百货

• Pinyin: bǎi huò
• Hanzi breakdown: 百 = 一 (one) + 白 (white, phonetic), meaning hundred; 货 = 化 (phonetic) + 贝 (shell/money), meaning goods

Meaning

General merchandise; department store goods. Refers to a wide variety of everyday commodities.

Most commonly seen in the compound 百货商店 or 百货大楼 (department store). 百货 literally means 'a hundred goods,' suggesting a wide assortment of products. The term is somewhat traditional but still widely used in store names and signage across China.

Examples

1. 市中心新开了一家百货商店，东西很齐全。 A new department store just opened in the city centre — it has a complete range of products.
2. 妈妈喜欢去百货大楼买衣服和化妆品。 Mum likes to go to the department store to buy clothes and cosmetics.
3. 这家百货公司正在打折，很多人去抢购。 This department store is having a sale, and lots of people are rushing to buy things.

Usage Guide

Context: shopping, business

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 百货商店里什么都有卖。(The department store has everything for sale.)
• 这家百货公司的服务很好。(This department store has very good service.)

Don't Say

• 把网上商城叫'百货' (Don't call an online store 百货 — it specifically refers to physical department stores; online shops are 网店 or 商城)

Origin & History

A compound of 百 (hundred, meaning 'all kinds') and 货 (goods). Dates back to traditional Chinese commerce where markets stocked diverse goods.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal