协管 (xiéguǎn) is a verb meaning 'to jointly administer' or 'to co-manage' — it describes a collaborative management arrangement where two or more parties share responsibility for oversight, regulation, or operation. The first character 协 (xié) means 'to coordinate', 'to cooperate', or 'to assist', while 管 (guǎn) means 'to manage', 'to supervise', or 'to regulate'. Together, they emphasize shared authority rather than sole control.

This term appears frequently in administrative, urban management, and public service contexts — for example, when community volunteers assist police or sanitation staff, or when different government departments coordinate enforcement of regulations. It often implies informal, auxiliary, or supportive roles rather than formal leadership. While it can be used abstractly (e.g., co-managing a project), its most common usage relates to grassroots governance, neighborhood safety, traffic order, or environmental supervision in Chinese cities.