Meaning of 占领
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to capture; to seize; to occupy by force
How to use 占领
占领 is used for armies taking territory, and also figuratively for companies taking over a market. Example: 这家公司很快占领了市场。(Zhè jiā gōngsī hěn kuài zhànlǐng le shìchǎng.) This company quickly captured the market.
占 (zhàn) means to take up or hold a place, and 领 (lǐng) means to lead or take charge, as in 领导 (lǐngdǎo). An army that holds the ground and takes charge of it has captured it, so 占领 means to occupy.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 占领 with 占有 (zhànyǒu). 占有 means to own or possess something, while 占领 stresses taking control, often by force. Also keep 占 in fourth tone (zhàn), not first tone zhān, which is the reading for fortune-telling.
占领 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
占 zhàn · to take possession of · 5 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
领 lǐng · neck · 11 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
Related words
Words that share a character with 占领.
| 领导 | lǐngdǎo | lead; leading |
| 带领 | dàilǐng | to guide; to lead |
| 领先 | lǐngxiān | to lead; to be in front |
| 本领 | běnlǐng | skill; ability |
| 领带 | lǐngdài | necktie |
| 占有 | zhànyǒu | to have; to own |
| 率领 | shuàilǐng | to lead; to command |
| 领袖 | lǐngxiù | leader |
| 占据 | zhànjù | to occupy; to hold |
| 白领 | báilǐng | white-collar; white-collar worker |
| 蓝领 | lánlǐng | blue-collar; blue-collar worker |
| 领取 | lǐngqǔ | to receive; to draw; to get |
Questions about 占领
What does 占领 mean?
占领 (zhànlǐng) means "to capture; to seize; to occupy by force" and is used as a verb.
How do you write 占领?
占领 is made of 2 characters: 占 (5 strokes), 领 (11 strokes). That is 16 strokes in total.
Is 占领 an HSK word?
Yes. 占领 is on the HSK 5 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 占领 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 占领 is written 佔領.
Can 占领 be used in everyday, non-military situations?
Yes, often in a playful or figurative way. For example, 孩子们占领了客厅 (Háizimen zhànlǐng le kètīng) means the kids took over the living room.
What is the difference between 占领 and 占 on its own?
占 alone is common in daily speech for taking up space or saving a seat, as in 占座 (zhàn zuò), to save a seat. 占领 is more formal and suggests taking over a whole area or market.