Meaning
回收 means to collect and process used materials so they can be reused, or more generally to recover or reclaim something that was previously distributed or used. It's commonly used in environmental contexts for recycling waste materials, but also applies to recovering resources, capital, or products.
Usage
This word is frequently used in environmental and business contexts. In daily life, you'll see it on recycling bins (回收箱) and in discussions about waste management. In business, it can refer to recovering investments or taking back defective products. It's a neutral, formal term appropriate for both spoken and written Chinese.
Examples
- 01我们应该把塑料瓶回收利用，保护环境。, .We should recycle plastic bottles to protect the environment.
- 02这家公司三年内就回收了全部投资成本。.This company recovered all its investment costs within three years.
Characters
Common collocations
- 回收利用to recycle and reuse
- 回收站recycling station
- 垃圾回收garbage recycling
- 回收成本to recover costs
Antonyms
Origin
The word combines 回 (to return) and 收 (to collect), literally meaning to collect back or take back what was previously given out or used.