举行 (jǔ xíng) is a transitive verb meaning 'to hold' or 'to conduct'—specifically for formal events such as ceremonies, meetings, competitions, or celebrations. The first character 举 (jǔ) means 'to raise' or 'to organize', suggesting initiation or bringing something into being; the second character 行 (xíng) means 'to carry out' or 'to execute'. Together, they convey the idea of formally organizing and carrying out an event. It’s commonly used with nouns like 会议 (meeting), 婚礼 (wedding), 比赛 (competition), or 庆典 (ceremony).

This verb is neutral in register but leans slightly formal—it appears frequently in news reports, official announcements, and written communication. It’s rarely used for casual, spontaneous gatherings (e.g., you wouldn’t say 举行朋友聚会 for 'have a friend get-together'; use 举办 or just 聚 instead). The object must be an event noun; 举行 cannot take people or abstract concepts like 'peace' or 'freedom' directly without nominalization.