huìjiàn: 会见 - To Meet With (formal), To Grant an Interview [Contextual Chinese Dictionary]

This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong.
====== huìjiàn: 会见 - To Meet With (formal), To Grant an Interview ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** huijian, 会见, Chinese formal meeting, official meeting in Chinese, huijian vs jianmian, meet with in Chinese, Chinese vocabulary for diplomacy, business Chinese meeting, to grant an interview Chinese
  * **Summary:** Learn the meaning and usage of **会见 (huìjiàn)**, a formal Chinese verb used for official meetings, especially in diplomatic, political, or high-level business contexts. This guide breaks down the characters, explains the cultural significance of formality in China, and provides clear examples to help you distinguish **会见 (huìjiàn)** from the more common word for "meet," [[见面]] (jiànmiàn).
===== Core Meaning =====
<hanziwriter>会见</hanziwriter>
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** huìjiàn
  * **Part of Speech:** Verb
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 5
  * **Concise Definition:** To meet with someone in a formal or official capacity.
  * **In a Nutshell:** Think of **会见 (huìjiàn)** as the verb for meetings you'd see on the news. It's not for meeting friends for coffee. It's for when a president meets a foreign leader, a CEO meets an important delegation, or an ambassador meets with journalists. The word carries a strong sense of formality, pre-arrangement, and often a difference in status between the participants.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **会 (huì):** This character's original form depicts a container with a lid, symbolizing things coming together. It commonly means "to meet," "to assemble," or "a meeting." In this word, it emphasizes a planned, organized gathering.
  * **见 (jiàn):** This character shows an eye on a pair of legs, representing a person seeing something. It means "to see" or "to meet."
  * **Combined Meaning:** When you put them together, **会见 (huìjiàn)** literally means "to assemble and see." This combination elevates the simple act of "seeing" someone into a formal, scheduled "meeting with" them. It’s the difference between just seeing someone and holding a formal reception for them.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
In Chinese culture, distinguishing between formal and informal situations is crucial. **会见 (huìjiàn)** is a key term in the vocabulary of formality and hierarchy.
Using **会见 (huìjiàn)** signals that a meeting is not between equals hanging out, but a structured interaction with a clear purpose, often involving a host (usually the person of higher status) and a guest. This reflects the importance placed on social hierarchy, respect, and proper procedure in official and business settings.
In the West, one might say "The CEO will **meet with** the investors" or "The President **held a meeting with** the Prime Minister." The English "meet" is flexible and relies on context. In Chinese, **会见 (huìjiàn)** does the work of adding that context of formality and importance directly into the verb choice itself. It's a signal of significance, telling you this isn't just any meeting; it's an official event.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
You will encounter this word most frequently in specific, formal contexts.
  * **Politics and Diplomacy:** This is the primary domain of **会见**. News reports constantly use it to describe meetings between government officials, heads of state, and diplomats.
  * **High-Level Business:** It's used for significant business meetings, such as a company's CEO meeting with a major government official, a foreign business delegation, or the press.
  * **Media and Journalism:** When a prominent figure "grants an interview" to a journalist, the term **会见 (huìjiàn)** is often used to describe the event, highlighting the formal nature of the interview.
You would **never** use **会见 (huìjiàn)** for casual activities. For example, saying "我要会见我的朋友" (Wǒ yào huìjiàn wǒ de péngyǒu - "I'm going to formally meet my friend") sounds strange and overly dramatic. You would simply use [[见面]] (jiànmiàn).
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 总统明天将**会见**来访的外国代表团。
    * Pinyin: Zǒngtǒng míngtiān jiāng **huìjiàn** láifǎng de wàiguó dàibiǎotuán.
    * English: The president will meet with the visiting foreign delegation tomorrow.
    * Analysis: A classic example from news and diplomacy. "President" and "delegation" are keywords that signal the need for a formal verb like **会见**.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 公司CEO在上海**会见**了重要的商业伙伴。
    * Pinyin: Gōngsī CEO zài Shànghǎi **huìjiàn** le zhòngyào de shāngyè huǒbàn.
    * English: The company CEO met with important business partners in Shanghai.
    * Analysis: This demonstrates its use in a high-level business context. The meeting is significant and pre-arranged.
  * **Example 3:**
    * 部长拒绝**会见**记者。
    * Pinyin: Bùzhǎng jùjué **huìjiàn** jìzhě.
    * English: The minister refused to grant an interview to the journalists.
    * Analysis: Here, **会见** is equivalent to "granting an interview" or "formally meeting with the press," highlighting the status difference.
  * **Example 4:**
    * 这是两位领导人近年来的首次**会见**。
    * Pinyin: Zhè shì liǎng wèi lǐngdǎo rén jìnnián lái de shǒucì **huìjiàn**.
    * English: This is the first meeting between the two leaders in recent years.
    * Analysis: In this sentence, **会见** is used as a noun, meaning "a formal meeting." This is a very common structure in news headlines.
  * **Example 5:**
    * 我们安排了下午三点在会议室**会见**客户。
    * Pinyin: Wǒmen ānpái le xiàwǔ sān diǎn zài huìyìshì **huìjiàn** kèhù.
    * English: We have arranged to meet the clients at 3 PM in the conference room.
    * Analysis: This shows a more everyday business context, but it's still formal. The act of "arranging" (安排) and using a "conference room" (会议室) reinforces the formality that suits **会见**.
  * **Example 6:**
    * 按照日程，总理下午将**会见**大使。
    * Pinyin: Ànzhào rìchéng, zǒnglǐ xiàwǔ jiāng **huìjiàn** dàshǐ.
    * English: According to the schedule, the premier will meet with the ambassador in the afternoon.
    * Analysis: The mention of a "schedule" (日程) underscores the planned, official nature of the event, making **会见** the perfect verb.
  * **Example 7:**
    * 双方在友好的气氛中举行了**会见**。
    * Pinyin: Shuāngfāng zài yǒuhǎo de qìfēn zhōng jǔxíng le **huìjiàn**.
    * English: The two parties held the meeting in a friendly atmosphere.
    * Analysis: A very common phrase in diplomatic reporting. Here, **会见** is again used as a noun for "the formal meeting." "Held a meeting" is 举行了会见.
  * **Example 8:**
    * 市长亲切**会见**了获奖的科学家。
    * Pinyin: Shìzhǎng qīnqiè **huìjiàn** le huòjiǎng de kēxuéjiā.
    * English: The mayor cordially met with the award-winning scientists.
    * Analysis: The adverb 亲切 (qīnqiè - cordially) softens the tone, but the verb **会见** maintains the formality and official status of the meeting.
  * **Example 9:**
    * 能够**会见**您是我的荣幸。
    * Pinyin: Nénggòu **huìjiàn** nín shì wǒ de róngxìng.
    * English: It is my honor to be able to meet with you.
    * Analysis: This is something a person of lower status would say to a person of high status (like a CEO or famous professor). It shows great respect and acknowledges the formality of the occasion.
  * **Example 10:**
    * 他期待着下周与董事会的**会见**。
    * Pinyin: Tā qídài zhe xiàzhōu yǔ dǒngshìhuì de **huìjiàn**.
    * English: He is looking forward to the meeting with the board of directors next week.
    * Analysis: Here, the noun form of **会见** is used for a critical internal business meeting. Meeting with the "board of directors" (董事会) is a serious, formal event.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
The most common mistake for learners is using **会见 (huìjiàn)** when they should use **见面 (jiànmiàn)**.
  *   **会见 (huìjiàn):** Formal, official, pre-arranged. Implies a host/guest dynamic or status difference. Think: **Leader  meets delegation.**
  *   **见面 (jiànmiàn):** "To meet up," "to see each other." Neutral and very common. Can be used for friends, colleagues, or even in a business context if the tone is less official. It implies the two parties are on more equal footing.
**Incorrect Usage:**
  *   `我昨晚会见了我朋友。` (Wǒ zuówǎn huìjiàn le wǒ péngyǒu.)
  *   **Why it's wrong:** This sounds like you are a world leader and your friend is a foreign dignitary. It's grammatically correct but contextually bizarre.
  *   **Correct Usage:** `我昨晚跟我朋友见面了。` (Wǒ zuówǎn gēn wǒ péngyǒu jiànmiàn le. - I met up with my friend last night.)
Think of it this way: You **见面 (jiànmiàn)** with friends. The President **会见 (huìjiàn)** with other presidents.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  *   [[见面]] (jiànmiàn) - The general, neutral verb for "to meet." The most common and flexible alternative.
  *   [[接见]] (jiējiàn) - To receive (a guest, a subordinate); even more formal than **会见** and emphasizes a greater status gap. A king `接见` his subjects.
  *   [[会议]] (huìyì) - A meeting, a conference (the event itself, a noun). You can attend a `会议`, but a leader `会见` a person.
  *   [[访问]] (fǎngwèn) - To visit in an official or formal capacity (e.g., a state visit). A leader might `访问` a country and `会见` its leader during the visit.
  *   [[谈判]] (tánpàn) - To negotiate. A `会见` can often lead to or include `谈判`.
  *   [[代表团]] (dàibiǎotuán) - A delegation; a group of people often received in a `会见`.
  *   [[领导]] (lǐngdǎo) - Leader, leadership. This is the type of person who often conducts a `会见`.
  *   [[外交]] (wàijiāo) - Diplomacy; the field where **会见** is used most often.
  *   [[碰见]] (pèngjiàn) - To bump into, to meet by chance. The opposite of the planned, formal nature of **会见**.