清单

• Pinyin: qīng dān
• Hanzi breakdown: 清 = 氵+ 青 (clear/detailed); 单 = 口 + 十 (slip/single/list)

Meaning

A list; an itemised inventory or checklist. A written record enumerating items, tasks, requirements, or assets in a clear and organised manner.

Practical, widely used term in business, logistics, administration, and daily planning. Common compounds: 采购清单, 任务清单, 货物清单, 检查清单. Less formal than 目录 (catalogue) and more specific than 列表 (list).

Examples

1. 出发前，她仔细核对了行李清单，确保没有遗漏任何重要物品。 Before leaving, she carefully checked her packing list to make sure she hadn’t forgotten anything important.
2. 项目经理为团队制定了详细的任务清单，并标明了各项工作的截止日期。 The project manager made a detailed task list for the team and noted the deadline for each item.
3. 海关要求进口商提交完整的货物清单，以便进行逐项核查。 Customs required the importer to submit a complete cargo manifest for item-by-item inspection.

Usage Guide

Context: business, logistics, administration, daily life

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 请在会议前将所需材料的采购清单发送给行政部门审批。(Please send the procurement list of required materials to the administration department for approval before the meeting.)
• 质检人员按照标准检查清单逐一核实每道生产工序是否符合规范。(Quality inspectors verified each production step one by one against the standard inspection checklist to ensure compliance.)

Don't Say

• 我的购物清单很有品味 — use 购物单 in casual speech; 清单 is functional and neutral, not a descriptor of taste or aesthetic choice

Origin & History

清 (clear/detailed) + 单 (slip/list/single) — a clear, itemised slip

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal