设立 (shè lì) — Chinese Word

verb HSK 5

Traditional 設立

shè lì

to set up · to establish · to found

Meaning

设立 means to formally establish or set up an organization, institution, system, award, or other formal entity. It carries an official, institutional tone and is commonly used in business, government, and academic contexts when referring to the founding or creation of something new.

Usage

设立 is formal and typically used for establishing institutions, companies, branches, awards, committees, or official systems. It's more formal than 建立 (jiàn lì) and implies deliberate planning and official establishment. Common in news, business documents, and formal announcements.

Examples

01
这家公司计划在上海设立新的办事处。
Zhè jiā gōng sī jì huà zài Shàng hǎi shè lì xīn de bàn shì chù.
This company plans to set up a new office in Shanghai.
02
大学为优秀学生设立了多项奖学金。
Dà xué wèi yōu xiù xué shēng shè lì le duō xiàng jiǎng xué jīn.
The university has established multiple scholarships for outstanding students.

Characters

Common collocations

设立分公司
shè lì fēn gōng sī
to set up a branch company
设立奖学金
shè lì jiǎng xué jīn
to establish a scholarship
设立机构
shè lì jī gòu
to set up an institution
设立基金
shè lì jī jīn
to establish a fund

Antonyms

Origin

Both characters reinforce the concept of establishment: 设 means 'to set up' and 立 means 'to stand/establish,' together emphasizing the formal creation of something substantial.