进口

• Pinyin: jìn kǒu
• Hanzi breakdown: 进 = 辶 (walk radical) + 井 (well) — to advance, enter + 口 = pictograph of an open mouth, also meaning opening or port

Meaning

To import; import (noun). Refers to bringing goods or products into a country from abroad.

Used as both a verb (to import) and a noun/adjective (imported). The opposite is 出口 (export). Very common in business, trade, and everyday conversation about foreign products. 进口的 is used as an attributive modifier meaning 'imported.'

Examples

1. 中国每年从国外进口大量石油。 China imports a large amount of oil from abroad every year.
2. 这些水果都是进口的，价格比较贵。 These fruits are all imported, so the prices are relatively high.
3. 进口商品的质量不一定比国产的好。 The quality of imported goods is not necessarily better than domestic ones.

Usage Guide

Context: trade, business, shopping

Tone: informative

Do Say

• 这是进口的巧克力，味道很好。(This is imported chocolate; it tastes great.)
• 我们公司主要进口电子产品。(Our company mainly imports electronic products.)

Don't Say

• 我进口了一个包 (进口 is for commercial trade, not personal purchases — say 我买了一个进口的包 for an imported bag you bought)

Origin & History

Formed from 进 (to enter, to advance) and 口 (mouth, opening/port), literally 'entering the port' — goods coming into the country.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal