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| 生意 [2025/08/10 02:58] – created xiaoer | 生意 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1 |
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| ====== shēngyi: 生意 - Business, Trade ====== | |
| ===== Quick Summary ===== | |
| * **Keywords:** shengyi, 生意, Chinese word for business, how to say business in Chinese, zuo shengyi, 做生意, shengyi meaning, 生意 meaning, Chinese business culture, business in China, Chinese entrepreneurship, small business in Chinese | |
| * **Summary:** Discover the meaning of **生意 (shēngyi)**, the essential Chinese word for "business" or "trade." This guide goes beyond a simple translation, exploring the cultural nuances of what it means to "do business" (做生意) in China. Learn how the characters 生 (life) and 意 (meaning) combine to create a concept deeply tied to livelihood, entrepreneurship, and personal relationships, a must-know term for anyone interested in modern Chinese culture and commerce. | |
| ===== Core Meaning ===== | |
| * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** shēngyi | |
| * **Part of Speech:** Noun | |
| * **HSK Level:** HSK 4 | |
| * **Concise Definition:** The activity of buying and selling goods or services; a business, trade, or transaction. | |
| * **In a Nutshell:** **生意 (shēngyi)** is the lifeblood of commerce in China, representing more than just a formal company. It captures the dynamic, often personal, activity of making a living through trade. Think of the bustling market stall, the family-run restaurant, or the entrepreneur striking a deal. It's the "hustle," the ongoing process of creating opportunities and generating livelihood. | |
| ===== Character Breakdown ===== | |
| * **生 (shēng):** This character's primary meaning is "life," "to be born," or "to grow." It evokes a sense of vitality, creation, and organic development. | |
| * **意 (yì):** This character means "idea," "meaning," "intention," or "will." It's composed of "sound" (音) over "heart" (心), suggesting a thought or intention that comes from within. | |
| * **How they combine:** Together, **生意 (shēngyi)** literally translates to something like "life's meaning" or "generating intention." This beautifully captures the essence of business as an activity that creates a livelihood (life) and is driven by an individual's will and ideas (intention). It's not just a sterile transaction; it's a living, breathing endeavor. | |
| ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== | |
| In Chinese culture, **生意 (shēngyi)** holds a place of immense practical and social importance. It's often seen as a primary path to prosperity and a way to support one's family. The concept is deeply ingrained in the social fabric, celebrated for its pragmatism and resourcefulness. | |
| A useful comparison is to the English word "business." In the West, "business" can often evoke images of large corporations, boardrooms, and stock markets (though it can also mean small-scale trade). **生意**, while it can be used for large deals, carries a much stronger connotation of grassroots entrepreneurship and day-to-day commerce. It's the domain of the **老板 (lǎobǎn)**, or "boss," who is actively involved in the nitty-gritty of their trade. | |
| Doing good **生意** in China is rarely just about the product or price; it is heavily reliant on **[[关系]] (guānxi)**—a network of personal relationships and mutual obligations. A deal might be sealed not in an office, but over a meal, where trust is built. Therefore, **生意** is often less about a single, cold transaction and more about fostering a long-term, profitable relationship. | |
| ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== | |
| **生意** is a high-frequency word used in a wide range of contexts, from casual chats to formal negotiations. | |
| * **Doing Business (做生意 - zuò shēngyi):** This is the most common collocation. It refers to the act of engaging in commerce. "他是做生意的" (He is a businessman / He's in business). | |
| * **Talking Business (谈生意 - tán shēngyi):** This refers specifically to negotiating a deal or discussing business matters. | |
| * **Inquiring about Business:** A very common greeting, especially between acquaintances who own businesses, is "最近生意怎么样？" (zuìjìn shēngyi zěnmeyàng?) - "How's business lately?" | |
| * **Wishing Prosperity:** A classic blessing for a new or existing venture is "祝你生意兴隆！" (zhù nǐ shēngyi xīnglóng!) - "Wishing you a prosperous business!" | |
| The connotation is generally neutral to positive, reflecting a society that respects and encourages entrepreneurship. | |
| ===== Example Sentences ===== | |
| * **Example 1:** | |
| * 他爸爸是**做生意**的。 | |
| * Pinyin: Tā bàba shì **zuò shēngyi** de. | |
| * English: His father is a businessman. | |
| * Analysis: "做生意" is used here as a verb phrase to describe a person's profession. It's a very common and natural way to say someone "is in business." | |
| * **Example 2:** | |
| * 最近我们的**生意**不太好。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zuìjìn wǒmen de **shēngyi** bù tài hǎo. | |
| * English: Our business hasn't been very good lately. | |
| * Analysis: Here, **生意** is a noun representing the state or performance of the business. This is a typical way to express how well or poorly a business is doing. | |
| * **Example 3:** | |
| * 祝你**生意**兴隆！ | |
| * Pinyin: Zhù nǐ **shēngyi** xīnglóng! | |
| * English: Wishing your business prosperity! | |
| * Analysis: This is a set phrase (a type of Chengyu) used to give good wishes. **兴隆 (xīnglóng)** means "prosperous" or "booming." It's often seen on banners at new store openings. | |
| * **Example 4:** | |
| * 我明天要跟一个重要客户**谈生意**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Wǒ míngtiān yào gēn yí ge zhòngyào kèhù **tán shēngyi**. | |
| * English: I have to talk business with an important client tomorrow. | |
| * Analysis: **谈生意 (tán shēngyi)** specifically means to negotiate or discuss a business deal. It emphasizes the communication and negotiation aspect of commerce. | |
| * **Example 5:** | |
| * 他年纪轻轻，**生意**就做得很大。 | |
| * Pinyin: Tā niánjì qīngqīng, **shēngyi** jiù zuò de hěn dà. | |
| * English: He's very young, but his business is already very successful (literally, "he does business very big"). | |
| * Analysis: This sentence shows how **生意** can be modified with complements. "做得很大" (done very big) is a common way to describe a successful and large-scale business operation. | |
| * **Example 6:** | |
| * 这笔**生意**我们赚了五万块。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhè bǐ **shēngyi** wǒmen zhuàn le wǔ wàn kuài. | |
| * English: We earned 50,000 yuan from this deal. | |
| * Analysis: The measure word for **生意** when referring to a specific deal or transaction is **笔 (bǐ)**. This highlights its use for discrete events as well as the general activity. | |
| * **Example 7:** | |
| * 在网上**做生意**，信誉是最重要的。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zài wǎngshàng **zuò shēngyi**, xìnyù shì zuì zhòngyào de. | |
| * English: When doing business online, reputation is the most important thing. | |
| * Analysis: This example demonstrates the modern application of the term to e-commerce, showing its versatility. | |
| * **Example 8:** | |
| * 他靠卖水果的**生意**养活了一家人。 | |
| * Pinyin: Tā kào mài shuǐguǒ de **shēngyi** yǎnghuo le yì jiā rén. | |
| * English: He supported his entire family through his fruit-selling business. | |
| * Analysis: This sentence perfectly illustrates the cultural core of **生意** as a means of "livelihood" (养活 - yǎnghuo). | |
| * **Example 9:** | |
| * 他们的**生意**遍布全国。 | |
| * Pinyin: Tāmen de **shēngyi** biànbù quánguó. | |
| * English: Their business extends all over the country. | |
| * Analysis: This shows that **生意** isn't limited to small-scale operations; it can also describe a large commercial network. | |
| * **Example 10:** | |
| * 我们是多年的**生意**伙伴。 | |
| * Pinyin: Wǒmen shì duō nián de **shēngyi** huǒbàn. | |
| * English: We have been business partners for many years. | |
| * Analysis: Here, **生意** acts as an adjective to modify "partner" (伙伴 - huǒbàn), clarifying the nature of the partnership. | |
| ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== | |
| A key mistake for English speakers is confusing **生意 (shēngyi)** with **公司 (gōngsī)**. | |
| * **生意 (shēngyi)** is the *activity* or *state* of doing business. It's abstract, dynamic, and focused on commerce itself. | |
| * **公司 (gōngsī)** is the *entity*. It's the legally registered company, the firm, the corporation with an office and employees. | |
| **Incorrect:** 我开了一个新**生意**。 (Wǒ kāi le yí ge xīn shēngyi.) | |
| **Correct:** 我开了一家新**公司**。 (Wǒ kāi le yì jiā xīn gōngsī.) -> "I opened a new company." | |
| **Correct:** 我开始做新**生意**了。 (Wǒ kāishǐ zuò xīn shēngyi le.) -> "I started a new business (activity)." | |
| Think of it this way: a **公司 (gōngsī)** is a container, and the **生意 (shēngyi)** is what happens inside and around that container. You "do" (做) **生意**, but you "open" (开) a **公司**. | |
| Another point of confusion can be with **商业 (shāngyè)**. | |
| * **生意 (shēngyi)**: Everyday business, trade, a deal. More hands-on and practical. | |
| * **商业 (shāngyè)**: Commerce, the business world, industry. More formal and abstract. You might study **商业** at a university (e.g., a "business school" is a 商学院 - shāngxuéyuàn), but you "do" **生意** on the street. | |
| ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== | |
| * [[公司]] (gōngsī) - A company or corporation. The legal entity that conducts business. | |
| * [[商业]] (shāngyè) - Commerce; the business sector as a whole. A more formal and macro-level term. | |
| * [[老板]] (lǎobǎn) - The boss, owner, or proprietor. The person who runs the **生意**. | |
| * [[做买卖]] (zuò mǎimài) - A colloquial synonym for `做生意`, literally "to do buying and selling." | |
| * [[客户]] (kèhù) - Client or customer. A crucial party in any **生意**. | |
| * [[赚钱]] (zhuànqián) - To earn money. The primary objective of doing **生意**. | |
| * [[交易]] (jiāoyì) - A single transaction or deal. A **生意** is often made up of many `交易`. | |
| * [[企业]] (qǐyè) - An enterprise. A formal term often used for larger businesses or corporations. | |
| * [[关系]] (guānxi) - Relationships, connections. A key cultural concept essential for successful **生意** in China. | |
| * [[合伙人]] (héhuǒrén) - A business partner. Someone you do **生意** with. | |