采购

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采购 [2025/08/13 05:01] – created xiaoer采购 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1
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-====== cǎigòu: 采购 - To Procure, To Purchase, Procurement ====== +
-===== Quick Summary ===== +
-  * **Keywords:** 采购, caigou, procurement in Chinese, purchase in Chinese, Chinese for business, supply chain in Chinese, buying department, what does 采购 mean, caigou vs mai, HSK 5 vocabulary. +
-  * **Summary:** Learn the essential Chinese business term **采购 (cǎigòu)**, which means "procurement" or "to purchase" in a formal, organizational context. This guide breaks down the difference between the everyday word for "buy" (买 mǎi) and the professional term **采购 (cǎigòu)**, used in companies and government. Discover its cultural significance in Chinese business practices, see practical examples, and understand its key role in the supply chain. +
-===== Core Meaning ===== +
-  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** cǎigòu +
-  * **Part of Speech:** Verb / Noun +
-  * **HSK Level:** HSK 5 +
-  * **Concise Definition:** To procure or purchase goods, materials, or services, typically on behalf of an organization. +
-  * **In a Nutshell:** **采购 (cǎigòu)** is the professional, "grown-up" version of "to buy." You wouldn't use it for buying a cup of coffee or a t-shirt. Instead, think of a company's purchasing department acquiring raw materials for a factory, an office buying a fleet of new computers, or a government agency sourcing equipment. It implies a formal process, planning, and often large quantities or high value. +
-===== Character Breakdown ===== +
-  * **采 (cǎi):** This character means "to pick," "to gather," or "to select." Picture someone carefully picking the best fruit from a tree or gathering choice flowers. It implies a deliberate selection process. +
-  * **购 (gòu):** This is a formal character for "to buy" or "to purchase." It contains the radical `贝 (bèi)`, which originally depicted a cowrie shell, used as ancient currency in China. This character inherently carries a sense of formal transaction. +
-  * Together, **采购 (cǎigòu)** literally means "to select and purchase." This combination perfectly captures the professional meaning of procurement: it's not just a simple act of buying, but a comprehensive process that includes sourcing, selecting, negotiating, and then finally acquiring what is needed. +
-===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== +
-  * In modern China, **采购 (cǎigòu)** is a cornerstone of business and government operations. The `采购部 (cǎigòubù)` or "Procurement Department" is a critical function in any medium-to-large-sized company. +
-  * A key cultural difference from many Western business practices lies in the role of **`关系 (guānxi)`**—personal relationships and networks. While Western procurement often emphasizes a highly structured, impartial bidding process (like a formal tender), Chinese **采购** can place a heavy emphasis on long-term, trusted relationships with suppliers. A procurement manager might choose a supplier they have a strong `关系` with, even if they aren't the absolute cheapest, because that relationship guarantees reliability, quality, and flexibility. +
-  * This isn't necessarily corruption (though that can be a risk); it's often a practical strategy in a market where trust and reliability are paramount. The Western concept of "supplier relationship management" is similar, but `关系` adds a deeper layer of mutual obligation and personal connection that is culturally distinct. +
-  * In recent years, the Chinese government has heavily promoted `集中采购 (jízhōng cǎigòu)`—centralized procurement—to increase transparency and combat corruption, standardizing the process for government-related purchases. +
-===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== +
-  * **In Business:** This is the most common context. It refers to the entire B2B (Business-to-Business) purchasing process. +
-    * You'll see it in job titles: `采购经理 (cǎigòu jīnglǐ)` - Procurement Manager. +
-    * You'll hear it in meetings: `我们需要制定一个新的采购计划。(Wǒmen xūyào zhìdìng yī ge xīn de cǎigòu jìhuà.)` - We need to create a new procurement plan. +
-    * You'll find it on documents: `采购订单 (cǎigòu dìngdān)` - Purchase Order (PO). +
-  * **In Government:** The term `政府采购 (zhèngfǔ cǎigòu)` refers to government procurement, a massive sector of the economy governed by specific laws and bidding processes. +
-  * **Formality:** **采购** is a formal, professional term. Using it for daily shopping would sound strange and overly serious. For personal shopping, you should use `买 (mǎi)` or `购物 (gòuwù)`. +
-===== Example Sentences ===== +
-  * **Example 1:** +
-    * 我们公司需要**采购**一批新的电脑。 +
-    * Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī xūyào **cǎigòu** yī pī xīn de diànnǎo. +
-    * English: Our company needs to purchase a batch of new computers. +
-    * Analysis: This is a classic example of corporate procurement. "Batch" (一批) and "company" (公司) signal the formal, large-scale context perfect for **采购**. +
-  * **Example 2:** +
-    * 他是新来的**采购**经理。 +
-    * Pinyin: Tā shì xīn lái de **cǎigòu** jīnglǐ. +
-    * English: He is the new procurement manager. +
-    * Analysis: Here, **采购** acts as an adjective modifying "manager" (经理) to describe a job title and function within a company. +
-  * **Example 3:** +
-    * 这个季度的**采购**预算已经用完了。 +
-    * Pinyin: Zhè ge jìdù de **cǎigòu** yùsuàn yǐjīng yòng wán le. +
-    * English: This quarter's procurement budget has already been used up. +
-    * Analysis: In this sentence, **采购** is used as a noun, referring to the concept or department of "procurement." +
-  * **Example 4:** +
-    * 所有的政府**采购**都必须遵守严格的规定。 +
-    * Pinyin: Suǒyǒu de zhèngfǔ **cǎigòu** dōu bìxū zūnshǒu yángé de guīdìng. +
-    * English: All government procurement must adhere to strict regulations. +
-    * Analysis: This shows the term used in the specific context of government purchasing, often paired with `政府 (zhèngfǔ)`. +
-  * **Example 5:** +
-    * 我们正在寻找可靠的原材料**采购**渠道。 +
-    * Pinyin: Wǒmen zhèngzài xúnzhǎo kěkào de yuáncáiliào **cǎigòu** qúdào. +
-    * English: We are looking for reliable channels for procuring raw materials. +
-    * Analysis: This example highlights the "sourcing" aspect of procurement—finding "channels" (渠道) to acquire goods. +
-  * **Example 6:** +
-    * 这次**采购**的目的是降低成本。 +
-    * Pinyin: Zhè cì **cǎigòu** de mùdì shì jiàngdī chéngběn. +
-    * English: The purpose of this procurement is to reduce costs. +
-    * Analysis: Here, **采购** is again used as a noun, referring to a specific procurement activity or project. +
-  * **Example 7:** +
-    * 我们的**采购**流程需要优化。 +
-    * Pinyin: Wǒmen de **cǎigòu** liúchéng xūyào yōuhuà. +
-    * English: Our procurement process needs to be optimized. +
-    * Analysis: This introduces a related key term, `流程 (liúchéng)`, meaning process or workflow. +
-  * **Example 8:** +
-    * 请把**采购**合同发给我看一下。 +
-    * Pinyin: Qǐng bǎ **cǎigòu** hétong fā gěi wǒ kàn yīxià. +
-    * English: Please send me the purchase contract to look over. +
-    * Analysis: Shows the connection between procurement and legal documents like a "contract" (合同). +
-  * **Example 9:** +
-    * 除了**采购**设备，我们还需要**采购**相关的技术服务。 +
-    * Pinyin: Chúle **cǎigòu** shèbèi, wǒmen hái xūyào **cǎigòu** xiāngguān de jìshù fúwù. +
-    * English: Besides procuring equipment, we also need to purchase related technical services. +
-    * Analysis: A great example showing that **采购** can be used for intangible "services" (服务), not just physical goods. +
-  * **Example 10:** +
-    * 小公司通常没有专门的**采购**部门。 +
-    * Pinyin: Xiǎo gōngsī tōngcháng méiyǒu zhuānmén de **cǎigòu** bùmén. +
-    * English: Small companies usually don't have a dedicated procurement department. +
-    * Analysis: This sentence clarifies the context by mentioning the `采购部 (cǎigòubù)`, the Procurement Department, which is typical in larger organizations. +
-===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== +
-  * **The Golden Rule: 采购 (cǎigòu) vs. 买 (mǎi)** +
-    * This is the most common point of confusion for learners. They are not interchangeable. +
-    * **Use `买 (mǎi)` for:** Personal, everyday, informal buying. +
-      * Correct: 我想**买**一杯咖啡。(Wǒ xiǎng **mǎi** yī bēi kāfēi.) - I want to buy a coffee. +
-      * Incorrect: 我想采购一杯咖啡。 (This sounds absurd, like you're launching a formal corporate project to acquire one coffee). +
-    * **Use `采购 (cǎigòu)` for:** Organizational, formal, planned purchasing, usually in bulk or of high value. +
-      * Correct: 我们需要**采购**办公用品。(Wǒmen xūyào **cǎigòu** bàngōng yòngpǐn.) - We need to procure office supplies. +
-      * Incorrect: 我们需要买办公用品。 (While grammatically okay and understandable, it sounds less professional and might imply a small, one-time purchase from a corner store rather than a planned corporate action). +
-===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== +
-  * * [[买]] (mǎi) - The general, informal verb for "to buy." The opposite of **采购** in terms of formality. +
-  * * [[购买]] (gòumǎi) - "To purchase." More formal than `买`, but less process-oriented than `采购`. It's a good middle-ground word, often used in written instructions or for significant personal purchases (like a car or house). +
-  * * [[购物]] (gòuwù) - "To go shopping." Refers to the recreational activity of shopping for personal items. +
-  * * [[供应商]] (gōngyìngshāng) - "Supplier" or "vendor." The entity from which goods and services are procured. +
-  * * [[供应链]] (gōngyìngliàn) - "Supply Chain." **采购** is a critical link in the overall supply chain. +
-  * * [[招标]] (zhāobiāo) - "To invite bids/tenders." A formal method of procurement where potential suppliers submit proposals. +
-  * * [[订单]] (dìngdān) - "An order." A `采购订单` (purchase order) is the official document that initiates a purchase. +
-  * * [[合同]] (hétong) - "Contract." The legally binding agreement that often results from a successful procurement negotiation. +
-  * * [[预算]] (yùsuàn) - "Budget." The financial plan that dictates how much can be spent on procurement.+