jūnduì: 军队 - Army, Military, Armed Forces

• Keywords: jundui, 军队, Chinese army, Chinese military, PLA, learn Chinese military terms, armed forces in Chinese, People's Liberation Army, HSK 4 vocabulary
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 军队 (jūnduì), which translates to army, military, or armed forces. This guide breaks down its meaning, cultural significance (especially the role of the People's Liberation Army or PLA in China), and practical usage. Discover how to use 军队 correctly in conversation, understand its difference from similar terms like 军人 (jūnrén), and see it in action with 10 practical example sentences for beginner and intermediate learners.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jūnduì (jūn duì)
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: An army, the military, or the armed forces of a country.
• In a Nutshell: 军队 (jūnduì) is the go-to word for the entire military institution of a nation. It encompasses all branches—land, sea, and air. The word carries a strong sense of organization, discipline, power, and national defense. When you hear 军队, think of a large, structured force responsible for protecting a country.

• 军 (jūn): This character's ancient form depicted a chariot (车) wrapped or enclosed (勹), symbolizing a core military unit. Today, it straightforwardly means “army,” “military,” or “arms.”
• 队 (duì): This character means “team,” “squad,” or “row.” The left side (阝) is a radical often related to hills or steps, suggesting formation and ranks, while the right side shows people falling into line.

The two characters combine literally to mean “military team” or “military squads,” logically extending to mean the entire “army” or “military.”

In China, the concept of 军队 is inextricably linked to the 中国人民解放军 (Zhōngguó Rénmín Jiěfàngjūn), the People's Liberation Army (PLA). Understanding this connection is crucial. A key difference from Western culture is the military's political alignment. In countries like the United States, the military is subordinate to the civilian government and is expected to be apolitical. In China, the 军队 is explicitly the armed wing of the Communist Party of China (CCP). This is perfectly encapsulated in the famous principle 党指挥枪 (dǎng zhǐhuī qiāng), which means “The Party commands the gun.” This signifies that the PLA's ultimate loyalty is to the Party, not the state itself, a fundamental concept in modern Chinese politics and society. Because of this, the 军队 holds a highly respected and visible position in society. Military parades are grand national events, and service in the PLA is often seen as an act of great honor, patriotism, and sacrifice. The values associated with the 军队—discipline, unity, and unwavering loyalty—are frequently promoted in state media and education.

军队 is a standard and widely used term with a generally formal and respectful connotation.

• In Formal Contexts: You will see 军队 constantly in the news (新闻, xīnwén), government documents, and historical texts when discussing national defense, military exercises, or international relations.
• In Everyday Conversation: People use 军队 when talking about the military as an institution. For example, a young person might say they want to “join the army” (参加军队, cānjiā jūnduì) or someone might comment on the national budget for the military.
• Connotation: The term is almost always neutral or positive. It evokes feelings of strength, security, and national pride. It's rare to hear it used with a negative connotation in mainstream discourse.

• Example 1:
  • 他从小的梦想就是参加军队，保卫国家。
  • Pinyin: Tā cóngxiǎo de mèngxiǎng jiùshì cānjiā jūnduì, bǎowèi guójiā.
  • English: His dream since childhood has been to join the army and defend the country.
  • Analysis: A common and positive expression showing the aspiration to join the military. 保卫国家 (bǎowèi guójiā) means “to defend the country.”
• Example 2:
  • 这支军队的装备非常先进。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhī jūnduì de zhuāngbèi fēicháng xiānjìn.
  • English: This army's equipment is very advanced.
  • Analysis: Here, 军队 is used with the measure word 支 (zhī), which is often used for teams or military units.
• Example 3:
  • 两国军队下个月将举行联合军事演习。
  • Pinyin: Liǎng guó jūnduì xià ge yuè jiāng jǔxíng liánhé jūnshì yǎnxí.
  • English: The two countries' militaries will hold a joint military exercise next month.
  • Analysis: A typical sentence you would read in a news report. 联合军事演习 (liánhé jūnshì yǎnxí) is a set phrase for “joint military exercise.”
• Example 4:
  • 军队的职责是维护世界和平与地区稳定。
  • Pinyin: Jūnduì de zhízé shì wéihù shìjiè hépíng yǔ dìqū wěndìng.
  • English: The duty of the armed forces is to maintain world peace and regional stability.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses formal language to describe the official role of the military. 职责 (zhízé) means “duty” or “responsibility.”
• Example 5:
  • 我爷爷年轻的时候在军队里待了十年。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ yéye niánqīng de shíhou zài jūnduì lǐ dāi le shí nián.
  • English: When my grandfather was young, he was in the army for ten years.
  • Analysis: A common conversational use. 在军队里 (zài jūnduì lǐ) literally means “inside the army.”
• Example 6:
  • 现代战争越来越依赖高科技，而不是军队的数量。
  • Pinyin: Xiàndài zhànzhēng yuèláiyuè yīlài gāokējì, ér búshì jūnduì de shùliàng.
  • English: Modern warfare relies more and more on high technology, not on the size of the army.
  • Analysis: This shows 军队 used in a comparative context.
• Example 7:
  • 管理一个大公司就像指挥一支军队，需要策略和纪律。
  • Pinyin: Guǎnlǐ yī ge dà gōngsī jiù xiàng zhǐhuī yī zhī jūnduì, xūyào cèlüè hé jìlǜ.
  • English: Managing a large company is like commanding an army; it requires strategy and discipline.
  • Analysis: A great example of 军队 used metaphorically to describe a large, disciplined group.
• Example 8:
  • 国家每年都会投入大量资金来现代化军队。
  • Pinyin: Guójiā měi nián dōu huì tóurù dàliàng zījīn lái xiàndàihuà jūnduì.
  • English: The country invests a large amount of funds every year to modernize the military.
  • Analysis: 现代化 (xiàndàihuà) is a verb here meaning “to modernize.”
• Example 9:
  • 那部关于军队生活的电视剧很受欢迎。
  • Pinyin: Nà bù guānyú jūnduì shēnghuó de diànshìjù hěn shòu huānyíng.
  • English: That TV series about military life is very popular.
  • Analysis: Shows how 军队 can be used as a topic. 军队生活 (jūnduì shēnghuó) means “military life.”
• Example 10:
  • 撤离行动由当地军队负责协调。
  • Pinyin: Chèlí xíngdòng yóu dāngdì jūnduì fùzé xiétiáo.
  • English: The evacuation operation was coordinated by the local military.
  • Analysis: A neutral, logistical use of the term common in reporting on events.

• 军队 (jūnduì) vs. 军人 (jūnrén): This is the most common mistake for learners.
  • 军队 (jūnduì) is the organization (the army, the military).
  • 军人 (jūnrén) is the individual person (a soldier, a military person).
  • Incorrect: ~~那个军队很勇敢。~~ (That army is very brave.) - This sounds like you're talking about the entire institution.
  • Correct: 那个军人很勇敢。 (Nàge jūnrén hěn yǒnggǎn.) - That soldier is very brave.
  • Correct: 这支军队纪律严明。 (Zhè zhī jūnduì jìlǜ yánmíng.) - This army is highly disciplined.
• 军队 (jūnduì) vs. 部队 (bùduì): This is a finer distinction.
  • 军队 (jūnduì) usually refers to the entire military institution of a country. It's the big-picture term.
  • 部队 (bùduì) is more specific, referring to “troops,” “a unit,” or “a force.” It's a contingent of soldiers. You often use it with a measure word like 一支部队 (yī zhī bùduì), a unit of troops. While you can say 一支军队, it's less common and implies an entire field army.
  • Think of it this way: The 军队 is the whole organization, and it is made up of many 部队.

• 军人 (jūnrén) - Soldier; military personnel. The individual person who is part of the 军队.
• 部队 (bùduì) - Troops; unit; force. A specific group of soldiers within the larger 军队.
• 解放军 (Jiěfàngjūn) - People's Liberation Army (PLA). The official name of China's 军队.
• 士兵 (shìbīng) - Enlisted soldier; a private. A specific, lower rank within the 军队.
• 军官 (jūnguān) - Military officer. A leadership rank within the 军队.
• 国防 (guófáng) - National defense. The primary mission of a country's 军队.
• 军事 (jūnshì) - Military affairs. The adjective form related to the army (e.g., 军事演习, military exercise).
• 武器 (wǔqì) - Weapon; arms. The equipment used by a 军队.
• 战争 (zhànzhēng) - War; warfare. An activity that a 军队 is trained to engage in.
• 服役 (fúyì) - To serve in the military. The act of being active in the 军队.