jiànlì: 建立 - to Establish, to Set up, to Found

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• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese verb 建立 (jiànlì), which means “to establish,” “to set up,” or “to found.” This page provides a comprehensive guide for beginners on how to use `建立` to talk about creating significant, long-lasting things, from founding a company and setting up a system to building relationships and establishing trust. Discover its cultural context, practical examples, and common mistakes to avoid.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jiànlì
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To establish, set up, or found something substantial and long-lasting.
• In a Nutshell: Think of `建立` as the verb for “building something to last.” It's not for making a sandwich or building a small sandcastle. Instead, it's used for major, foundational actions like founding a nation, establishing a company, setting up a new system, or building a deep, trusting relationship. It implies a deliberate process of construction that results in something stable and official.

• 建 (jiàn): To build or construct. The radical 廴 (yǐn) relates to taking long strides or moving forward with a purpose. This character suggests a planned, deliberate process of construction.
• 立 (lì): To stand or to set upright. This character is a pictograph of a person standing firmly on the ground (represented by the horizontal line at the bottom). It brings the idea of stability and permanence.

When combined, 建立 (jiànlì) literally means “to build and make it stand.” This perfectly captures the essence of creating something solid, structured, and permanent.

The word `建立` resonates deeply with cultural values that prioritize stability, structure, and long-term vision. It's the language of nation-builders, entrepreneurs, and diplomats—anyone engaged in creating enduring institutions or relationships. In Western culture, we might use “to start up” a company, which has a connotation of speed, agility, and perhaps informality. In contrast, 建立一个公司 (jiànlì yī gè gōngsī) feels more formal and weighty. It implies laying a solid foundation, creating a formal structure, and planning for longevity. This reflects a traditional preference for stable, well-ordered systems, whether in government, business, or even personal connections like `关系 (guānxi)`. Using `建立` signals that you are not just starting something, but are seriously committed to its long-term existence and success.

`建立` is a formal and versatile verb used in various contexts, from official proclamations to serious personal conversations.

• Formal & Official Use: This is the most common context. It's used for founding countries, establishing laws, and creating organizations.
  • e.g., `建立外交关系` (to establish diplomatic relations), `建立新制度` (to establish a new system).
• Business & Professional Use: In business, it's used for setting up companies, partnerships, brands, and operational systems.
  • e.g., `建立一个新品牌` (to establish a new brand), `建立客户档案` (to set up a client database).
• Abstract & Interpersonal Use: This is a crucial area for learners. `建立` is used to describe the creation of abstract concepts like trust, friendship, and confidence.
  • e.g., `建立信任` (to build trust), `建立友谊` (to establish a friendship).

The connotation of `建立` is almost always positive or neutral, as it implies a constructive, purposeful act. It is rarely, if ever, used in casual, informal slang.

