to gather; to assemble; (math.) set
HSK level
集合 is written with 18 strokes (集: 12, 合: 6). The animation replays automatically.
集合 (jíhé) is chiefly a verb meaning 'to gather,' 'to assemble,' or 'to come together at an appointed place.'
It is the standard word for calling a group to a meeting point: 八点在门口集合 (assemble at the gate at eight). Because it implies an organized, scheduled gathering, it is the natural choice for tours, classes, military units, and events, and it can be used transitively (集合队伍, muster the troops). Secondarily, 集合 is the mathematical term for a 'set' — the collection of elements studied in set theory.
English keeps 'assemble' and 'set' entirely separate, so learners must let context disambiguate: with people and a time/place it means gather; in a math or logic context it means set. Its antonym as a verb is 解散 (jiěsàn, to disperse / dismiss).
Note: As a verb it often carries an organizational or instructional tone — a teacher, tour guide, or officer telling a group where and when to assemble. In casual 'let's meet up' contexts, 见面 or 碰头 sounds more natural.
Character by character
Memory hook: 集 (gather) + 合 (join together) — everyone gathers and joins up at one spot: assemble.
明天早上八点在校门口集合。
Míngtiān zǎoshang bā diǎn zài xiào ménkǒu jíhé.
Assemble at the school gate at eight tomorrow morning.
neutral
导游让大家两点在这里集合。
Dǎoyóu ràng dàjiā liǎng diǎn zài zhèlǐ jíhé.
The guide told everyone to gather here at two.
spoken
听到哨声，士兵们迅速集合。
Tīng dào shàoshēng, shìbīngmen xùnsù jíhé.
Hearing the whistle, the soldiers assembled quickly.
written
老师在课上讲了集合的概念。
Lǎoshī zài kè shang jiǎng le jíhé de gàiniàn.
The teacher explained the concept of a set in class.
neutral
聚集 means 'to gather / congregate' and describes people or things coming together, often spontaneously or in large numbers (人群聚集). 集合 implies an organized assembly at a set time and place; 聚集 is looser and can be unplanned.
集中 means 'to concentrate / centralize' — pulling things together into one focus (集中精力, concentrate one's energy). 集合 is about bodies physically assembling; 集中 is about concentrating resources, attention, or items.
结合 means 'to combine / integrate' two things into one (理论结合实践, combine theory with practice). 集合 means people assembling. They share 合 but 结合 is about merging concepts, not gathering a crowd.
Acquire it by listening
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