Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== yingye: 营业 - To do business, To be open (for business) ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** yingye, 营业, ying ye meaning, Chinese for 'open for business', what does yingye mean, business hours in Chinese, yingye shijian, how to say a store is open in Chinese, 正在营业, business license in Chinese * **Summary:** Learn the essential Chinese term **营业 (yíngyè)**, which means "to be open for business" or "to operate." This page breaks down how to use `营业` for understanding signs on shops, asking about business hours (**营业时间**), and discussing a company's operational status. It's a crucial vocabulary word for navigating daily commercial life in China, distinct from the more general term "to do business." ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** yíngyè * **Part of Speech:** Verb * **HSK Level:** HSK 4 * **Concise Definition:** To be in operation; to be open for business. * **In a Nutshell:** `营业` is the formal and standard term used to describe a commercial establishment (like a shop, bank, or restaurant) being open and conducting business. Think of it as the official status of being "in operation." While you might colloquially say a shop "opens its doors" (开门), `营业` is the word you'll see on signs and in official contexts to define its period of service. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **营 (yíng):** Originally referring to a military camp or encampment, this character evolved to mean "to manage," "to operate," or "to run." A business, in this sense, is a base of operations that needs to be managed. * **业 (yè):** This character means "business," "trade," "industry," or "occupation." It refers to the commercial activity itself. * **Combined Meaning:** The characters literally combine to mean "to operate (营) a business (业)." This creates the precise meaning of a commercial entity actively running and being open to customers. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== * `营业` is a cornerstone of modern commercial language in China. Its usage reflects a certain level of formality in public and business spaces. * **Comparison to "Open/Closed":** In English-speaking countries, a simple two-sided sign saying "Open" and "Closed" is standard. In China, the equivalent signs often use full phrases incorporating `营业`. A sign might say `正在营业` (zhèngzài yíngyè), which translates to "Currently in Operation," or `暂停营业` (zàntíng yíngyè), "Operations Temporarily Suspended." This is slightly more formal and descriptive than a single English word. It treats the state of being open as a formal status. * This formality extends to official documents. The single most important document for any legal business in China is its `营业执照` (yíngyè zhízhào), or "business license." The term `营业` carries a sense of official, legally sanctioned commercial activity. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== * `营业` is most commonly encountered in written form on signs and official notices, but it is also used in spoken questions about business hours. * **On Signs and Notices:** * `正在营业` (zhèngzài yíngyè): Now Open / In Business. * `照常营业` (zhàocháng yíngyè): Open as Usual (often seen during holidays to reassure customers). * `暂停营业` (zàntíng yíngyè): Temporarily Closed (e.g., for renovations). * `停止营业` (tíngzhǐ yíngyè): To Stop Business / Closed (often used for the end of the day or permanently). * `24小时营业` (èrshísì xiǎoshí yíngyè): Open 24 Hours. * **In Conversation:** It's used to ask about a business's operational status, especially its hours. * "你们几点开始营业？" (Nǐmen jǐ diǎn kāishǐ yíngyè?) - "What time do you start business/open?" * "这家店还营不营业了？" (Zhè jiā diàn hái yíng bù yíngyè le?) - "Is this shop still in business?" * **Formality:** `营业` is a neutral to formal term. It's the standard, correct word for this context. In very casual conversation, people might use `开门` (kāimén - open door) or `关门` (guānmén - close door) instead, but `营业` is always understood and appropriate. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 银行门口的牌子上写着：**正在营业**。 * Pinyin: Yínháng ménkǒu de páizi shàng xiě zhe: **zhèngzài yíngyè**. * English: The sign at the entrance of the bank says: "Now Open". * Analysis: This is the most common phrase you'll see on a shop or business door to indicate they are open. `正在 (zhèngzài)` emphasizes the current, ongoing state. * **Example 2:** * 请问，你们超市周日也**营业**吗？ * Pinyin: Qǐngwèn, nǐmen chāoshì zhōurì yě **yíngyè** ma? * English: Excuse me, is your supermarket also open on Sundays? * Analysis: A common and polite way to ask about a business's operational days. `也 (yě)` means "also." * **Example 3:** * 我们的**营业**时间是早上九点到晚上十点。 * Pinyin: Wǒmen de **yíngyè** shíjiān shì zǎoshang jiǔ diǎn dào wǎnshang shí diǎn. * English: Our business hours are from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM. * Analysis: Here, `营业` is used to form the crucial compound word `营业时间` (yíngyè shíjiān), "business hours." * **Example 4:** * 春节期间，大部分商店都停止**营业**。 * Pinyin: Chūnjié qījiān, dàbùfèn shāngdiàn dōu tíngzhǐ **yíngyè**. * English: During the Spring Festival, most shops stop doing business (are closed). * Analysis: `停止营业` (tíngzhǐ yíngyè) means "to cease operations." It can refer to closing for the day, for a holiday, or permanently. * **Example 5:** * 这家餐厅因内部装修，下周暂停**营业**。 * Pinyin: Zhè jiā cāntīng yīn nèibù zhuāngxiū, xià zhōu zàntíng **yíngyè**. * English: This restaurant will temporarily suspend business next week due to interior renovations. * Analysis: `暂停营业` (zàntíng yíngyè) specifically means a temporary closure, with the expectation of reopening. * **Example 6:** * 你必须先拿到**营业**执照才能开店。 * Pinyin: Nǐ bìxū xiān nádào **yíngyè** zhízhào cái néng kāi diàn. * English: You must first obtain a business license before you can open a store. * Analysis: Shows the formal, legal use of the term in `营业执照` (yíngyè zhízhào), business license. * **Example 7:** * 这家便利店是二十四小时**营业**的。 * Pinyin: Zhè jiā biànlìdiàn shì èrshísì xiǎoshí **yíngyè** de. * English: This convenience store is open 24 hours. * Analysis: A very useful pattern for describing businesses that never close. The `的 (de)` at the end turns the phrase into a description of the store. * **Example 8:** * 虽然是国庆节，但我们**照常营业**。 * Pinyin: Suīrán shì Guóqìngjié, dàn wǒmen **zhàocháng yíngyè**. * English: Although it's National Day, we are open as usual. * Analysis: `照常营业` (zhàocháng yíngyè) is a common phrase seen during holidays, assuring customers that the business is maintaining its normal schedule. * **Example 9:** * 对不起，我们已经结束今天的**营业**了。 * Pinyin: Duìbuqǐ, wǒmen yǐjīng jiéshù jīntiān de **yíngyè** le. * English: Sorry, we have already finished today's business (we are closed for the day). * Analysis: A polite and slightly formal way an employee might tell a customer they have closed for the day. `结束 (jiéshù)` means "to end." * **Example 10:** * 那家老书店去年就不**营业**了。 * Pinyin: Nà jiā lǎo shūdiàn qùnián jiù bù **yíngyè** le. * English: That old bookstore went out of business last year. * Analysis: Using `不...了 (bù...le)` with `营业` implies a permanent state of no longer being in business. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **`营业 (yíngyè)` vs. `开门 (kāimén)`:** This is a key distinction for learners. * `营业` refers to the entire state or period of being in operation. It's more formal. * `开门 (kāimén)` literally means "to open the door." It's colloquial and refers to the specific action of opening for the day. * **Correct:** 我们的营业时间是9点到5点。(Our business hours are 9 to 5.) * **Correct (colloquial):** 我们早上9点开门。(We open the door at 9 AM.) * **Mistake:** You wouldn't typically say "我们的开门时间是9点到5点" because `开门` is an action, not a duration. * **`营业 (yíngyè)` vs. `做生意 (zuò shēngyi)`:** * `营业` is about a specific establishment being open for service. * `做生意 (zuò shēngyi)` means "to do business" in a general sense of being an entrepreneur or engaging in commerce. It describes a person's profession or activity. * **Correct:** 我爸爸在上海做生意。(My dad does business in Shanghai.) * **Incorrect:** `我爸爸在上海营业。` (This would incorrectly imply your father is a storefront that is open in Shanghai.) ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[营业时间]] (yíngyè shíjiān) - Business hours; the most common and important related term. * [[营业执照]] (yíngyè zhízhào) - Business license; a legal document required to operate a business. * [[开门]] (kāimén) - To open the door; the colloquial synonym for starting the business day. * [[关门]] (guānmén) - To close the door; the colloquial antonym for ending the business day. * [[歇业]] (xiēyè) - To close down a business, often permanently or for a long period. More formal than `关门`. * [[暂停]] (zàntíng) - To suspend; often paired with `营业` to mean "temporarily closed." * [[照常]] (zhàocháng) - As usual; often paired with `营业` to mean "open as usual." * [[做生意]] (zuò shēngyi) - To do business (in a general sense of being an entrepreneur). * [[营业额]] (yíngyè'é) - Business turnover; revenue. * [[开业]] (kāiyè) - To open a new business; grand opening.