商务

• Pinyin: shāng wù
• Hanzi breakdown: 商 = originally depicted a merchant's stall — commerce, trade; 务 = 矛 (spear) + 力 (strength) — to attend to duties, affairs

Meaning

Business; commerce; commercial affairs. Refers to formal business activities and matters.

A formal term found in compounds like 商务舱 (business class), 商务区 (business district), 电子商务 (e-commerce), and 商务会议 (business meeting). More formal than 生意 (business in everyday speech).

Examples

1. 他这次去上海是出差处理商务。 He is going to Shanghai this time on a business trip to handle commercial matters.
2. 这家酒店主要接待商务旅客。 This hotel mainly receives business travellers.
3. 电子商务的发展改变了人们的购物方式。 The development of e-commerce has changed the way people shop.

Usage Guide

Context: business, travel, professional

Tone: professional

Do Say

• 他经常出差参加各种商务活动。(He often travels for business to attend various commercial events.)
• 请问你们有商务中心吗？(Excuse me, do you have a business centre?)

Don't Say

• 我去商务买东西 meaning 'I'm going to business to buy things' (商务 is a noun describing commercial affairs, not a place — for a shop, say 商店)

Origin & History

Compound of 商 (commerce, merchant) and 务 (affairs, tasks) — commercial affairs.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal