携程

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xiéchéng: 携程 - Trip.com / Ctrip (China's largest travel agency)

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: 携程, xié chéng, Ctrip, Trip.com, China travel, book flights China, book trains China, Chinese travel app, OTA China, 在线旅游, Feizhu, Qunar, travel to China.
  • Summary: 携程 (Xiéchéng), known internationally as Trip.com, is the undisputed leader in China's online travel industry. It is a one-stop-shop “super-app” and website for booking flights, high-speed trains, hotels, and tours in China and across the globe. For any beginner learner planning to travel to or within China, understanding and using 携程 is practically essential for a smooth journey. The name itself, meaning “to carry your journey,” perfectly reflects its role as a portable, all-in-one travel solution.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): xié chéng
  • Part of Speech: Proper Noun (Company Name)
  • HSK Level: N/A (as a brand name). The individual characters are 携 (xié - HSK 5) and 程 (chéng - HSK 4).
  • Concise Definition: Xiéchéng is China's largest online travel agency (OTA), operating internationally under the brand name Trip.com.
  • In a Nutshell: Think of Expedia, Booking.com, and Skyscanner rolled into one dominant platform, and you have 携程. It's not just a service; it's a fundamental utility for modern Chinese life. If you need to go anywhere, you'll almost certainly use the 携程 app or website to book your tickets and accommodation. The name beautifully combines “carry” and “journey,” implying that your entire travel plan is something you can easily carry with you, right in your pocket.

Character Breakdown

  • 携 (xié): To carry in the hand; to take along; to bring with. The left side is the hand radical (扌), which is found in many characters related to actions done with the hands (like 打 dǎ - to hit, or 找 zhǎo - to look for). It signifies portability and convenience.
  • 程 (chéng): A journey, trip, distance, or process. It suggests a sequence of events or a path from a starting point to a destination.
  • Combined Meaning: The two characters combine to create a modern, aspirational brand name: “Carrying the Journey” or “Portable Trip.” It perfectly encapsulates the company's value proposition: making complex travel arrangements simple, manageable, and accessible from a mobile device.

Cultural Context and Significance

  • The Engine of China's Travel Boom: 携程's rise is synonymous with the explosion of domestic and international tourism by China's growing middle class. For decades, personal travel was a luxury for a few. 携程 made it accessible to hundreds of millions, fundamentally changing how Chinese people explore their own country and the world.
  • Symbol of a Mobile-First Society: While Westerners might use a mix of websites like Expedia, Kayak, and airline sites to book a trip, China is a mobile-first, app-driven society. 携程 is a quintessential “super-app.” Its deep integration—from booking a flight, to reserving a hotel, to buying a ticket for a scenic spot, all within one ecosystem—is a hallmark of China's modern digital landscape.
  • Comparison to Western “Networking”: In the West, we have many travel booking options, and brand loyalty can be fickle. In China, 携程 has achieved a level of market dominance and integration that has no true Western equivalent. It's not just a company; it's the default infrastructure for personal and business travel. Asking “Did you book on 携程?” is as common as asking “Did you Google it?” in the West.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • The Default for All Bookings: In daily conversation, “用携程订 (yòng xiéchéng dìng)“—”to book using Xiéchéng”—is the standard phrase for securing any kind of travel. This includes:
    • 机票 (jīpiào): Flights (domestic and international)
    • 火车票 (huǒchē piào): Train tickets, especially for the high-speed rail (高铁 gāotiě)
    • 酒店 (jiǔdiàn): Hotels
    • 旅游套餐 (lǚyóu tàocān): Vacation packages and tours.
  • Verbal Shortcut: People often use “携程” as a verb, meaning “to check prices on Xiéchéng.” For example: “你携程一下看看价格” (Nǐ xiéchéng yīxià kànkàn jiàgé) - “You should check Xiéchéng to see the price.”
  • Formality and Connotation: The term is neutral and used in all contexts, from casual chats between friends to formal arrangements for a business trip (出差 chūchāi). It's seen as a reliable, if sometimes corporate, tool.

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 我已经在携程上订好去北京的机票了。
    • Pinyin: Wǒ yǐjīng zài Xiéchéng shàng dìng hǎo qù Běijīng de jīpiào le.
    • English: I've already booked the flight ticket to Beijing on Ctrip.
    • Analysis: This is the most common use case. The structure “在 [platform] 上” (zài… shàng) means “on [platform]”.
  • Example 2:
    • 你上携程查一下，看看明天有没有去上海的高铁票。
    • Pinyin: Nǐ shàng Xiéchéng chá yīxià, kànkàn míngtiān yǒu méiyǒu qù Shànghǎi de gāotiě piào.
    • English: Go on Ctrip and check if there are any high-speed train tickets to Shanghai for tomorrow.
    • Analysis: “上 (shàng)” here means “to get on” or “to go on” a website/app. “查一下 (chá yīxià)” is a gentle command meaning “to check” or “to look up”.
  • Example 3:
    • 这次出差的酒店和机票都是通过携程预订的。
    • Pinyin: Zhè cì chūchāi de jiǔdiàn hé jīpiào dōu shì tōngguò Xiéchéng yùdìng de.
    • English: The hotel and flights for this business trip were all booked through Ctrip.
    • Analysis: “通过 (tōngguò)” means “through” or “by means of,” highlighting 携程 as the agent or platform used.
  • Example 4:
    • 携程的价格不一定是最便宜的，你可以再看看飞猪。
    • Pinyin: Xiéchéng de jiàgé bù yīdìng shì zuì piányi de, nǐ kěyǐ zài kànkàn Fēizhū.
    • English: Ctrip's prices aren't necessarily the cheapest; you could also check Feizhu (Alibaba's travel app).
    • Analysis: This shows how people compare 携程 to its main competitors.
  • Example 5:
    • 我的手机上第一个旅游APP就是携程。
    • Pinyin: Wǒ de shǒujī shàng dì-yī gè lǚyóu APP jiùshì Xiéchéng.
    • English: The number one travel app on my phone is Ctrip.
    • Analysis: This sentence emphasizes its status as an essential application (APP).
  • Example 6:
    • 你去国外玩？用携程国际版 (Trip.com) 很方便。
    • Pinyin: Nǐ qù guówài wán? Yòng Xiéchéng guójì bǎn (Trip.com) hěn fāngbiàn.
    • English: You're traveling abroad? It's very convenient to use the international version of Ctrip (Trip.com).
    • Analysis: This highlights the distinction between the domestic brand and its international counterpart, Trip.com.
  • Example 7:
    • 别忘了在携程上看一下酒店的评价。
    • Pinyin: Bié wàngle zài Xiéchéng shàng kàn yīxià jiǔdiàn de píngjià.
    • English: Don't forget to look at the hotel reviews on Ctrip.
    • Analysis: Shows that 携程 is also a source of user-generated reviews, much like TripAdvisor or Yelp.
  • Example 8:
    • 携程的客服电话太难打了。
    • Pinyin: Xiéchéng de kèfú diànhuà tài nán dǎ le.
    • English: Ctrip's customer service hotline is so hard to get through to.
    • Analysis: A common complaint about any large corporation, showing a more nuanced, real-world view of the service.
  • Example 9:
    • 我们公司的差旅政策规定必须用携程订票。
    • Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī de chāilǚ zhèngcè guīdìng bìxū yòng Xiéchéng dìng piào.
    • English: Our company's travel policy stipulates that we must use Ctrip to book tickets.
    • Analysis: This demonstrates its integration into the corporate world for managing business travel (差旅 chāilǚ).
  • Example 10:
    • 这个度假套餐是在携程上抢的，特别划算。
    • Pinyin: Zhège dùjià tàocān shì zài Xiéchéng shàng qiǎng de, tèbié huásuàn.
    • English: I snatched up this vacation package on a Ctrip deal; it was a real bargain.
    • Analysis: “抢 (qiǎng)” means to “snatch” or “grab,” often used for flash sales or limited-time offers, showing how people use it to find deals.

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • False Friend: Not a word for “Journey”: The biggest mistake is to use 携程 (Xiéchéng) as a generic noun for “trip” or “journey.” It is only a brand name.
    • Incorrect: 我这次去中国的携程很愉快。 (Wǒ zhè cì qù Zhōngguó de xiéchéng hěn yúkuài.)
    • Correct: 我这次去中国的旅程很愉快。 (Wǒ zhè cì qù Zhōngguó de lǚchéng hěn yúkuài.) - “My journey to China this time was very pleasant.”
  • Ctrip vs. Trip.com: Remember that 携程 (Xiéchéng) is the name used within mainland China. For the international market, the company uses the name Trip.com. While they are the same parent company, the apps and websites are distinct. As a foreigner, using the Trip.com app is often easier as it's fully localized in English and accepts international credit cards more readily.
  • Pronunciation: Both characters are 2nd (rising) tone: xié chéng. A flat or incorrect pronunciation might cause confusion, though context usually makes it clear.

Related Terms and Concepts

  • 去哪儿 (Qùnǎ'r) - “Where to go?” A major travel platform that is now part of the 携程 group, often perceived as offering budget-friendly options.
  • 飞猪 (Fēizhū) - “Flying Pig.” The travel brand from tech giant Alibaba. It is 携程's main independent competitor.
  • 旅游 (lǚyóu) - Tourism; travel for pleasure. The general noun for the concept of tourism.
  • 旅行 (lǚxíng) - To travel; a journey. Refers to the act of traveling or the trip itself. This is the correct word to use for “my journey.”
  • 订票 (dìng piào) - To book a ticket. A general verb you would use in conjunction with 携程.
  • 酒店 (jiǔdiàn) - Hotel. Literally “wine shop,” but now the standard word for hotel.
  • 机票 (jīpiào) - Airplane ticket. (机 jī = machine/plane, 票 piào = ticket).
  • 高铁 (gāotiě) - High-speed rail. The ubiquitous bullet train system in China. Booking tickets on 携程 is the most common method.
  • 在线旅游 (zàixiàn lǚyóu) - Online travel. The industry term for the sector in which 携程 operates, often abbreviated to OTA (Online Travel Agency) in English.