招标

• Pinyin: zhāo biāo
• Hanzi breakdown: 招 = 扌 + 召 (hand beckoning); 标 = 木 + 票 (marking post)

Meaning

To invite tenders; to call for bids. The process of soliciting competitive bids for a project or contract.

Formal procurement process used by governments and large organizations. Related terms: 投标 (to submit a bid), 中标 (to win a bid), 开标 (to open bids), 招标文件 (tender documents). Ensures transparency and competition in procurement.

Examples

1. 市政府将对新地铁线路建设项目进行公开招标。 The city government will publicly invite bids for the construction of the new subway line.
2. 这个工程项目招标已经结束，下周公布中标单位。 Bidding for this construction project has ended, and the winning bidder will be announced next week.
3. 参与招标的企业必须提交完整的资质证明材料。 Companies participating in the bidding must submit complete qualification documents.

Usage Guide

Context: business, government, procurement

Tone: professional

Do Say

• 本次招标采用电子投标系统，所有材料需在线提交。(This tender uses an electronic bidding system; all materials must be submitted online.)
• 招标公告发布后，已有二十多家企业表示有意参与竞标。(After the tender announcement was released, more than twenty companies expressed interest in bidding.)

Don't Say

• 招标一个东西 — 招标 is for projects/contracts; for buying items use 采购 or 购买

Origin & History

招 (to invite/recruit) + 标 (bid/mark)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal