Keywords: 团聚, tuanju, tuánjù, what does tuanju mean, tuanju meaning, reunite in Chinese, family reunion Chinese, Chinese New Year reunion, 团聚 definition, how to use tuanju, Chinese family gathering
Summary: Learn the meaning of 团聚 (tuánjù), a core Chinese term for the emotional act of a family reunion. More than just a get-together, tuánjù represents the deeply cultural practice of family members traveling, often across great distances, to gather together, especially during major holidays like Chinese New Year. This page explores its cultural significance, practical usage, and provides clear examples to help you understand this heartwarming concept.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): tuánjù
Part of Speech: Verb
HSK Level: HSK 5
Concise Definition: To reunite or gather together, specifically referring to a family reunion after a period of separation.
In a Nutshell:团聚 (tuánjù) is not just “meeting up.” It carries a profound emotional weight, signifying the restoration of the family unit to a state of wholeness and warmth. It’s the feeling of coming home, of seeing loved ones after being apart, and it is a cornerstone of Chinese family culture, particularly during festivals. The word itself evokes a sense of completion and belonging.
Character Breakdown
团 (tuán): This character means “group,” “ball,” or “circle.” Pictorially, it represents something round or whole inside an enclosure. Think of a dumpling or a group of people forming a circle. It carries the idea of unity and completeness.
聚 (jù): This character means “to gather” or “to assemble.” It depicts multiple people (人) being brought together. The act of gathering is central to its meaning.
When combined, 团聚 (tuánjù) literally means “to gather into a group/circle.” This beautifully captures the idea of a family, separated by distance, coming back together to form a complete, unified circle.
Cultural Context and Significance
In Chinese culture, the family (家, jiā) is the fundamental unit of society. Maintaining strong family bonds, even across generations and vast distances, is a paramount value. 团聚 (tuánjù) is the ultimate expression of this value.
The concept is most powerfully demonstrated during two major holidays:
Chinese New Year (春节, Chūnjié): This is the most important time for 团聚. The entire country seems to shut down as hundreds of millions of people undertake the world's largest annual human migration (春运, chūnyùn) just to be with their families for New Year's Eve dinner (年夜饭, niányèfàn). Missing this reunion is a source of great sadness.
Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋节, Zhōngqiūjié): This festival celebrates the full moon, which is perfectly round (圆, yuán). The moon's roundness is a powerful symbol of family completeness and unity, making it the second most important time for 团聚.
Comparison to Western Culture: While Western cultures have family gatherings like Thanksgiving or Christmas, 团聚 often carries a stronger sense of obligation and cultural ritual. For many Chinese people, especially those working far from their hometowns, the annual 团聚 is not just a pleasant tradition but a necessary pilgrimage to reaffirm family ties and fulfill duties of filial piety (孝, xiào). It is less of a casual “get-together” and more of a fundamental act of maintaining one's place within the family structure.
Practical Usage in Modern China
团聚 (tuánjù) is used in a wide range of situations, though almost always in the context of family or extremely close friends who feel like family.
It describes students returning home from university for the holidays, children who work in big cities visiting their parents in their hometowns, or families reuniting after years of living in different countries.
The connotation is overwhelmingly positive, warm, and often emotional. It is used in everyday conversation, news reports on holiday travel, and sentimental posts on social media. It is a standard term that can be used in both formal and informal settings without issue.
English: We prepared for several weeks for this reunion.
Analysis: This treats “reunion” as an event, using 团聚 as a noun. This is a common and flexible usage.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
团聚 (tuánjù) vs. 聚会 (jùhuì): This is the most critical distinction for learners.
团聚 (tuánjù) is for family (or family-like friends) reuniting after a separation. It is emotional and implies a restoration of wholeness.
聚会 (jùhuì) is a general term for a “gathering,” “get-together,” or “party.” It can be for colleagues, friends, classmates, etc. It doesn't have the same deep emotional weight.
Why it's wrong: A company gathering is a professional or social event, not a family reunion.
Correct: 我们公司上周五聚会了。 (Wǒmen gōngsī shàng zhōuwǔ jùhuì le.) - Our company had a get-together last Friday.
False Friend: “Reunion”: In English, you can have a “high school reunion,” a “band reunion,” or a “cast reunion.” You cannot use 团聚 for these. For a school reunion, the correct term is 同学聚会 (tóngxué jùhuì). Using 团聚 would sound overly dramatic and misplaced, as if your classmates were your long-lost family.
Related Terms and Concepts
团圆 (tuányuán) - Very similar to 团聚, but often used as a noun or adjective to describe the state of being complete and reunited. Strongly associated with the roundness of the Mid-Autumn moon.
聚会 (jùhuì) - A general gathering or party for friends, colleagues, or any group. Lacks the deep family connotation of 团聚.
重逢 (chóngféng) - To meet again after a long separation. It's more literary and can be used for any two people (e.g., old friends, past lovers), not necessarily a whole family.
春节 (Chūnjié) - Chinese New Year, the most important cultural event centered around 团聚.
中秋节 (Zhōngqiūjié) - The Mid-Autumn Festival, the second major holiday for family 团聚.
春运 (chūnyùn) - The Spring Festival travel rush; the massive annual migration of people traveling home for 团聚.
家人 (jiārén) - Family members; the people who engage in 团聚.
离别 (líbié) - The antonym: to part, to leave. It is the separation that makes a future 团聚 so meaningful.