====== jùhuì: 聚会 - Gathering, Party, Get-together ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** jùhuì, 聚会, Chinese party, Chinese gathering, get-together in Chinese, what is a juhui, social gathering China, friends meeting in Chinese, meet up in Chinese, HSK 3 vocabulary
  * **Summary:** Learn about the essential Chinese term **聚会 (jùhuì)**, which means "gathering," "party," or "get-together." This page explores what a `jùhuì` is, how it differs from a Western "party," and its cultural importance in building relationships in China. Discover how to use it in everyday conversation, from a casual friends' meeting to a lively family get-together, with numerous practical examples.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** jùhuì
  * **Part of Speech:** Noun, Verb
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 3
  * **Concise Definition:** A social gathering of people for leisure or celebration; to get together.
  * **In a Nutshell:** **聚会 (jùhuì)** is your go-to, all-purpose word for any social get-together. It's broader and often less wild than the English word "party." It can be a simple dinner with a few friends, a class reunion, a family holiday celebration, or a KTV night. The core idea isn't necessarily a loud celebration, but simply the act of people coming together to connect and share time.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **聚 (jù):** This character means "to gather," "to assemble," or "to get together." Think of it as the action of bringing people or things to one central point.
  * **会 (huì):** This character means "to meet," "meeting," or "an association." It signifies the event or occasion of meeting.
  * When combined, **聚会 (jùhuì)** literally translates to "gather-meet." The meaning is very straightforward: it's an event where people have gathered to meet and socialize.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
In Chinese culture, maintaining social harmony and strong personal relationships ([[关系|guānxi]]) is paramount. The **聚会 (jùhuì)** is a fundamental social ritual for building and reinforcing these bonds.
A key difference from a typical Western "party" is the structure and focus. While a Western party might involve a lot of free-form mingling, loud music, and dancing, a Chinese `jùhuì` is often centered around a shared, structured activity. The most common of these is eating. A dinner party ([[聚餐|jùcān]]) is a classic form of `jùhuì`. Other popular activities include singing karaoke (KTV), playing mahjong, or simply drinking tea and chatting.
The atmosphere sought is often **热闹 (rènao)**—lively and bustling with positive human energy—rather than "wild." It's about collective enjoyment and strengthening the group dynamic, reflecting the collectivist nature of the culture. A `聚会` is less about individual expression and more about enjoying being part of a group, whether it's family, friends, or classmates.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
**聚会 (jùhuì)** is an extremely common and versatile word used in daily life. It can function as both a noun (a gathering) and a verb (to gather).
  * **As a Noun:** You can "have," "organize," or "attend" a `聚会`.
    * //"I have a gathering tonight."// - 我今天晚上有个**聚会**。(Wǒ jīntiān wǎnshang yǒu ge jùhuì.)
  * **As a Verb:** You can use it to suggest getting together with someone.
    * //"When are we getting together?"// - 我们什么时候**聚会**？(Wǒmen shénme shíhou jùhuì?)
It's generally informal and friendly. You would use it for:
  * **朋友聚会 (péngyou jùhuì):** A get-together with friends.
  * **家庭聚会 (jiātíng jùhuì):** A family gathering (e.g., for a holiday or birthday).
  * **同学聚会 (tóngxué jùhuì):** A class reunion.
  * **公司聚会 (gōngsī jùhuì):** An office party or get-together (though [[团建]] (tuánjiàn) is more specific for corporate team-building events).
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 这个周末我们有个朋友**聚会**，你要来吗？
    * Pinyin: Zhège zhōumò wǒmen yǒu ge péngyou **jùhuì**, nǐ yào lái ma?
    * English: We're having a friends' get-together this weekend, do you want to come?
    * Analysis: A classic invitation. `有个聚会` (yǒu ge jùhuì) literally means "have a gathering" and is the standard way to say you're hosting or there's one happening.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 我们好久没**聚会**了，找个时间一起吃饭吧。
    * Pinyin: Wǒmen hǎojiǔ méi **jùhuì** le, zhǎo ge shíjiān yìqǐ chīfàn ba.
    * English: We haven't gotten together in a long time, let's find a time to eat together.
    * Analysis: Here, `聚会` is used as a verb. `好久没 [verb] 了` (hǎojiǔ méi...le) is a common pattern for "haven't done [verb] in a long time."
  * **Example 3:**
    * 昨天的**聚会**怎么样？热闹吗？
    * Pinyin: Zuótiān de **jùhuì** zěnmeyàng? Rènao ma?
    * English: How was the party yesterday? Was it lively?
    * Analysis: This shows how to ask about a past `聚会`. Note the use of [[热闹]] (rènao) as a key measure of a successful gathering.
  * **Example 4:**
    * 这是我们的年度家庭**聚会**。
    * Pinyin: Zhè shì wǒmen de niándù jiātíng **jùhuì**.
    * English: This is our annual family gathering.
    * Analysis: `家庭聚会` (jiātíng jùhuì) is a fixed phrase for "family gathering." `年度` (niándù) means "annual."
  * **Example 5:**
    * 他正在组织大学同学**聚会**。
    * Pinyin: Tā zhèngzài zǔzhī dàxué tóngxué **jùhuì**.
    * English: He is organizing a university class reunion.
    * Analysis: `组织` (zǔzhī) means "to organize." This sentence shows a common type of gathering: a `同学聚会` (tóngxué jùhuì) or class reunion.
  * **Example 6:**
    * 不好意思，我不能参加这次的**聚会**，因为我得加班。
    * Pinyin: Bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ bù néng cānjiā zhè cì de **jùhuì**, yīnwèi wǒ děi jiābān.
    * English: Sorry, I can't attend this gathering because I have to work overtime.
    * Analysis: A polite way to decline an invitation. `参加` (cānjiā) means "to participate in" or "attend."
  * **Example 7:**
    * 咱们什么时候再**聚会**一下？
    * Pinyin: Zánmen shénme shíhou zài **jùhuì** yíxià?
    * English: When should we get together again?
    * Analysis: Using `一下` (yíxià) after the verb `聚会` softens the tone, making it a very casual and friendly suggestion, like "get together for a bit."
  * **Example 8:**
    * 每次**聚会**，大家最喜欢的就是一起唱歌。
    * Pinyin: Měi cì **jùhuì**, dàjiā zuì xǐhuan de jiùshì yìqǐ chànggē.
    * English: At every gathering, everyone's favorite thing to do is sing together.
    * Analysis: This sentence highlights a common activity at a Chinese `聚会`: going to KTV.
  * **Example 9:**
    * 为了庆祝你升职，我们为你办一个**聚会**吧！
    * Pinyin: Wèile qìngzhù nǐ shēngzhí, wǒmen wèi nǐ bàn yí ge **jùhuì** ba!
    * English: To celebrate your promotion, let's throw a party for you!
    * Analysis: `办` (bàn) means "to hold" or "to run" an event. `办聚会` (bàn jùhuì) is a common alternative to `组织聚会` (zǔzhī jùhuì).
  * **Example 10:**
    * 只是一个小型**聚会**，不用穿得太正式。
    * Pinyin: Zhǐshì yí ge xiǎoxíng **jùhuì**, búyòng chuān de tài zhèngshì.
    * English: It's just a small get-together, no need to dress too formally.
    * Analysis: `小型` (xiǎoxíng) means "small-scale," showing how you can describe the size of the gathering.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **聚会 (jùhuì) vs. 派对 (pàiduì):** This is the most common point of confusion.
    * **聚会 (jùhuì):** A general, often traditional get-together. The focus is on connecting, eating, or a shared activity.
    * **派对 (pàiduì):** A loanword from "party." It specifically implies a more Western-style event with loud music, dancing, drinks, and a celebratory, high-energy atmosphere. A birthday `jùhuì` might be a nice dinner, while a birthday `pàiduì` might be at a club.
    * **Mistake:** Calling a quiet family dinner a `派对` would sound strange.
  * **聚会 (jùhuì) vs. 会议 (huìyì):**
    * **会议 (huìyì):** This means "meeting" or "conference" in a formal, business, or organizational sense. It's for work, not for fun.
    * **Mistake:** Never invite your friends to a `会议` for dinner. They will think it's a business meeting.
    * **Incorrect:** //我们周末开个**会议**吧。// (Wǒmen zhōumò kāi ge **huìyì** ba.) - //This sounds like "Let's hold a business conference this weekend."//
    * **Correct:** //我们周末**聚会**吧。// (Wǒmen zhōumò **jùhuì** ba.)
  * **聚会 (jùhuì) vs. 约会 (yuēhuì):**
    * **约会 (yuēhuì):** This specifically means a romantic "date" between two people.
    * **Mistake:** Mixing these up can be very embarrassing. A `聚会` is for a group; a `约会` is for a couple. If you ask a group of friends to `约会`, you are making a very confusing (and possibly awkward) suggestion.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[派对]] (pàiduì) - A Western-style "party." More about celebration, music, and dancing than a typical `jùhuì`.
  * [[聚餐]] (jùcān) - A dinner party; to get together to eat. A very common and specific type of `jùhuì`.
  * [[宴会]] (yànhuì) - A banquet or feast. More formal and grand than a `jùhuì`, often for weddings or official functions.
  * [[约会]] (yuēhuì) - A romantic date. It is crucial not to confuse this with a group `jùhuì`.
  * [[团建]] (tuánjiàn) - "Team building." A corporate gathering or activity organized by a company for its employees.
  * [[集会]] (jíhuì) - An assembly or rally. A much more formal and serious term, often with political or protest connotations.
  * [[会议]] (huìyì) - A formal meeting or conference for business or official matters.
  * [[关系]] (guānxi) - The network of social connections and relationships that are nurtured and maintained through activities like `jùhuì`.
  * [[热闹]] (rènao) - Lively, bustling. The desired atmosphere of a good `jùhuì`, filled with happy, human energy.