Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 聚會 / 聚会 | jùhuì |
| 派對 / 派对 | pàiduì |
| 聯歡會 / 联欢会 | liánhuānhuì |
| 局 | jú |
The word can refer to a social gathering in various contexts. It can describe a general meeting, a Western-style social party, a formal celebratory event or a casual social outing involving food or drinks.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 聚會 / 聚会 (jùhuì) is composed of 聚 (to gather) and 會 (to meet/assembly).
Which one should you use?
聚會 / 聚会 is a general term for any gathering. In contrast, 派對 / 派对 is a phonetic loanword specifically used for Western-style social parties. 聯歡會 / 联欢会 is often used for more organized, formal social gatherings or celebratory events, such as those held by companies or organizations. Finally, 局 is used to refer to a social outing or a 'get-together,' often involving food or drinks.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In casual spoken Mandarin, 局 is used to refer to a social outing or a 'get-together.'
How does it change in a sentence?
The term 聚會 / 聚会 can function as both a noun (a gathering) and a verb (to gather/to meet up).
How do you pronounce it?
jùhuì
When do people say it?
In casual spoken Mandarin, 局 is used to refer to a social outing or a 'get-together,' often involving food or drinks (e.g., 飯局 fànjú for a dinner party).
Did you know?
- There is a folk etymology that suggests the character 局 represents the limbs of a deceased person being bent and buried.
- In professional contexts, the term 局 can imply a strategic social arrangement where business deals are subtly negotiated.
- While 派對 refers to Western-style parties, 聯歡會 often implies a variety show format with planned performances by the guests.
Examples in context
- 我们公司的年度庆祝活动非常盛大！Our company's annual celebration is very grand!
- 请加入我们的社交聚会，庆祝新年到来。Please join our social gathering to celebrate the arrival of the New Year.
- 我爸爸明天晚上有个朋友聚会，我也可以去吗？My dad has a friend's gathering tomorrow evening. Can I go too?
- 周末我们准备在家里办个小聚会，你想来吗？We're planning to have a small party at home this weekend. Would you like to come?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “party” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 局, 派對, CC BY-SA 4.0.
