统筹 (tǒngchóu) — to plan holistically; overall coordination

统筹 (tǒngchóu)

统筹 means to plan and coordinate all aspects of something in a unified and comprehensive way, taking the big picture into account rather than handling parts in isolation. It is a key term in Chinese administrative and policy language.

Meanings

1. [verb] to plan holistically; to coordinate comprehensively; to take an overall approach to planning
2. [noun] overall planning; holistic coordination

Example Sentences

政府需要统筹考虑经济发展与环境保护之间的关系。 Zhèngfǔ xūyào tǒngchóu kǎolǜ jīngjì fāzhǎn yǔ huánjìng bǎohù zhījiān de guānxi. The government needs to holistically consider the relationship between economic development and environmental protection.

统筹城乡发展是解决区域不平衡问题的根本途径。 Tǒngchóu chéngnóng fāzhǎn shì jiějué qūyù bù pínghéng wèntí de gēnběn tújìng. Coordinating urban and rural development in an integrated way is the fundamental path to solving regional imbalance.

项目经理负责统筹各部门的工作，确保任务按时完成。 Xiàngmù jīnglǐ fùzé tǒngchóu gè bùmén de gōngzuò, quèbǎo rènwù ànshí wánchéng. The project manager is responsible for holistically coordinating the work of all departments to ensure tasks are completed on time.

这次峰会将统筹讨论气候变化、粮食安全和能源转型等全球性议题。 Zhè cì fēnghuì jiāng tǒngchóu tǎolùn qìhòu biànhuà, liángshí ānquán hé néngyyuán zhuǎnxíng děng quánqiú xìng yìtí. This summit will comprehensively address global issues such as climate change, food security, and energy transition.

统筹安排好时间和资源，是成功完成复杂任务的关键。 Tǒngchóu ānpái hǎo shíjiān hé zīyuán, shì chénggōng wánchéng fùzá rènwù de guānjiàn. Holistically allocating time and resources is the key to successfully completing complex tasks.

国家制定了统筹发展规划，确保各地区协调推进现代化进程。 Guójiā zhìdìngle tǒngchóu fāzhǎn guīhuà, quèbǎo gè dìqū xiétiáo tuījìn xiàndàihuà jìnchéng. The state has formulated an overall development plan to ensure that all regions advance modernisation in a coordinated manner.

Collocations

Usage Notes

统筹 is a formal term heavily used in Chinese government documents, policy speeches, and planning texts. 统筹兼顾 (overall planning while accounting for all sides) is a classic phrase often attributed to Mao Zedong and remains a standard policy expression.

In everyday professional contexts, 统筹 implies that someone has a bird's-eye view and is coordinating multiple moving parts simultaneously. It differs from 计划 (plan, more specific) and 协调 (coordinate, more about mediating between parties) in emphasising comprehensive, integrated oversight.

Memory Hook

统 (unify/overall) + 筹 (plan/scheme) -- unifying all the plans under one overall scheme so nothing falls through the cracks.