HSK · Level 72
60 words
Chinese word
首席
Pronunciation
Pinyinshǒu xí
Meaning
- nounprincipal
Example
他是乐队的首席小提琴手。tā shì yuè duì de shǒu xí xiǎo tí qín shǒu
He is the band's principal violinist.
More examples
公司任命她为首席执行官。gōng sī rèn mìng tā wéi shǒu xí zhí xíng guān
The company appointed her chief executive officer.
Core concept
The front seat in a hierarchy, held by the person or role with the highest rank or responsibility.
Common phrases
首席执行官shǒu xí zhí xíng guān
chief executive officer
首席小提琴手shǒu xí xiǎo tí qín shǒu
principal violinist
首席科学家shǒu xí kē xué jiā
chief scientist
Similar words
主席zhǔ xí: The chairperson or leading representative who presides over a meeting or organization.
领导líng dǎo: A person or group that directs an organization and decides its policies and work.
负责人fù zé rén: The person who manages a particular task or activity and has final responsibility for it.
首领shóu lǐng: The main leader who directs and controls a group or organization.
Definition in Chinese
在职位、排名或职责上居于第一位的人或岗位，常用作职称或表示乐队等的首席乐手。zài zhí wèi pái míng huò zhí zé shàng jū yú dì yí wèi de rén huò gǎng wèi cháng yòng zuò zhí chēng huò biǎo shì yuè duì děng de shǒu xí yuè shǒu
Word origin
首席 (shǒuxí, "principal") combines 首 (shǒu, "head") + 席 (xí, "seat") to picture the head seat, the position at the top or the person who holds it.
Usage tips
- Because it sounds formal, it is more common in official titles and announcements than in relaxed conversation, where a specific role name often sounds more natural.
Other meanings
- first placenoun
- leading expertnoun
Opposites
- 末席mò xílowest ranknoun
- 末位mò wèilast placenoun
Related words
- 首席执行官shǒu xí zhí xíng guānchief executive officernoun
- 首席科学家shǒu xí kē xué jiāchief scientistnoun
- 首席顾问shǒu xí gù wènchief advisernoun