收集

The Chinese word 收集 (shōují) means "to collect" or "to gather". It is composed of two characters: 收 (shōu), which means "to receive" or "to take in", and 集 (jí), which means "to gather" or "to assemble". The word 收集 is often used in the context of collecting information, data, or objects. For example, a student might 收集资料 (shōují zīliào) for a research paper, or a company might 收集数据 (shōují shùjù) for market research.The character 收 (shōu) is derived from the oracle bone script, which is the earliest known form of Chinese writing. In the oracle bone script, the character 收 is depicted as a hand holding a stick. This image suggests the idea of taking something in or receiving something. The character 集 (jí) is also derived from the oracle bone script. In the oracle bone script, the character 集 is depicted as a group of people gathered together. This image suggests the idea of assembling or gathering something.The word 收集 (shōují) is a common word in Chinese and is used in a variety of contexts. It is a useful word to know for HSK learners who want to be able to talk about collecting information, data, or objects.