verb HSK 5
Traditional 採辦
cǎi bàn
to purchase · to procure · to buy (in bulk or for an organization)

Meaning

采办 refers to the act of purchasing or procuring goods, especially in a formal, organized, or bulk context. It's commonly used in business, government, or institutional settings when buying supplies, equipment, or materials. The word carries a more formal tone than casual shopping vocabulary.

Usage

采办 is typically used in professional or official contexts rather than everyday personal shopping. It often implies purchasing on behalf of an organization, buying in quantity, or formal procurement processes. Native speakers might use it when discussing corporate purchasing, government acquisition, or institutional supply management.

Examples

  1. 01
    公司派他去北京采办办公设备。
    Gōng pài Běi jīng cǎi bàn bàn gōng shè bèi.
    The company sent him to Beijing to procure office equipment.
  2. 02
    春节前,家家户户都忙着采办年货。
    Chūn jié qián, jiā jiā dōu máng zhe cǎi bàn nián huò.
    Before Spring Festival, every household is busy buying New Year goods.

Characters

Common collocations

  • 采办物资
    cǎi bàn
    to procure supplies/materials
  • 集中采办
    zhōng cǎi bàn
    centralized procurement
  • 采办年货
    cǎi bàn nián huò
    to buy New Year goods

Antonyms

Origin

The compound combines 采 (to gather/collect) with 办 (to handle/manage), literally meaning 'to gather and handle,' which evolved to mean the organized act of purchasing or procuring goods.

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