Meaning
电商 is a modern abbreviation combining 电子 (electronic) and 商务 (commerce/business). It refers to the buying and selling of goods or services over the internet, as well as the companies and platforms that facilitate online transactions. This term became widely used in China during the rapid growth of online shopping in the 2000s and 2010s.
Usage
电商 is commonly used in both business contexts and everyday conversation when discussing online shopping, digital marketplaces, or internet-based retail. It can refer to the industry as a whole (e.g., 电商行业) or to specific companies (e.g., 电商平台 for platforms like Taobao or JD.com). The term is neutral in register and widely understood across age groups in modern Chinese society.
Examples
- 01他毕业后在一家电商公司工作。.After graduation, he worked at an e-commerce company.
- 02近年来，农村电商发展得很快。, .In recent years, rural e-commerce has developed very rapidly.
Characters
Measure words
- 家一家电商公司
- 个一个电商平台
Common collocations
- 电商平台e-commerce platform
- 电商行业e-commerce industry
- 做电商to do e-commerce, run an online business
- 跨境电商cross-border e-commerce
Antonyms
Origin
电商 is a shortened form of 电子商务 (diàn zǐ shāng wù), meaning 'electronic commerce.' This abbreviation emerged as e-commerce became mainstream in China, following the typical Chinese pattern of creating two-character compounds from longer terms for efficiency.