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董事长 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
董事长dǒngshìzhǎngchairman of the boardHSK 7, n, rank #18320, Hard
董事长dǒngshìzhǎngchairmanHSK 7, n, rank #18320, Hard
dǒngshìzhǎng(dong3shi4zhang3) T3
  1. 1chairman of the board
  2. 2chairman
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
董事长(董事長)dǒngshìzhǎng(dong3shi4zhang3)

董事长 refers to the chairman of the board, a key leadership position in a company or organization responsible for overseeing the board's functions and making high-level strategic decisions. This term is often used in corporate contexts and indicates a person with substantial authority and responsibility.

Frequency#18320DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese corporate culture, the role of 董事长 is often associated with Confucian values of hierarchy and respect for authority, reflecting the importance of leadership in business settings. This position is not just about power but also about responsibility and accountability.

Memory Tip

Imagine a king (长) sitting on a throne (董事) made of gold. The '董事' signifies the board's power, while '长' emphasizes the leader's high status. Picture the king's throne as a literal 'chair' representing the concept of leadership.

Meanings of 董事长

dǒngshìzhǎng(dong3shi4zhang3)
1chairman of the board
2chairman
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 董事长

董事长Simplified
董事長Traditional
Strokes
Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#18320Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

Podcast: 董事长

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Podcast: 董事长

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AI Study Notes for 董事长

Quick Contrast

总裁 (zǒngcái) — use 董事长 when referring specifically to the chairman of the board, while 总裁 refers to the president or CEO of the company.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a king (长) sitting on a throne (董事) made of gold. The '董事' signifies the board's power, while '长' emphasizes the leader's high status. Picture the king's throne as a literal 'chair' representing the concept of leadership.

Usage Notes

In formal contexts, use 董事长 when referring to someone in this position, but in casual conversation, you might simply use 'chairman'. Be careful with pronunciation, as misplacing tones can change meanings; ensure that all three syllables are pronounced with the correct tones (3-4-3).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 term, 董事长 connects with advanced vocabulary related to business and management. Focus on understanding its usage in corporate discussions and how it relates to other terms like '公司' (company) and '管理' (management).

Cultural Note

In Chinese corporate culture, the role of 董事长 is often associated with Confucian values of hierarchy and respect for authority, reflecting the importance of leadership in business settings. This position is not just about power but also about responsibility and accountability.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 董事长 with other leadership titles like 总经理 (general manager). A common mistake is using 董事长 to refer to someone who is a CEO; they are related but distinct roles.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 董事长

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Component Characters

Dǒngto supervise
12 strokes
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shìmatter
HSK 18 strokes
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chánglength
HSK 24 strokes
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Write 董事长

Practice writing 董事长 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 董事长

董事长 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 3

Complete the Sentence

公司的____,也就是我的直接上司,是精力充沛的哈里·斯托克斯。

The company president, and my immediate superior, was the dynamic Harry Stokes.

Example Sentences for 董事长 (3)

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1
公司的董事长,也就是我的直接上司,是精力充沛的哈里·斯托克斯。

gōng sī de dǒng shì cháng, , yě jiù shì wǒ de zhí jiē shàng, sī , shì jīng lì chōng pèi de· hā lǐ · sī。

The company president, and my immediate superior, was the dynamic Harry Stokes.
2
董事长杨东堂先生诚挚欢迎各界人士莅临导.

dǒng shì cháng yáng dōng táng xiān shēng chéng zhì huān yíng gè jiè rén shì lì lín dǎo.

Yang Dongtang, President , will give public figures a warm welcome.
3
他对董事长的批评造成众愤难平.

tā duì dǒng shì cháng de pī píng zào chéng zhòng fèn nán píng.

His criticisms of the president stirred up a hornet's nest.

Cultural Notes for 董事长

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese corporate culture, the role of 董事长 is often associated with Confucian values of hierarchy and respect for authority, reflecting the importance of leadership in business settings. This position is not just about power but also about responsibility and accountability.

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, the role of chairman may be similar, but there's often a greater emphasis on collaborative leadership and less formal hierarchy compared to traditional Chinese business structures.

Frequently Asked Questions about 董事长

董事长 (chairman) typically oversees the board, while CEO (首席执行官) is responsible for day-to-day operations.