Meaning
服务业 refers to the service sector of the economy, encompassing all industries that provide services rather than tangible goods. This includes hospitality, retail, healthcare, education, finance, transportation, and entertainment. It is one of the three main economic sectors alongside agriculture (第一产业) and manufacturing (第二产业).
Usage
This term is commonly used in economic discussions, business contexts, and news reports about employment and GDP. It's a formal term that appears frequently in statistics and policy discussions. Native speakers use it to distinguish service-based work from production or agriculture.
Examples
- 01中国的服务业在过去二十年里快速发展。.China's service industry has developed rapidly over the past twenty years.
- 02她毕业后在服务业工作了五年。.After graduation, she worked in the service industry for five years.
Characters
Common collocations
- 服务业发展development of the service industry
- 现代服务业modern service industry
- 从事服务业to work in the service industry
- 服务业占比proportion of service industry
Antonyms
Origin
The word combines 服务 (service) with 业 (industry/sector). 服务 literally means 'to serve' or 'service,' while 业 denotes a profession or industry, making the compound straightforwardly mean 'service industry.'