• Example 1:
  • 中美两国于1979年正式建立了外交关系。
  • Pinyin: Zhōng Měi liǎng guó yú yī jiǔ qī jiǔ nián zhèngshì jiànlì le wàijiāo guānxi.
  • English: China and the United States formally established diplomatic relations in 1979.
  • Analysis: This is a classic, formal use of `建立` in a historical and political context. It refers to the official founding of a relationship between nations.
• Example 2:
  • 他计划明年建立自己的公司。
  • Pinyin: Tā jìhuà míngnián jiànlì zìjǐ de gōngsī.
  • English: He plans to found his own company next year.
  • Analysis: Here, `建立` means “to found” or “to set up” a business, implying a formal, legal process of creation.
• Example 3:
  • 信任是建立良好合作关系的基础。
  • Pinyin: Xìnrèn shì jiànlì liánghǎo hézuò guānxi de jīchǔ.
  • English: Trust is the foundation for establishing a good cooperative relationship.
  • Analysis: This shows `建立` used for an abstract but crucial concept in business and personal life. You don't just “have” a relationship; you actively “build” or “establish” it.
• Example 4:
  • 我们需要建立一个更高效的管理系统。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen xūyào jiànlì yī gè gèng gāoxiào de guǎnlǐ xìtǒng.
  • English: We need to set up a more efficient management system.
  • Analysis: `建立` is used here for creating a structured system, not just a physical object.
• Example 5:
  • 老师的鼓励帮助我建立了自信心。
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī de gǔlì bāngzhù wǒ jiànlì le zìxìnxīn.
  • English: The teacher's encouragement helped me build self-confidence.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the use of `建立` for building an internal, psychological state. Confidence is seen as something constructed over time.
• Example 6:
  • 这个慈善组织是20年前建立的。
  • Pinyin: Zhè ge císhàn zǔzhī shì èr shí nián qián jiànlì de.
  • English: This charitable organization was founded 20 years ago.
  • Analysis: The `是…的 (shì…de)` structure is used here to emphasize when the action of `建立` took place.
• Example 7:
  • 为了吸引顾客，我们必须建立一个强大的品牌形象。
  • Pinyin: Wèile xīyǐn gùkè, wǒmen bìxū jiànlì yī gè qiángdà de pǐnpái xíngxiàng.
  • English: In order to attract customers, we must establish a strong brand image.
  • Analysis: A brand image is another abstract concept that is deliberately “built” or “established” through strategic actions.
• Example 8:
  • 他们花了很长时间才在团队内部建立起信任。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen huā le hěn cháng shíjiān cái zài tuánduì nèibù jiànlì qǐ xìnrèn.
  • English: It took them a long time to build up trust within the team.
  • Analysis: The directional complement `起 (qǐ)` adds a sense of “up,” as in “building up.” `建立起` is a very common and natural-sounding combination.
• Example 9:
  • 公司正在建立一个新的网站来推广产品。
  • Pinyin: Gōngsī zhèngzài jiànlì yī gè xīn de wǎngzhàn lái tuīguǎng chǎnpǐn.
  • English: The company is setting up a new website to promote its products.
  • Analysis: While a website might seem less permanent than a country, setting one up for a business is a formal act of construction, making `建立` appropriate.
• Example 10:
  • 通过共同的兴趣，他们建立了深厚的友谊。
  • Pinyin: Tōngguò gòngtóng de xìngqù, tāmen jiànlì le shēnhòu de yǒuyì.
  • English: They established a deep friendship through their common interests.
  • Analysis: This shows how `建立` can be applied to deep personal connections. A “deep friendship” (深厚的友谊) is something that is built, not just something that happens.

• `建立` (jiànlì) vs. `创造` (chuàngzào):
  • `建立` is about constructing a system or organization, often from existing principles. You establish a company.
  • `创造 (chuàngzào)` is about creating something novel, often with artistic or inventive flair. You create a masterpiece or a new theory.
  • Incorrect: `他创造了一个新公司。` (He created a new company.) While understandable, `建立` is the standard, correct term.
• `建立` (jiànlì) vs. `盖` (gài):
  • `建立` is for abstract systems or formal organizations.
  • `盖 (gài)` is specifically for building physical structures like houses or skyscrapers.
  • Incorrect: `我们盖了良好的关系。` (We built a good relationship.)
  • Correct: `我们盖了一栋楼，并建立了新的办公室。` (We built a building and established a new office.)
• Avoid using `建立` for simple or temporary things:
  • `建立` implies permanence and significance. You wouldn't use it for making plans for the weekend or making a simple object.
  • Incorrect: `我建立了今天的晚餐。` (I established tonight's dinner.)
  • Correct: `我做了今天的晚餐。` (I made tonight's dinner.) For a plan, you would use `制定 (zhìdìng)`.

• 成立 (chénglì) - To found; to be established. Often refers to the specific event or moment of an organization's founding (e.g., “The company was established on May 1st.”). `建立` is more about the process.
• 建设 (jiànshè) - To construct; construction. Focuses more on large-scale, often physical, building projects like infrastructure (`基础设施建设`).
• 创建 (chuàngjiàn) - To found; to create. A blend of `创造` (create) and `建立` (establish), often used for innovative ventures, tech startups, or pioneering brands.
• 设立 (shèlì) - To set up; to establish. A very formal term, often used for setting up a specific branch, department, office, or fund within a larger organization.
• 制定 (zhìdìng) - To formulate; to draw up. Used for creating abstract rules, not organizations. You `制定` a plan, a law, or a policy.
• 关系 (guānxi) - Relationship; connections. This is the abstract social network that one often works to `建立`.
• 信任 (xìnrèn) - Trust. A key abstract concept that must be `建立` in any meaningful relationship.
• 组织 (zǔzhī) - Organization; to organize. The type of entity that you `建立`.
• 基础 (jīchǔ) - Foundation; basis. The base upon which something is `建立`.