<p><strong>Building block</strong></p>
<p><em>Oxford</em>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>1 child's toy</p>
<p>积木</p>
<p>2 figurative</p>
<p>(basic element)</p>
<p>基础成分</p>
<p>the basic building blocks of matter</p>
<p>物质的构成要素</p>
</blockquote>
<p>构成要素 seems to be the winner here.</p>
<p>Results for 社会 + 构成要素 on baidu give us a bunch of different sentences that use this pattern:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>什么是社会?它的构成要素有那些?</p>
</li>
<li><p>第三章 社会及其构成要素</p>
</li>
<li><p>论社会的构成要素</p>
</li>
<li><p>...理解中国人的心理与行为_中国传统社会的构成要素(上)...</p>
</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-21T11:06:21.103Z
2015-09-21T11:06:21.103Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
Mou某
<p>I may suggest 基石 for the best answer...for now. However, it may be different if you provide more context, as 基石 is not something like parts, but more like a whole foundation. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-21T09:51:05.797Z
2015-09-21T09:51:05.797Z
Winfred Huang
<p>What is the Chinese phrase that means 'building blocks of society'? 积木 literally means blocks but it sounds weird in context.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-17T14:41:27.390Z
s。iciba, examples will supply needed choice, one example: 基本结构单元
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-17T16:13:34.323Z
基石 as building block works fine
Alex
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-17T20:38:29.253Z
根基 also could work
Gugg
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-17T21:04:07.220Z
基础/基石/根基 means the _foundation_ of society. Building blocks are 组成部分 (building parts), 组成单元 (building units) or 结构单元 (structural units).
NS.X.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-18T01:01:30.187Z
What about 社会的细胞? As the original version is a metaphor.
Stan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-18T01:58:09.907Z
社会根基 - 根基 means foundation
hello_harry
<translation><word-requests>
Building blocks of society
# Building blocks of society

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-09-17)

What is the Chinese phrase that means 'building blocks of society'? 积木 literally means blocks but it sounds weird in context.

**Tags:** translation, word-requests

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: s。iciba, examples will supply needed choice, one example: 基本结构单元  
> **username_2**: 基石 as building block works fine  
> **username_3**: 根基 also could work  
> **username_4**: 基础/基石/根基 means the _foundation_ of society. Building blocks are 组成部分 (building parts), 组成单元 (building units) or 结构单元 (structural units).  
> **username_5**: What about 社会的细胞? As the original version is a metaphor.  
> **username_6**: 社会根基 - 根基 means foundation  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_7 on 2015-09-21. Score: 3

**Building block**

*Oxford*:

> 1 child's toy
>
> 积木
>
> 2 figurative
>
> (basic element)
>
> 基础成分
>
> the basic building blocks of matter
>
> 物质的构成要素

构成要素 seems to be the winner here.

Results for 社会 + 构成要素 on baidu give us a bunch of different sentences that use this pattern:

* 什么是社会?它的构成要素有那些?
* 第三章 社会及其构成要素
* 论社会的构成要素
* ...理解中国人的心理与行为\_中国传统社会的构成要素(上)...


---

### Answer by username_8 on 2015-09-21. Score: 0

I may suggest 基石 for the best answer...for now. However, it may be different if you provide more context, as 基石 is not something like parts, but more like a whole foundation.


---

