申办

• Pinyin: shēn bàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 申 = 田 + 丨 (to state, to explain — lightning bolt pictograph); 办 = 力 + 力 with dots (to handle, to manage)

Meaning

To apply to host; to bid to organise; to formally apply for the right to hold an event or establish an institution.

Commonly used in the context of bidding for major international events such as the Olympics or World Expo, or applying to establish a school, institution, or service. A formal administrative and political term.

Examples

1. 中国成功申办了二零二二年北京冬奥会。 China successfully won the bid to host the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
2. 该市正积极申办下届国际马拉松赛事。 The city is actively bidding to host the next international marathon.
3. 学校向教育局提交了申办新专业的申请材料。 The school submitted application materials to the education bureau to establish a new major.

Usage Guide

Context: sports, events, government, education

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 各城市积极申办此次文化艺术节的承办权。(Cities are actively bidding to host the rights to this cultural arts festival.)
• 成功申办世博会是全市人民共同努力的结果。(Successfully winning the bid to host the World Expo was the result of the collective efforts of the entire city.)

Don't Say

• 申办 for routine applications — use 申请 for everyday applications; 申办 implies bidding for hosting rights or establishing something significant

Origin & History

申 (to state, to apply formally) + 办 (to organise, to handle)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal