近20年来土壤团聚体的研究逐渐成为土壤学研究的主要方向，其理论和方法不断推陈出新。通过回顾土壤团聚体形成发育的基本理论沿革，梳理了土壤团聚体粒径分组、组分分析和结构表征的技术沿革，讨论和归纳了土壤团聚体分离制备和生物物理结构解剖分析的技术方法，并凝练了对土壤团聚体系统的本质科学认识。得到的主要认识包括： \mathrm{①} 土壤团聚体是土壤中矿物质、有机质和生物质相互作用构成的最小微域构造单元，应赋予功能性土壤颗粒的本质地位； \mathrm{②} 土壤中不同层级团聚体的不同微域分布格式是土壤异质性和功能多样性的原由； \mathrm{③} 土壤团聚体的最终本质是土壤（生物）动态孔隙系统，不同层级团聚体在总孔度、孔径及其堆砌构造上或者说团聚体—孔隙的偶联构造上具有固有的特征； \mathrm{④} 主要可从宏团聚体—微团聚体—（未团聚的）粉黏粒3个层级的组合关系来表征土壤团聚体系统，可用“石榴”模式来理解粉黏粒和微团聚体进一步发育为宏团聚体； \mathrm{⑤} 在团聚体分离制备方法中，尽管干筛法和润筛法对于干土样本应用较多，但湿筛法制备的样品更接近于团聚体的自然形成和稳定； \mathrm{⑥} 计算机断层扫描孔隙微形貌技术提供了刻画团聚体孔隙系统并与土壤生命过程和生态系统服务相联系的定量化和可视化技术途径。未来需要通过广泛国际合作发展全球土壤团聚体系统的定量化解剖、功能化分析和可视化呈现的通用方法和实验室操作规范，以便从团聚体系统层面解构土壤复杂系统，特别是生物多样性系统，为开发基于团聚体理论的全球土壤管理政策及技术路径提供科学依据和参考。

With growing concerns about ecosystem functioning and the services provided by soil, the study of soil aggregates has increasingly become a central discipline of modern soil science, with ongoing updates to consensus and methodology. In this review, we provide a holistic overview of the understanding and characterization of the soil aggregate system that has emerged over the last two decades. The evolution of concepts related to soil aggregation, size fractionation, and structural characterization is presented, along with discussions on the separation and examination of the biophysical structure. Additionally, the final core scientific consensus on the soil hierarchy system is synthesized. The key points of understanding soil aggregates are as follows: \mathrm{①} Soil aggregates are considered the fundamental micro-architectural and functional units, composed of mineral particles, organic matter, and microbiomes through their interactions and co-occurrence, thus representing the basic functional particles of soil in nature; \mathrm{②} The micro-spatial distribution of soil aggregates at different hierarchical levels results in the heterogeneity and functional diversity of soil; \mathrm{③} The ultimate nature of soil aggregates can be envisioned as an embedded bio-pore system, created through the dual structure of aggregates and the associated pore system governed by the hierarchical aggregate system; \mathrm{④} A soil aggregate system is generally represented by three major hierarchical size fractions: macroaggregates, microaggregates, and the silt/clay fraction, with macroaggregates formed by binding microaggregates and/or silt-clay particles with coarse organic matter, resembling a pomegranate structure; \mathrm{⑤} Wet sieving of field-moist samples is recommended for the preparation of soil aggregate separates, although dry or moist sieving is often used for samples from drylands; \mathrm{⑥} μCT tomography technology is a powerful tool for quantifying and visualizing the pore system of soil aggregates, with the potential to link soil life processes to ecosystem services. Global cooperation is encouraged to develop a unified protocol for fractionating, quantifying, and visualizing the soil hierarchy system of aggregates across the world’s soils. With these developments, the complex soil system, particularly its biodiversity, can be explored at the aggregate scale. Based on the updated understanding and characterization of the soil aggregate system, nature-based solutions for global soil management policies and technical options will be provided, contributing to Earth’s sustainability.