回扣

• Pinyin: huí kòu
• Hanzi breakdown: 回 (return/back); 扣 = 扌+ 口 (hand + mouth, to deduct or withhold)

Meaning

A kickback; a rebate. Money secretly paid as commission or a reward for facilitating a deal, often implying corruption.

Refers to an under-the-table commission or kickback paid to someone who has helped secure a deal or contract. While it can sometimes refer to legitimate cash rebates (e.g. shopping rebates), in most formal contexts it carries a strong connotation of commercial bribery or corruption. Frequently appears in legal, business, and investigative journalism contexts.

Examples

1. 该采购官员因涉嫌收受供应商回扣被纪检部门立案调查。 The procurement official was placed under investigation by the disciplinary authorities on suspicion of accepting kickbacks from suppliers.
2. 部分中介机构在促成交易后会私下向买方收取回扣，严重损害了市场的公平竞争秩序。 After closing a deal, some intermediaries privately collect kickbacks from buyers, seriously undermining fair competition in the market.
3. 反腐调查显示，工程承包领域的回扣现象较为普遍，亟需加强监管。 Anti-corruption investigations show that kickbacks are relatively common in the construction contracting sector, making stronger oversight urgently needed.

Usage Guide

Context: business, law, corruption, journalism

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 相关部门已明令禁止医疗行业中的药品回扣行为，违者将依法承担相应的法律责任。(The relevant authorities have explicitly prohibited the practice of pharmaceutical kickbacks in the medical industry; those who violate this rule will be held legally accountable.)
• 在商业谈判中，任何形式的回扣都可能构成商业贿赂，企业应当建立健全的合规管理体系加以防范。(In business negotiations, any form of kickback may constitute commercial bribery; enterprises should establish robust compliance management systems to guard against it.)

Don't Say

• 回扣 to mean a simple price discount or promotional offer — use 折扣 or 优惠 for legitimate discounts; 回扣 specifically implies a secret or unofficial commission

Origin & History

回 (back/return) + 扣 (deduction/discount) — money returned under the table; a cut paid back to the facilitator

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal