bǎihuò gōngsī: 百货公司 - Department Store

• Keywords: 百货公司, baihuo gongsi, Chinese department store, shopping in China, Chinese mall, department store in Mandarin, bai huo, gong si, 商场, shopping vocabulary Chinese
• Summary: 百货公司 (bǎihuò gōngsī) is the Chinese word for a “department store.” It refers to a large retail store that offers a wide variety of consumer goods in different departments under one roof. While a cornerstone of urban life for decades, it's culturally distinct from the modern mega-malls (商场, shāngchǎng) that are now common in China. This page will break down its meaning, cultural significance, and practical usage for anyone learning Chinese or planning to go shopping in China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): bǎi huò gōng sī
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: A large retail establishment that sells a wide range of goods; a department store.
• In a Nutshell: Think of a classic Western department store like Macy's or John Lewis—that's a 百货公司. It's a single, large store organized into different sections: one for cosmetics, one for men's clothing, one for home appliances, etc. It implies a more traditional, all-in-one shopping experience compared to a modern “shopping mall” which is a collection of many separate stores.

• 百 (bǎi): hundred; numerous, a great deal of.
• 货 (huò): goods, merchandise, products. The character contains the radical 貝 (bèi), which originally meant “shell” and is associated with money and valuables.
• 公 (gōng): public, common, shared by all.
• 司 (sī): to manage, to control; a company or department.
• How they combine: The word is formed by two parts: 百货 (bǎihuò), meaning “a hundred goods” (i.e., all kinds of merchandise), and 公司 (gōngsī), meaning “company.” Together, 百货公司 literally means a “company of a hundred goods”—a perfect description for a department store.

For much of the 20th century, the 百货公司 was a symbol of modernity, urban sophistication, and the rise of consumer culture in China. The first modern department stores, like the Sincere Company (先施公司) and Wing On (永安公司) in Shanghai, were grand, multi-story buildings that were destinations in themselves. They introduced fixed prices, receipts, and a new, luxurious shopping experience to the public. To understand its place today, it's best to compare it to a Western concept:

• 百货公司 (bǎihuò gōngsī) is like a “classic department store” (e.g., Macy's, Nordstrom): It's a single business entity. You pay for all your items—whether a shirt, a lipstick, or a rice cooker—at various cash registers operated by the department store itself.
• 商场 (shāngchǎng) or 购物中心 (gòuwù zhōngxīn) is like a “shopping mall” (e.g., Mall of America): This is a large building or complex that leases space to many independent, individual stores (e.g., an Apple store, a Nike store, a Zara). It also includes a wide array of entertainment options like cinemas, restaurants, and arcades.

While many 百货公司 still exist, especially older, state-owned ones, the modern Chinese shopping landscape is dominated by the massive, experience-driven 商场.

The term 百货公司 is still common, but its usage often implies a more traditional type of store.

• Everyday Conversation: People use it when referring to a specific, known department store, especially one that's been around for a long time. For example, “I'm going to the Beijing Department Store (北京百货大楼).”
• Distinguishing from Malls: A speaker might use 百货公司 specifically to differentiate it from a 商场. If a friend says “Let's go shopping,” you might ask, “To the department store or the new mall?” (去百货公司还是那个新商场?).
• Online vs. Offline: With the explosion of 网购 (wǎnggòu - online shopping), the physical 百货公司 is often seen as a place for older generations or for people who want to see and touch products before buying. However, many have adapted by creating their own online stores or focusing on high-end luxury goods.

The connotation is generally neutral, but it can feel slightly dated depending on the context and the speaker.

• Example 1:
  • 周末我们去百货公司买东西吧。
  • Pinyin: Zhōumò wǒmen qù bǎihuò gōngsī mǎi dōngxi ba.
  • English: Let's go shopping at the department store this weekend.
  • Analysis: A simple, direct invitation. This is a very common and natural way to use the term.
• Example 2:
  • 这家百货公司正在打折，很多东西都便宜。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā bǎihuò gōngsī zhèngzài dǎzhé, hěn duō dōngxi dōu piányi.
  • English: This department store is having a sale, a lot of things are cheap.
  • Analysis: 打折 (dǎzhé) means “to give a discount” and is essential vocabulary for shopping. This sentence shows how to talk about promotions.
• Example 3:
  • 请问，去最近的百货公司怎么走？
  • Pinyin: Qǐngwèn, qù zuìjìn de bǎihuò gōngsī zěnme zǒu?
  • English: Excuse me, how do I get to the nearest department store?
  • Analysis: A practical sentence for tourists or newcomers to a city.
• Example 4:
  • 百货公司的一楼通常卖化妆品和珠宝。
  • Pinyin: Bǎihuò gōngsī de yī lóu tōngcháng mài huàzhuāngpǐn hé zhūbǎo.
  • English: The first floor of a department store usually sells cosmetics and jewelry.
  • Analysis: This sentence describes the typical layout of a department store, a common observation.
• Example 5:
  • 奶奶不喜欢在网上买衣服，她只去百货公司。
  • Pinyin: Nǎinai bù xǐhuān zài wǎngshàng mǎi yīfu, tā zhǐ qù bǎihuò gōngsī.
  • English: Grandma doesn't like buying clothes online; she only goes to the department store.
  • Analysis: This highlights the generational difference in shopping habits, a key cultural point.
• Example 6:
  • 上海的第一家百货公司是在二十世纪初开业的。
  • Pinyin: Shànghǎi de dì-yī jiā bǎihuò gōngsī shì zài èrshí shìjì chū kāiyè de.
  • English: Shanghai's first department store opened in the early 20th century.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the term in a historical context.
• Example 7:
  • 我想去百货公司给我妈妈买一个新钱包。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xiǎng qù bǎihuò gōngsī gěi wǒ māma mǎi yí ge xīn qiánbāo.
  • English: I want to go to the department store to buy a new wallet for my mom.
  • Analysis: A clear statement of purpose for a shopping trip.
• Example 8:
  • 这家百货公司的服务态度非常好。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā bǎihuò gōngsī de fúwù tàidù fēicháng hǎo.
  • English: The service attitude at this department store is excellent.
  • Analysis: 服务态度 (fúwù tàidù) is a common phrase for evaluating customer service in China.
• Example 9:
  • 现在的年轻人更喜欢逛商场，而不是传统的百货公司。
  • Pinyin: Xiànzài de niánqīngrén gèng xǐhuān guàng shāngchǎng, ér búshì chuántǒng de bǎihuò gōngsī.
  • English: Young people nowadays prefer to hang out at shopping malls rather than traditional department stores.
  • Analysis: This sentence directly contrasts 百货公司 with 商场 (shāngchǎng), explaining the modern trend.
• Example 10:
  • 这家百货公司太旧了，需要重新装修。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā bǎihuò gōngsī tài jiù le, xūyào chóngxīn zhuāngxiū.
  • English: This department store is too old; it needs to be renovated.
  • Analysis: This reflects the reality that many older department stores are struggling to compete and modernize.

The most common point of confusion for learners is the difference between a 百货公司 and a 商场 (shāngchǎng). They are not interchangeable.

• The Key Difference:
  • 百货公司 (bǎihuò gōngsī): One big store, many departments. Think Macy's.
  • 商场 (shāngchǎng): One big building, many separate stores. Think of a typical American mall.
• Example of Incorrect Usage:
  • Incorrect: 我要去那个有电影院的百货公司。(Wǒ yào qù nàge yǒu diànyǐngyuàn de bǎihuò gōngsī.) - “I'm going to the department store that has a movie theater.”
  • Why it's wrong: A traditional 百货公司 is a single store and almost never contains a separate cinema. Cinemas are a staple of modern malls.
  • Correct: 我要去那个有电影院的商场。(Wǒ yào qù nàge yǒu diànyǐngyuàn de shāngchǎng.) - “I'm going to the mall that has a movie theater.”

Think of it this way: you go to a 商场 (mall), but you go into a 百货公司 (department store), even though that department store might be inside the mall!

• 商场 (shāngchǎng) - Shopping mall. The most important related term; a building containing many independent stores.
• 购物中心 (gòuwù zhōngxīn) - Shopping center. A more formal synonym for 商场.
• 超市 (chāoshì) - Supermarket. Primarily sells groceries, food, and daily necessities.
• 商店 (shāngdiàn) - Store, shop. The general, all-purpose word for any kind of shop.
• 购物 (gòuwù) - Shopping (the act of). The verb/noun for the activity itself.
• 专卖店 (zhuānmàidiàn) - Specialty store or exclusive brand store (e.g., an Apple Store, a Nike Store).
• 打折 (dǎzhé) - To give a discount. A crucial verb for any shopper.
• 售货员 (shòuhuòyuán) - Salesclerk, shop assistant. The person who helps you in a store.
• 网购 (wǎnggòu) - Online shopping. The main modern competitor to all physical retail stores.
• 市场 (shìchǎng) - Market. Often refers to an open-air or wet market selling fresh produce, meat, etc.