chuàngyè: 创业 - To Start a Business, Entrepreneurship

• Keywords: 创业, chuàngyè, start a business in China, Chinese entrepreneurship, how to say start a business in Chinese, Chinese startup culture, 创业公司, 创业者, innovation in China.
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese term 创业 (chuàngyè), which means “to start a business” or “entrepreneurship.” This page dives deep into its meaning, from its character origins to its central role in modern China's dynamic startup culture. Discover how 创业 is different from simply “doing business,” and learn how to use it accurately with over 10 practical example sentences, cultural insights, and analysis of related terms like 创业公司 (startup company) and 创业者 (entrepreneur).

• Pinyin (with tone marks): chuàngyè
• Part of Speech: Verb / Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To start a business or enterprise; entrepreneurship.
• In a Nutshell: 创业 (chuàngyè) is the go-to word in modern Chinese for the entire concept of founding a new venture. It carries a dynamic, ambitious feeling, often associated with innovation, technology, and risk-taking. Think “doing a startup” or the “spirit of entrepreneurship” all rolled into one powerful term.

• 创 (chuàng): To create, initiate, start, or found. This character implies making something new from scratch. Think of words like 创造 (chuàngzào) - to create, or 创新 (chuàngxīn) - to innovate.
• 业 (yè): Business, enterprise, industry, or one's life's work. It refers to a significant undertaking or profession, seen in words like 工业 (gōngyè) - industry, or 职业 (zhíyè) - occupation.
• Together, 创 (chuàng) + 业 (yè) literally means “to create an enterprise.” This combination perfectly captures the modern meaning of building a new business from the ground up.

In contemporary China, 创业 (chuàngyè) is more than just a vocabulary word; it's a cultural phenomenon. For the past two decades, China has experienced an “entrepreneurial fever” (创业热潮 - chuàngyè rècháo), especially in tech hubs like Beijing, Shenzhen, and Hangzhou. The term has become a symbol of ambition, modernity, and a pathway to wealth and social mobility. A key cultural comparison is between the Chinese 创业 (chuàngyè) dream and the American “Silicon Valley” dream. While both value innovation and hard work, 创业 in China operates within a different context:

• Government Influence: The government actively encourages and often subsidizes 创业, particularly in strategic sectors like AI and green energy. Success can depend on aligning with national goals.
• Role of 关系 (guānxi): While networking is important everywhere, 关系 (guānxi)—deep, obligation-based personal networks—is often crucial for navigating bureaucracy, securing funding, and finding partners in China.
• Intense Competition: The concept of 内卷 (nèijuǎn), or “involution,” describes the hyper-competitive environment where people feel they must overwork just to keep up, not necessarily to get ahead. This is a significant reality for many Chinese 创业者 (chuàngyèzhě).

For many young Chinese people, 创业 represents a break from the traditional, stable “iron rice bowl” jobs in state-owned enterprises, embracing risk for a chance at massive success and personal fulfillment.

创业 is used widely in daily conversation, news reports, and business settings.

• As a Verb: It's used to describe the action of starting a business.
  • e.g., 他毕业后决定创业。 (Tā bìyè hòu juédìng chuàngyè.) - He decided to start a business after graduating.
• As a Noun: It refers to the concept or period of entrepreneurship.
  • e.g., 创业的道路充满了挑战。(Chuàngyè de dàolù chōngmǎn le tiǎozhàn.) - The path of entrepreneurship is full of challenges.
• In Common Compounds:
  • 创业公司 (chuàngyè gōngsī): Startup company.
  • 创业者 (chuàngyèzhě): Entrepreneur (lit. “one who starts a business”).
  • 创业精神 (chuàngyè jīngshén): Entrepreneurial spirit.
  • 创业环境 (chuàngyè huánjìng): Startup environment/ecosystem.

The term generally has a positive and ambitious connotation, associated with courage and innovation.

• Example 1:
  • 很多年轻人梦想自己创业。
  • Pinyin: Hěn duō niánqīngrén mèngxiǎng zìjǐ chuàngyè.
  • English: Many young people dream of starting their own business.
  • Analysis: A very common and natural sentence expressing a common aspiration. 创业 is used here as a verb.
• Example 2:
  • 创业初期，资金是一个大问题。
  • Pinyin: Chuàngyè chūqī, zījīn shì yí ge dà wèntí.
  • English: In the early stages of a startup, funding is a big problem.
  • Analysis: Here, 创业 functions as a noun, modified by 初期 (chūqī) meaning “early stage.” This highlights a key challenge.
• Example 3:
  • 他和几个大学同学合伙创业。
  • Pinyin: Tā hé jǐ ge dàxué tóngxué héhuǒ chuàngyè.
  • English: He started a business in partnership with a few university classmates.
  • Analysis: 合伙 (héhuǒ) means “to form a partnership,” a common structure for startups. This shows how 创业 is used with other business-related verbs.
• Example 4:
  • 第一次创业失败了，但他没有放弃。
  • Pinyin: Dì yī cì chuàngyè shībài le, dàn tā méiyǒu fàngqì.
  • English: His first entrepreneurial venture failed, but he didn't give up.
  • Analysis: This example shows 创业 as a noun representing a specific attempt or venture. It also reflects the cultural value of perseverance.
• Example 5:
  • 这家创业公司发展得非常快。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā chuàngyè gōngsī fāzhǎn de fēicháng kuài.
  • English: This startup company is developing very quickly.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates the common compound 创业公司 (chuàngyè gōngsī), the direct equivalent of “startup company.”
• Example 6:
  • 每一位成功的创业者背后都有无数的汗水。
  • Pinyin: Měi yí wèi chénggōng de chuàngyèzhě bèihòu dōu yǒu wúshù de hànshuǐ.
  • English: Behind every successful entrepreneur is countless beads of sweat.
  • Analysis: Uses the compound 创业者 (chuàngyèzhě) for “entrepreneur” and captures the “hustle culture” associated with it. 位 (wèi) is a polite measure word for people.
• Example 7:
  • 深圳有很好的创业环境。
  • Pinyin: Shēnzhèn yǒu hěn hǎo de chuàngyè huánjìng.
  • English: Shenzhen has a very good startup environment.
  • Analysis: Here, 创业 acts as an adjective modifying 环境 (huánjìng), meaning “environment.”
• Example 8:
  • 政府出台了很多政策来鼓励大学生创业。
  • Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ chūtái le hěn duō zhèngcè lái gǔlì dàxuéshēng chuàngyè.
  • English: The government has introduced many policies to encourage university students to start businesses.
  • Analysis: This sentence reflects the reality of government support for entrepreneurship in China.
• Example 9:
  • 他为了创业，把自己的房子都卖了。
  • Pinyin: Tā wèile chuàngyè, bǎ zìjǐ de fángzi dōu mài le.
  • English: In order to start his business, he even sold his house.
  • Analysis: This shows the high stakes and personal sacrifice often involved. 为了 (wèile) means “for the sake of.”
• Example 10:
  • 拥有创业精神是成功的关键。
  • Pinyin: Yōngyǒu chuàngyè jīngshén shì chénggōng de guānjiàn.
  • English: Having an entrepreneurial spirit is the key to success.
  • Analysis: A great example using the abstract concept 创业精神 (chuàngyè jīngshén), or “entrepreneurial spirit.”

The most common point of confusion for learners is the difference between 创业 (chuàngyè) and 做生意 (zuò shēngyi).

• 创业 (chuàngyè): Implies innovation, scalability, and building a new enterprise, often with a modern or tech focus. It's about creating a “startup.” You 创业 a tech company, a new app, or an innovative brand.
• 做生意 (zuò shēngyi): Means “to do business.” It's a much broader and more traditional term. It can refer to any commercial activity, big or small, innovative or not. You 做生意 by running a restaurant, trading goods, or operating a small convenience store.

Common Mistake:

• Incorrect: 我叔叔在路边创业，卖水果。 (Wǒ shūshu zài lùbiān chuàngyè, mài shuǐguǒ.)
• Why it's wrong: “创业” sounds too grand and ambitious for a simple fruit stand. It implies he's trying to build the next “Fruit-Hub” or innovative fruit delivery platform.
• Correct: 我叔叔在路边做生意，卖水果。 (Wǒ shūshu zài lùbiān zuò shēngyi, mài shuǐguǒ.) or more simply, 我叔叔在路边开了一个水果摊 (kāi le yí ge shuǐguǒ tān). This is more natural and accurate.

Think of it this way: everyone who does 创业 is also 做生意, but not everyone who 做生意 is doing 创业.

• 做生意 (zuò shēngyi) - A more general term for “to do business,” often implying more traditional commerce rather than an innovative startup.
• 创业者 (chuàngyèzhě) - An entrepreneur; the person who undertakes the 创业.
• 创业公司 (chuàngyè gōngsī) - A startup company; the entity created through 创业.
• 企业家 (qǐyèjiā) - Entrepreneur or industrialist. This term often implies a higher level of success and establishment than 创业者. Think of Jack Ma as a famous 企业家.
• 老板 (lǎobǎn) - Boss; owner. This is the title one gets after successfully starting a business.
• 投资 (tóuzī) - Investment; to invest. Venture capital and investment are the lifeblood of most 创业 efforts.
• 创新 (chuàngxīn) - Innovation. A core component and goal of modern 创业.
• 风险 (fēngxiǎn) - Risk. 创业 is inherently a high-risk activity.
• 内卷 (nèijuǎn) - “Involution”; a slang term for the intense, zero-sum internal competition faced by many in China, including 创业者.
• 风口 (fēngkǒu) - “Wind vent”; a popular buzzword meaning a market trend or new business opportunity. A smart 创业者 looks for the next 风口.