系统 (xìtǒng)

系统 refers to an organised set of interconnected components that function as a whole. As an adjective it means systematic or comprehensive. It is one of the most productive words in formal Chinese, appearing across science, technology, medicine, education, and management.

Meanings

[noun] system (biological, technological, social, administrative, etc.)
[adjective] systematic; comprehensive; well-organised

Example Sentences

人体的免疫系统是抵御疾病入侵的第一道防线。 Réntǐ de miǎnyì xìtǒng shì dǐyù jíbìng rùqīn de dì yī dào fánggxiàn. The human immune system is the first line of defence against disease invasion.

操作系统崩溃后，所有未保存的文件都丢失了。 Cāozuò xìtǒng bēngkuì hòu, suǒyǒu wèi bǎocún de wénjiàn dōu diūshīle. After the operating system crashed, all unsaved files were lost.

学好一门语言需要系统地学习语法、词汇和发音。 Xué hǎo yī mén yǔyán xūyào xìtǒng de xuéxí yǔfǎ, cíhuì hé fāyīn. Learning a language well requires systematic study of grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation.

医院建立了完善的患者信息管理系统，大幅提升了诊疗效率。 Yīyuàn jiànlìle wánshàn de huànzhě xìnxī guǎnlǐ xìtǒng, dàfú tíshēngle zhěnliáo xiàolǜ. The hospital has established a comprehensive patient information management system, significantly improving diagnostic and treatment efficiency.

气候系统的变化是当前全球环境科学研究的核心议题。 Qìhòu xìtǒng de biànhuà shì dāngqián quánqiú huánjìng kēxué yánjiū de héxīn yìtí. Changes in the climate system are a central topic in current global environmental science research.

他对这一领域进行了系统的研究，撰写了一部颇具影响力的著作。 Tā duì zhè yī lǐngyù jìnxíngle xìtǒng de yánjiū, zhuǎnxiěle yī bù pō jù yǐngxiǎnglì de zhùzuò. He conducted systematic research in this field and wrote a highly influential work.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
操作系统	operating system
管理系统	management system
系统分析	systematic analysis
系统工程	systems engineering
完善系统	to improve/perfect a system
系统性风险	systemic risk

Usage Notes

系统 as a noun is extremely versatile and combines with almost any domain word: 教育系统 (education system), 金融系统 (financial system), 生态系统 (ecosystem). As an adverb, 系统地 (systematically) modifies verbs: 系统地学习 (study systematically).

At B2 level learners should note that 系统性 (systemic/systematic, as an adjective before nouns) differs subtly from 系统 used directly as an adjective: 系统性问题 (a systemic problem) vs. 系统学习 (systematic study).

Memory Hook

系 (connect/tie) + 统 (unify/overall) -- tying everything together into a unified whole; that is a system.