结构 (jiégòu)

结构 refers to the internal arrangement, composition, and organization of the components within a whole, applicable to physical objects, organizations, sentences, economies, and abstract systems.

Meanings

[noun] structure, composition, arrangement (of parts within a whole)
[noun] structural framework (architectural, linguistic, social, etc.)

Example Sentences

这座建筑的结构设计十分独特，令人印象深刻。 Zhè zuò jiànzhú de jiégòu shèjì shífēn dútè, lìng rén yìnxiàng shēnkè. The structural design of this building is very unique and deeply impressive.

优化产业结构是经济转型升级的核心任务。 Yōuhuà chǎnyè jiégòu shì jīngjì zhuǎnxíng shēngjí de héxīn rènwù. Optimizing the industrial structure is the core task of economic transformation and upgrading.

这个句子的语法结构比较复杂，初学者难以掌握。 Zhège jùzi de yǔfǎ jiégòu bǐjiào fùzá, chūxué zhě nán yǐ zhǎngwò. The grammatical structure of this sentence is relatively complex and difficult for beginners to master.

人口结构的变化给社会保障体系带来了巨大压力。 Rénkǒu jiégòu de biànhuà gěi shèhuì bǎozhàng tǐxì dài lái le jùdà yālì. Changes in the population structure have placed enormous pressure on the social security system.

从文章的整体结构来看，论证逻辑清晰有力。 Cóng wénzhāng de zhěngtǐ jiégòu lái kàn, lùnzhèng luóji qīngxī yǒulì. From the perspective of the overall structure of the article, the argumentation logic is clear and powerful.

企业的组织结构直接影响其决策效率。 Qǐyè de zǔzhī jiégòu zhíjiē yǐngxiǎng qí juécè xiàolǜ. The organizational structure of a company directly affects its decision-making efficiency.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
产业结构	industrial structure
组织结构	organizational structure
语法结构	grammatical structure
人口结构	population structure
结构调整	structural adjustment
结构优化	structural optimization

Usage Notes

结构 is applicable across virtually all domains and registers, making it one of the most versatile academic nouns in Chinese. It always refers to the internal organization and relationships between parts, rather than the external appearance. The verb 调整结构 (to adjust structure) and 优化结构 (to optimize structure) are very common in economic and organizational discourse.

At B2 level, understanding 结构 is essential for analyzing texts, discussing social systems, and writing about organizational and economic topics.

Memory Hook

结 means to tie or connect, and 构 means to build or construct -- 结构 is how things are tied and built together, like the skeleton that gives shape and support to a body.