配送

• Pinyin: pèi sòng
• Hanzi breakdown: 配 = 酉 + 己 (distribute, match); 送 = 辶 + 关 (go forth + pass through — send off)

Meaning

Deliver; to distribute and send goods to a destination; fulfilment and delivery of orders.

Central to e-commerce and logistics discourse in China. Covers the entire last-mile delivery process. 配送员 (delivery person) is a key occupational term. Speed of 配送 is a major competitive factor among Chinese platforms.

Examples

1. 平台承诺在城市核心区域实现三十分钟内配送到家。 The platform promises home delivery within 30 minutes in the city’s core areas.
2. 春节前后配送需求激增，快递公司大量招募临时配送人员。 Around the Spring Festival, delivery demand surges, and courier companies recruit large numbers of temporary delivery workers.
3. 冷链配送技术的进步使生鲜电商得以快速发展。 Advances in cold-chain delivery technology have enabled fresh-food e-commerce to grow rapidly.

Usage Guide

Context: e-commerce, logistics, food delivery, retail

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 该平台的即时配送系统依托密集的仓储网络，实现了全市范围内的快速履约。(The platform's instant delivery system, supported by a dense warehousing network, has achieved rapid order fulfilment across the entire city.)
• 超低温冷链配送确保了海鲜产品在运输过程中的新鲜度和安全性。(Ultra-low-temperature cold-chain delivery ensures the freshness and safety of seafood products throughout the transportation process.)

Don't Say

• 他配送了一封信 — use 寄送 or 投递 for sending letters; 配送 is specific to goods and package delivery, not correspondence

Origin & History

配 (match, assign, distribute) + 送 (send, deliver) — to assign and send goods to their destination

Cultural Context

Era: Modern (post-2010)

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal