noun HSK 4
Traditional 商業
shāng
business · commerce · trade · commercial

Meaning

商业 refers to business, commerce, and trade activities in general. It encompasses buying, selling, and exchange of goods and services for profit. The word can describe both the abstract concept of commerce and concrete business operations.

Usage

商业 is used in formal and neutral contexts to discuss business matters, commercial activities, or the business sector. It commonly appears in compound words and phrases related to economics and trade. Native speakers use it to distinguish commercial activities from personal, governmental, or non-profit activities.

Examples

  1. 01
    这条街是这个城市最繁华的商业区。
    Zhè tiáo jiē shì zhège chéngshì zuì fánhuá de shāngyè .
    This street is the most prosperous commercial district in the city.
  2. 02
    他们公司的商业模式非常成功。
    Tāmen gōngsī de shāngyè móshì fēicháng chénggōng.
    Their company's business model is very successful.

Characters

Common collocations

  • 商业
    shāng huà
    commercialization
  • 商业
    shāng jiē
    commercial street, shopping district
  • 商业模式
    shāng shì
    business model
  • 商业银行
    shāng yín háng
    commercial bank

Antonyms

Origin

Both characters have ancient roots in Chinese. 商 originally referred to the Shang Dynasty merchants who were known for trade, while 业 represented the concept of work or profession.

Related