办事处

• Pinyin: bàn shì chù
• Hanzi breakdown: 办 = to handle; 事 = 事 (affair); 处 = place/location

Meaning

Office; agency; representative office. A branch office or local agency of an organization or government.

Refers to a local branch or representative office of a larger organization, company, or government body. Commonly used for diplomatic offices, company branches, and street-level government administrative units. Less formal than a full headquarters.

Examples

1. 我们公司在北京设有办事处，方便处理北方的业务。 Our company has an office in Beijing to handle business in the north more conveniently.
2. 请去街道办事处办理居住证。 Please go to the neighborhood office to apply for a residence permit.
3. 他在美国的办事处工作了五年。 He worked in the American office for five years.

Usage Guide

Context: business, government

Tone: official

Do Say

• 我们在上海新开了一家办事处。(We have newly opened an office in Shanghai.)
• 街道办事处可以帮你开证明。(The neighborhood office can help you get a certificate.)

Don't Say

• 不要把'办事处'和'总部'混淆 (Don't confuse 办事处 with 总部 — an 办事处 is a branch or representative office, while 总部 is the headquarters)

Origin & History

Compound of 办事 (to handle affairs) + 处 (place), meaning a place where affairs are handled.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal