yóujú: 邮局 - Post Office

• Keywords: youju, yóujú, 邮局, post office in China, Chinese for post office, China Post, mailing a letter in China, how to send a package in China, Zhōngguó Yóuzhèng
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 邮局 (yóujú), meaning “post office.” This page breaks down how to use the term for mailing letters and packages in China, its cultural significance as the state-run China Post (中国邮政), and how it differs from the modern private courier services (快递, kuàidì) that are now common in daily life. A must-know term for travel and living in China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yóujú
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 2
• Concise Definition: A government office or public building where mail is sorted and postal services, like selling stamps and sending packages, are offered.
• In a Nutshell: `邮局 (yóujú)` is the direct and most common translation for “post office.” It refers to the physical building and the institution, which in China is the state-owned China Post. While the rise of super-fast private couriers has changed how people send packages, the `邮局` remains a fundamental part of the country's infrastructure, especially for letters, official documents, and services in rural areas.

• 邮 (yóu): This character means “post” or “mail.” The left part, 阝(a form of 邑 yì), is a radical often associated with cities or territories. The right part, 由 (yóu), provides the phonetic sound. Together, they evoke the idea of something moving between places or cities.
• 局 (jú): This character means “bureau,” “office,” or an organizational “department.” It can also mean a situation or arrangement. The character's structure suggests an enclosed, organized entity.
• When combined, 邮局 (yóujú) literally means “mail office,” a straightforward and logical name for a post office.

The `邮局` in China is almost exclusively synonymous with 中国邮政 (Zhōngguó Yóuzhèng), or China Post. It's a massive state-owned enterprise, recognizable by its iconic dark green branding. Unlike the USPS in America, which primarily focuses on mail and has faced financial struggles, China Post is a sprawling entity with deep integration into Chinese society. Its most significant difference is its banking arm: the Postal Savings Bank of China (中国邮政储蓄银行). Nearly every `邮局`, especially in smaller towns and rural areas, is co-located with one of these banks. For many older Chinese people and those in less-developed regions, the local `邮局` is also their primary bank for savings, transfers, and paying utility bills. In the modern era of e-commerce, China Post's role in parcel delivery has been challenged by hyper-efficient private courier companies (快递公司, kuàidì gōngsī) like SF Express (顺丰) and the network used by Alibaba, Cainiao (菜鸟). For most urban residents, sending a package via a private courier is faster and more convenient. However, the `邮局` is still seen as the most reliable (if slower) option for sending important documents, international mail, and for its unparalleled reach into every corner of the country.

In daily conversation, you'll use `邮局` just like you use “post office” in English. You go there to send things.

• Sending Letters and Postcards: The `邮局` is still the primary way to send traditional mail (信, xìn) and postcards (明信片, míngxìnpiàn).
• Sending Packages (包裹, bāoguǒ): While you can send packages, be prepared for it to be slower and sometimes more bureaucratic than private options. It is, however, often the cheapest method, especially for heavy items or things being sent to remote locations.
• Banking: As mentioned, many people go to the `邮局` for banking services at the Postal Savings Bank. You might hear someone say “我去邮局存钱” (Wǒ qù yóujú cúnqián - “I'm going to the post office to deposit money”).
• The Rise of 快递 (kuàidì): For most domestic packages, especially ones related to online shopping, Chinese people now almost exclusively use `快递` (kuàidì - express delivery). They will arrange for a courier to pick up the package from their home or office. Therefore, a young person is more likely to say “我叫个快递” (Wǒ jiào ge kuàidì - “I'll call for a courier”) than “我要去邮局” (Wǒ yào qù yóujú - “I need to go to the post office”) when sending a package.

• Example 1:
  • 请问，附近有邮局吗？
  • Pinyin: Qǐngwèn, fùjìn yǒu yóujú ma?
  • English: Excuse me, is there a post office nearby?
  • Analysis: A classic, essential sentence for any traveler. `附近 (fùjìn)` means “nearby.”
• Example 2:
  • 我要去邮局寄一封信。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ yào qù yóujú jì yī fēng xìn.
  • English: I need to go to the post office to mail a letter.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the verb `寄 (jì)` which means “to mail/send.” `一封信 (yī fēng xìn)` is “a letter,” with `封 (fēng)` being the measure word for letters.
• Example 3:
  • 邮局下午五点关门。
  • Pinyin: Yóujú xiàwǔ wǔ diǎn guānmén.
  • English: The post office closes at 5 PM.
  • Analysis: `关门 (guānmén)` literally means “to close the door,” and is used for businesses closing for the day.
• Example 4:
  • 这个包裹得从邮局寄，因为要寄到国外。
  • Pinyin: Zhège bāoguǒ děi cóng yóujú jì, yīnwèi yào jì dào guówài.
  • English: This package has to be sent from the post office because it's going abroad.
  • Analysis: Highlights a key use case. The post office is often the main or only option for international shipping (`寄到国外, jì dào guówài`).
• Example 5:
  • 我爸爸在邮局工作了三十年。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ bàba zài yóujú gōngzuò le sānshí nián.
  • English: My dad worked at the post office for thirty years.
  • Analysis: Shows `邮局` used as a place of employment.
• Example 6:
  • 你可以直接去邮局买邮票。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ kěyǐ zhíjiē qù yóujú mǎi yóupiào.
  • English: You can go directly to the post office to buy stamps.
  • Analysis: `邮票 (yóupiào)` is the word for “stamps.”
• Example 7:
  • 从邮局寄东西比用快递慢一点。
  • Pinyin: Cóng yóujú jì dōngxi bǐ yòng kuàidì màn yīdiǎn.
  • English: Sending things from the post office is a bit slower than using a courier.
  • Analysis: A very common comparison made in modern China. `比 (bǐ)` is used to make comparisons.
• Example 8:
  • 奶奶每个月都去邮局取她的退休金。
  • Pinyin: Nǎinai měi ge yuè dōu qù yóujú qǔ tā de tuìxiūjīn.
  • English: Grandma goes to the post office every month to get her pension.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the banking function of the `邮局`, especially for the older generation. `退休金 (tuìxiūjīn)` is “pension.”
• Example 9:
  • 邮局的地址是什么？我用地图查一下。
  • Pinyin: Yóujú de dìzhǐ shì shénme? Wǒ yòng dìtú chá yīxià.
  • English: What's the post office's address? I'll check it on the map.
  • Analysis: A practical sentence combining the target word with map/navigation vocabulary.
• Example 10:
  • 中国的邮局都是绿色的。
  • Pinyin: Zhōngguó de yóujú dōu shì lǜsè de.
  • English: The post offices in China are all green.
  • Analysis: A simple cultural fact that is helpful for spotting one. `绿色 (lǜsè)` means green.

The most common point of confusion for learners is the difference between 邮局 (yóujú) and 快递 (kuàidì).

• 邮局 (yóujú): This is the place. It refers to the physical building and the state-run institution of China Post.
  • Correct: 我要去邮局。 (Wǒ yào qù yóujú.) - “I need to go to the post office.”
• 快递 (kuàidì): This refers to the service (“express delivery”) or the item (“express package”). It can also refer to the courier person. It is not a place.
  • Correct: 我要寄个快递。 (Wǒ yào jì ge kuàidì.) - “I want to send an express package.”
  • Correct: 快递员来了。 (Kuàidìyuán lái le.) - “The courier has arrived.”

Common Mistake: Do not refer to the office of a private courier company as a `邮局`. For example, SF Express (顺丰速运) is a `快递公司` (courier company), and its local branch is a `站点` (zhàndiǎn - station/point), not a `邮局`.

• Incorrect: 我要去顺丰邮局。(Wǒ yào qù Shùnfēng yóujú.)
• Correct: 我要去顺丰的站点。(Wǒ yào qù Shùnfēng de zhàndiǎn.)

Think of it this way: `邮局` is like “The Post Office” (a proper name for an institution), while `快递` is like “courier service” (a generic term).

• 中国邮政 (Zhōngguó Yóuzhèng) - China Post, the official state-owned postal service that runs all the `邮局`.
• 快递 (kuàidì) - Express delivery service; the modern, fast alternative to the `邮局` for sending packages.
• 寄 (jì) - The verb “to send (by mail),” “to post.” Used for both `邮局` and `快递`.
• 包裹 (bāoguǒ) - A package or a parcel.
• 信 (xìn) - A letter. The measure word is `封 (fēng)`.
• 邮票 (yóupiào) - A postage stamp.
• 邮筒 (yóutǒng) - A public postbox or mailbox (the kind on the street for dropping letters).
• 邮递员 (yóudìyuán) - A mail carrier, postman.
• 邮政编码 (yóuzhèng biānmǎ) - Postal code or zip code. Often abbreviated to `邮编 (yóubiān)`.
• 地址 (dìzhǐ) - Address. You need this to send anything