经营

• Pinyin: jīng yíng
• Hanzi breakdown: 经 = 纟 (silk) + 巠 (phonetic), meaning to manage; 营 = 艹 (grass) + 宫 (palace) surrounds 吕, originally meaning a military camp

Meaning

To manage; to operate; to run (a business). Refers to the ongoing management and operation of a commercial enterprise.

Primarily used for business operations and management. Can also be used figuratively for personal relationships: 经营感情 (to cultivate a relationship), 经营婚姻 (to work on a marriage). Implies active, deliberate effort over time.

Examples

1. 他经营一家小餐馆已经五年了。 He has been running a small restaurant for five years.
2. 这家公司经营得很好。 This company is well managed.
3. 好的婚姻需要两个人用心经营。 A good marriage requires both people to put in effort.

Usage Guide

Context: business, management, relationships

Tone: professional

Do Say

• 她一个人经营这家店。(She runs this shop by herself.)
• 经营好自己的生活很重要。(It's important to manage your own life well.)

Don't Say

• 我经营了一个新手机。(Don't use 经营 for buying or obtaining things — it means managing an ongoing operation. Say 我买了一个新手机.)

Origin & History

Compound of 经 (to manage, to pass through) and 营 (to camp, to operate). Originally referred to measuring and planning a military camp, later extended to business management.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal