
This is a formal title used in official contexts. In Chinese political discourse, it specifically refers to the Chairman of the Communist Party or the Chairman of the National People's Congress. In business and organizations, it refers to the board chairman. Native speakers often use it with the person's surname, like 李主席 (Chairman Li).
Examples
- 01李先生被选为公司董事会主席。.Mr. Li was elected as chairman of the company's board of directors.
- 02会议主席宣布讨论正式开始。.The conference chairman announced that the discussion had officially begun.
Characters
Measure words
- 位一位主席
- 名三名主席
Common collocations
- 担任主席to serve as chairman
- 会议主席conference chairman
- 主席台rostrum, presidium
- 主席团presidium, group of chairpersons
Antonyms
Origin
The word literally means 'main seat' or 'chief seat,' referring to the position of honor at a gathering. 主 means 'main' or 'master,' while 席 refers to a 'seat' or 'mat' (in ancient times, people sat on mats).