Meaning
小卖部 refers to a small shop or kiosk, typically found in schools, factories, residential compounds, or public institutions. It sells snacks, drinks, daily necessities, and stationery. Unlike modern convenience stores (便利店), a 小卖部 is usually more modest, often just a small counter or room operated by one or two people.
Usage
This term evokes nostalgia for many Chinese people who remember buying snacks at their school's 小卖部 during breaks. It's commonly used in educational and institutional settings. In modern urban areas, 便利店 (biàn lì diàn) has largely replaced traditional 小卖部, though the word remains widely understood and used in non-urban contexts.
Examples
- 01下课后我们常常去小卖部买零食。.After class, we often go to the kiosk to buy snacks.
- 02这个小区里有一个小卖部，很方便。, .There's a small shop in this residential compound, which is very convenient.
Characters
Measure words
- 家一家小卖部
- 个一个小卖部
Common collocations
- 学校小卖部school canteen/kiosk
- 去小卖部买东西to go to the kiosk to buy things
- 小卖部老板kiosk owner
Origin
The term literally means 'small selling department.' It emerged in the mid-20th century to describe modest retail outlets within larger institutions or communities, distinguishing them from formal state-run stores.