做生意

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zuòshēngyi: 做生意 - To Do Business, To Run a Business

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: zuo shengyi, 做生意, do business in Chinese, how to say run a business in Chinese, Chinese for business, Chinese commerce, 做买卖, Chinese entrepreneurship, HSK 3 vocabulary.
  • Summary: “做生意” (zuò shēngyi) is the essential Chinese phrase for the act of “doing business” or “running a business.” It's a versatile term that covers everything from a small street vendor's trade to the operations of a large corporation. More than just a single transaction, it implies the ongoing process of engaging in commerce, managing an enterprise, and navigating the crucial social relationships that underpin business success in China. Understanding “做生意” is a key step for anyone interested in Chinese commerce or culture.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): zuò shēngyi
  • Part of Speech: Verb-Object Phrase
  • HSK Level: HSK 3
  • Concise Definition: To engage in commercial activities; to run or operate a business.
  • In a Nutshell: “做生意” is the most common and practical way to say you are involved in business. Think of it as the active, hands-on process. If someone's profession is to buy, sell, or provide a service for profit, they “做生意”. It's less abstract than the English “commerce” and more grounded in the day-to-day reality of making a living through trade.

Character Breakdown

  • 做 (zuò): “To do” or “to make”. This is the action component of the phrase. It's one of the most fundamental verbs in Chinese, indicating an activity.
  • 生 (shēng): “Life,” “to be born,” or “to generate.” In this context, it relates to livelihood and the generation of value.
  • 意 (yì): “Idea,” “meaning,” or “intention.” When combined with 生, 生意 (shēngyi) means “business.”
  • How they combine: The word for business, 生意 (shēngyi), can be thought of as the “business of life” or “generating an idea/intention” for trade. Adding the verb 做 (zuò) in front turns the noun “business” into the action “to do business.”

Cultural Context and Significance

  • “做生意” is deeply woven into the fabric of Chinese society. For centuries, from the Silk Road merchants to the modern-day tech giants, the spirit of entrepreneurship has been a powerful force. The act of “做生意” is often seen as a practical, respectable, and primary way to improve one's financial standing and provide for one's family.
  • Comparison to Western “Networking”: In the West, “running a business” involves “networking.” In China, “做生意” is inextricably linked to the concept of 关系 (guānxi). While networking can sometimes be transactional, `关系` implies a deeper, long-term web of mutual obligation, trust, and favor. A successful businessperson in China doesn't just have a good product; they are skilled at building and maintaining strong `关系`. A deal might be sealed not just on its financial merits, but on the strength of the relationship between the two parties. This means that dinners, gift-giving, and showing respect (面子 (miànzi), “face”) are not just pleasantries—they are integral parts of the process of “做生意”.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • Versatility: The term is used for any scale of commercial activity. The owner of a tiny noodle shop and the CEO of a multinational corporation both “做生意”.
  • In Conversation: It's a very common and neutral term. Asking someone “你家是做什么生意的？” (Nǐ jiā shì zuò shénme shēngyi de? - What kind of business is your family in?) is a standard way to inquire about their profession or family background.
  • Connotations:
    • Neutral (Most Common): Simply stating a fact. “他在北京做生意。” (He does business in Beijing.)
    • Positive: Praising someone's skill. “他很会做生意。” (Tā hěn huì zuò shēngyi - He's very good at doing business.)
    • Slightly Negative: Can occasionally imply someone is overly calculating or purely profit-driven, though this is less common. For example, “他这个人，做什么都像在做生意。” (Tā zhège rén, zuò shénme dōu xiàng zài zuò shēngyi - This guy, everything he does is like he's doing business.)

