chūchāi: 出差 - To Go on a Business Trip

• Keywords: chuchai, chu chai, 出差, what does chuchai mean, Chinese business trip, travel for work in China, Chinese word for business trip, working in China, business travel Chinese.
• Summary: Learn the meaning of 出差 (chūchāi), the essential Chinese verb for “to go on a business trip.” This guide will teach you how to use chūchāi in everyday and professional conversations. Discover its cultural significance in the modern Chinese workplace, see dozens of practical examples, and learn to distinguish it from “traveling for fun” to avoid common mistakes. This is your go-to resource for understanding business travel in China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): chūchāi
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: To be away from one's home base on official business; to go on a business trip.
• In a Nutshell: 出差 (chūchāi) is the standard, universal term for any work-related travel that takes you away from your regular place of work. It can be a one-day trip to a nearby city or a month-long international assignment. It's a neutral term, neither positive nor negative, and is a very common part of professional life in China.

• 出 (chū): This character means “to go out,” “to exit,” or “to leave.” You can picture it as a plant sprouting from the ground or a foot stepping over a line.
• 差 (chāi): This is a character with multiple pronunciations and meanings. In this specific word, it's pronounced chāi and means “an assignment,” “a mission,” or “an errand.” It refers to a job you are dispatched to do.

When combined, 出差 (chūchāi) literally means “to go out for an assignment.” This perfectly captures the essence of leaving your home base to complete a work-related task.

While “business trip” is a direct translation, 出差 (chūchāi) in China often carries a deeper cultural weight. The Western concept of a business trip might focus purely on the transaction: attend the meeting, sign the deal, fly home. In China, a 出差 is a critical opportunity for relationship-building, or `关系 (guānxi)`. The work done outside the official meetings is often just as important as the work done inside them. This can involve lengthy dinners, toasts with `白酒 (báijiǔ)`, and other forms of `应酬 (yìngchóu)` (social entertainment for business). The goal is not just to complete a task but to build trust and rapport. A successful 出差 strengthens the personal connection between companies, which is seen as the foundation for long-term business success. With China's vast high-speed rail network, short-term 出差 has become incredibly common, making it a routine topic of conversation in any office environment.

出差 is used constantly in both formal and informal settings. You'll hear it in the office, see it in emails, and use it to tell friends and family about your work schedule.

• In Conversation: “你下周要去哪儿出差?” (Nǐ xiàzhōu yào qù nǎr chūchāi?) - “Where are you going on a business trip next week?”
• In Business Emails: “关于您下周来上海的出差安排…” (Guānyú nín xiàzhōu lái Shànghǎi de chūchāi ānpái…) - “Regarding the arrangements for your business trip to Shanghai next week…”
• Connotation: The term itself is neutral. However, one's feelings about an upcoming 出差 can be positive (e.g., visiting an exciting city) or negative (e.g., a grueling schedule, being away from family). People often complain about being tired from `频繁出差 (pínfán chūchāi)` - frequent business trips.

Example 1:

• 我老板下个星期要去北京出差。
• Pinyin: Wǒ lǎobǎn xià ge xīngqī yào qù Běijīng chūchāi.
• English: My boss is going to Beijing on a business trip next week.
• Analysis: A simple, common sentence stating someone's plan to go on a business trip. “去 [Place] 出差” (qù [Place] chūchāi) is a very standard structure.

Example 2:

• 你经常出差吗？
• Pinyin: Nǐ jīngcháng chūchāi ma?
• English: Do you go on business trips often?
• Analysis: A great conversation starter with a colleague or new business acquaintance. `经常 (jīngcháng)` means “often.”

Example 3:

• 这次出差要多久？大概一个星期。
• Pinyin: Zhè cì chūchāi yào duōjiǔ? Dàgài yí ge xīngqī.
• English: How long is this business trip? About one week.
• Analysis: `这次 (zhè cì)` means “this time.” This sentence shows how to ask and answer about the duration of a trip.

Example 4:

• 出差虽然很累，但是能见到很多老朋友。
• Pinyin: Chūchāi suīrán hěn lèi, dànshì néng jiàndào hěn duō lǎo péngyǒu.
• English: Although business trips are tiring, I get to see many old friends.
• Analysis: This sentence shows the mixed feelings people often have about business travel. The `虽然…但是… (suīrán…dànshì…)` structure means “although…but…”

Example 5:

• 他刚从美国出差回来。
• Pinyin: Tā gāng cóng Měiguó chūchāi huílái.
• English: He just got back from a business trip to the United States.
• Analysis: `刚 (gāng)` means “just now.” `从 [Place] 出差回来 (cóng [Place] chūchāi huílái)` is the pattern for “to come back from a business trip in [Place].”

Example 6:

• 我们公司有出差补贴。
• Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī yǒu chūchāi bǔtiē.
• English: Our company has a business trip allowance (per diem).
• Analysis: `补贴 (bǔtiē)` is a key related vocabulary word, meaning subsidy or allowance. This is a very practical sentence for anyone working in China.

Example 7:

• 不好意思，李经理正在出差，下周一才回来。
• Pinyin: Bù hǎoyìsi, Lǐ jīnglǐ zhèngzài chūchāi, xià zhōuyī cái huílái.
• English: I'm sorry, Manager Li is currently on a business trip and won't be back until next Monday.
• Analysis: This shows how to explain someone's absence from the office. `正在 (zhèngzài)` indicates an ongoing action.

Example 8:

• 为了这个项目，他这个月已经出差三次了。
• Pinyin: Wèile zhège xiàngmù, tā zhège yuè yǐjīng chūchāi sān cì le.
• English: For this project, he has already been on three business trips this month.
• Analysis: `为了 (wèile)` means “for the sake of.” This sentence emphasizes the frequency and purpose of the trips.

Example 9:

• 明天去上海的出差安排都定好了吗？
• Pinyin: Míngtiān qù Shànghǎi de chūchāi ānpái dōu dìng hǎo le ma?
• English: Are all the arrangements for tomorrow's business trip to Shanghai settled?
• Analysis: Here, 出差 is used as a noun modifier for `安排 (ānpái)`, meaning “arrangements.” This is very common usage.

Example 10:

• 我不太喜欢一个人出差，太无聊了。
• Pinyin: Wǒ bú tài xǐhuān yí ge rén chūchāi, tài wúliáo le.
• English: I don't really like going on business trips alone, it's too boring.
• Analysis: Expresses a personal preference or feeling about 出差.

The most critical mistake learners make is confusing 出差 (chūchāi) with 旅行 (lǚxíng).

• 出差 (chūchāi): Travel for WORK. The purpose is business.
• 旅行 (lǚxíng): Travel for PLEASURE. The purpose is tourism, vacation, or leisure.

If you are going to Shanghai to meet a client, you are on a 出差. If you are going to Shanghai to visit the Bund and eat soup dumplings for fun, you are on a 旅行. Incorrect Usage:

• `我下周要去北京旅行，我要见三个客户。`
• (Wǒ xiàzhōu yào qù Běijīng lǚxíng, wǒ yào jiàn sān ge kèhù.)
• Why it's wrong: Seeing three clients (`客户 kèhù`) is clearly work. You are not on a vacation.

Correct Usage:

• `我下周要去北京出差，我要见三个客户。`
• (Wǒ xiàzhōu yào qù Běijīng chūchāi, wǒ yào jiàn sān ge kèhù.)

• `旅行 (lǚxíng)` - To travel for pleasure. The opposite of 出差 in terms of purpose.
• `加班 (jiābān)` - To work overtime. Something that often happens on a demanding 出差.
• `开会 (kāihuì)` - To have a meeting. A primary reason for most business trips.
• `客户 (kèhù)` - Client/Customer. The people you typically visit when you 出差.
• `报销 (bàoxiāo)` - To get reimbursed. What you do with your receipts after returning from a 出差.
• `补贴 (bǔtiē)` - Allowance/Subsidy. The per diem you might receive for a business trip (`出差补贴`).
• `应酬 (yìngchóu)` - Business-related social functions. A major, often obligatory, part of 出差 in China.
• `关系 (guānxi)` - Relationships/Connections. The fundamental goal of many social activities during a 出差.
• `同事 (tóngshì)` - Colleague. The person you might travel with on a 出差.