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 我爸爸是做生意的。
    • Pinyin: Wǒ bàba shì zuò shēngyi de.
    • English: My dad does business / is a businessman.
    • Analysis: The `是…的` (shì…de) structure is used here to emphasize the nature of his profession. This is a very common way to describe what someone does for a living.
  • Example 2:
    • 他大学毕业后，决定自己做生意。
    • Pinyin: Tā dàxué bìyè hòu, juédìng zìjǐ zuò shēngyi.
    • English: After graduating from university, he decided to start his own business.
    • Analysis: This shows “做生意” used in the context of entrepreneurship or starting one's own venture. `自己做生意` (zìjǐ zuò shēngyi) means “to be one's own boss.”
  • Example 3:
    • 现在经济不景气，做生意很难。
    • Pinyin: Xiànzài jīngjì bù jǐngqì, zuò shēngyi hěn nán.
    • English: The economy is not good right now, so doing business is very difficult.
    • Analysis: A common sentiment expressing the challenges of commerce. `不景气` (bù jǐngqì) is a great word for “economic downturn” or “recession.”
  • Example 4:
    • 他们家是做服装生意的。
    • Pinyin: Tāmen jiā shì zuò fúzhuāng shēngyi de.
    • English: Their family is in the clothing business.
    • Analysis: This demonstrates how to specify the type of business. You insert the industry (e.g., 服装 fúzhuāng - clothing, 餐饮 cānyǐn - food and beverage) between `做` and `生意`.
  • Example 5:
    • 做生意最重要的是诚信。
    • Pinyin: Zuò shēngyi zuì zhòngyào de shì chéngxìn.
    • English: The most important thing in doing business is integrity/trustworthiness.
    • Analysis: This sentence highlights the cultural values associated with business. `诚信` (chéngxìn) is a crucial concept.
  • Example 6:
    • 你想跟我一起做生意吗？
    • Pinyin: Nǐ xiǎng gēn wǒ yīqǐ zuò shēngyi ma?
    • English: Do you want to go into business with me?
    • Analysis: Shows how to propose a business partnership. `跟…一起` (gēn…yīqǐ) means “together with…”
  • Example 7:
    • 他很会做生意，才几年就发财了。
    • Pinyin: Tā hěn huì zuò shēngyi, cái jǐ nián jiù fācái le.
    • English: He is very good at doing business; he got rich in just a few years.
    • Analysis: `会` (huì) here means “to be skilled at.” `发财` (fācái) means “to get rich,” a common goal of doing business.
  • Example 8:
    • 跟这种不诚实的人做生意，你得小心点儿。
    • Pinyin: Gēn zhè zhǒng bù chéngshí de rén zuò shēngyi, nǐ děi xiǎoxīn diǎnr.
    • English: You have to be careful doing business with this kind of dishonest person.
    • Analysis: A practical warning, showing that the phrase can be used in cautionary contexts.
  • Example 9:
    • 他做生意失败了，欠了很多钱。
    • Pinyin: Tā zuò shēngyi shībài le, qiàn le hěn duō qián.
    • English: His business failed, and he owes a lot of money.
    • Analysis: This shows the opposite of success. `失败` (shībài) means “to fail” and `欠钱` (qiàn qián) means “to owe money.”
  • Example 10:
    • 在中国做生意，你需要了解当地的文化。
    • Pinyin: Zài Zhōngguó zuò shēngyi, nǐ xūyào liǎojiě dāngdì de wénhuà.
    • English: To do business in China, you need to understand the local culture.
    • Analysis: This sentence directly links the act of doing business to cultural understanding, a key theme of this page.

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • General Activity vs. A Single Deal: “做生意” refers to the overall, ongoing activity of being in business. It's not typically used for a single transaction. For that, you would use more specific terms like `做一笔买卖` (zuò yī bǐ mǎimai - to make a deal) or `谈成了一笔生意` (tán chéng le yī bǐ shēngyi - successfully negotiated a deal).
    • Correct: 他是做生意的。 (He is a businessman.)
    • Less Common: 我们昨天做了一次生意。(We did business once yesterday.) → It's better to say: 我们昨天谈成了一笔生意。 (We closed a deal yesterday.)
  • False Friend: “To Do Business”: An English speaker might say, “I'm flying to Shanghai to do business,” meaning they have a few meetings. Using “我去上海做生意” (Wǒ qù Shànghǎi zuò shēngyi) in Chinese can imply a much more permanent intention, like you're moving there to open up shop. For a short business trip, it's better to say `我去上海出差` (Wǒ qù Shànghǎi chūchāi - I'm going to Shanghai on a business trip) or `我去上海谈生意` (Wǒ qù Shànghǎi tán shēngyi - I'm going to Shanghai to negotiate business).
  • Strictly Commercial: Do not use “做生意” for non-commercial arrangements or favors, even if there's an exchange.
    • Incorrect: `我帮了你，现在我们是做生意了。` (I helped you, now we are doing business.) This sounds very transactional and cold.
    • Correct: `我帮了你，你欠我一个人情。` (Wǒ bāng le nǐ, nǐ qiàn wǒ yī ge rénqíng - I helped you, you owe me a favor.) See 人情.

Related Terms and Concepts

  • `谈生意 (tán shēngyi)` - To negotiate business; to talk business. This is a specific part of the “做生意” process.
  • `做买卖 (zuò mǎimai)` - To buy and sell; to trade. Very similar to `做生意`, but can feel slightly more colloquial and focused on the direct act of trading goods.
  • `创业 (chuàngyè)` - To start a business; to be an entrepreneur. This term has a more modern, “start-up” feel and emphasizes the creation of a new enterprise.
  • `商人 (shāngrén)` - Businessman; merchant. The noun for the person who does `做生意`.
  • `老板 (lǎobǎn)` - Boss; owner. The person in charge of the business.
  • `客户 (kèhù)` - Client; customer. The people you `做生意` with.
  • `企业 (qǐyè)` - Enterprise; company. The formal, official term for a business entity.
  • `关系 (guānxi)` - Connections; relationships. The network of personal connections that is fundamentally important to successfully `做生意` in China.
  • `盈利 (yínglì)` - To make a profit; profit (noun). The ultimate financial goal of `做生意`.
  • `市场 (shìchǎng)` - Market. The environment where `做生意` takes place.