zuò mǎimài: 做买卖 - To do business, to run a business

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• Summary: Learn the meaning of 做买卖 (zuò mǎimài), a fundamental Chinese phrase for 'to do business' or 'to run a business'. This guide explores how `zuò mǎimài` is used in modern China, its cultural significance for entrepreneurs, and how it differs from similar terms like `做生意`. Whether you want to know how to say 'do business' in Chinese or understand the nuance of the term `买卖 (mǎimài)`, this page provides clear explanations, practical examples, and cultural insights for learners.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zuò mǎimài
• Part of Speech: Verb Phrase (Verb-Object)
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To engage in commercial activities; to run a business by buying and selling goods or services.
• In a Nutshell: `做买卖` literally translates to “do buying and selling.” It's a very grounded, practical term that captures the fundamental essence of commerce. Think of a small shop owner, a street vendor, or someone running an online store. It emphasizes the direct, hands-on act of trading, making it feel less corporate and more entrepreneurial than other business-related terms. It's the language of self-starters and small enterprises.

• 做 (zuò): A common verb meaning “to do,” “to make,” or “to engage in.” It signifies action.
• 买 (mǎi): To “buy” or “to purchase.” This character represents the act of acquiring goods.
• 卖 (mài): To “sell.” This character is simply the “buy” character (买) with an extra stroke (十) on top. You can think of this as signifying the “outgoing” action of selling what you have previously “bought” or produced.
• Combined Meaning: The phrase `做买卖` elegantly combines these three actions: To do the act of buying and selling. This literal construction makes it an intuitive and powerful term for the core activity of any business.

Historically in imperial China, society was structured in a hierarchy where scholars (`士 shì`) and farmers (`农 nóng`) were held in higher esteem than merchants (`商 shāng`). The act of `做买卖` was seen as less noble, focused on profit rather than contribution to the land or governance. In modern China, this view has dramatically changed. The economic reforms (`改革开放 gǎigé kāifàng`) have elevated the status of entrepreneurs. Today, `做买卖` carries a strong sense of self-reliance, practicality, and entrepreneurial spirit. It represents a path to wealth and success outside of traditional employment.

• Comparison to “Being an Entrepreneur”: While similar to the Western idea of “running a small business” or “being an entrepreneur,” `做买卖` feels more tangible and less abstract. The American concept of an “entrepreneur” is often associated with innovation, disruption, and venture capital. `做买卖`, in contrast, is more about the day-to-day reality of commerce: sourcing products, finding customers, and making a profit. It's less about changing the world and more about making a living and building a sustainable enterprise through trade. It is the spirit of the corner store owner, not necessarily the Silicon Valley startup founder.

`做买卖` is a common, everyday term used in a variety of contexts.

• Formality: It is generally considered neutral to informal. You would use it when talking with friends, family, or in casual business conversations. In a highly formal corporate report or a government document, a more formal term like `经商 (jīngshāng)` might be used instead.
• Connotation: The connotation is typically neutral or positive. Praising someone for being good at `做买卖` (`他很会做买卖 tā hěn huì zuò mǎimài`) is a compliment to their business acumen and cleverness.
• Scope: It can refer to almost any kind of business, from a street food stall to an international trading company. However, it's most frequently associated with small to medium-sized enterprises where the owner is directly involved in the buying and selling.

• Example 1:
  • 我爸爸是做买卖的。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ bàba shì zuò mǎimài de.
  • English: My dad runs a business.
  • Analysis: A very common and natural way to state someone's profession if they are self-employed. The `的 (de)` at the end turns the verb phrase into a noun-like description.
• Example 2:
  • 他不想上班，只想自己做买卖。
  • Pinyin: Tā bùxiǎng shàngbān, zhǐ xiǎng zìjǐ zuò mǎimài.
  • English: He doesn't want to be an employee; he just wants to run his own business.
  • Analysis: This sentence perfectly contrasts `上班 (shàngbān)`, working for others, with the independence of `做买卖`.
• Example 3:
  • 在网上做买卖，最重要的是诚信。
  • Pinyin: Zài wǎngshàng zuò mǎimài, zuì zhòngyào de shì chéngxìn.
  • English: When doing business online, the most important thing is integrity.
  • Analysis: This shows the term's applicability to modern contexts like e-commerce. `诚信 (chéngxìn)` means “honesty” or “integrity.”
• Example 4:
  • 他们俩合伙做买卖，生意很不错。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen liǎ héhuǒ zuò mǎimài, shēngyi hěn búcuò.
  • English: The two of them are in business together, and their business is quite good.
  • Analysis: `合伙 (héhuǒ)` means “to form a partnership.” This sentence shows how to talk about joint ventures. Notice the use of `生意 (shēngyi)` to describe the state of the business.
• Example 5:
  • 做买卖有赚有赔，是很正常的。
  • Pinyin: Zuò mǎimài yǒu zhuàn yǒu péi, shì hěn zhèngcháng de.
  • English: In business, there are profits and losses; that's very normal.
  • Analysis: This is a common saying about the risks of commerce. `赚 (zhuàn)` means “to earn/profit,” and `赔 (péi)` means “to lose/compensate.”
• Example 6:
  • 你觉得现在做什么买卖最赚钱？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ juéde xiànzài zuò shénme mǎimài zuì zhuànqián?
  • English: What kind of business do you think is the most profitable right now?
  • Analysis: A great question pattern. `做` and `买卖` can be separated by the object, in this case, “what kind” (`什么 shénme`).
• Example 7:
  • 他刚开始做买卖，经验还不太够。
  • Pinyin: Tā gāng kāishǐ zuò mǎimài, jīngyàn hái bútài gòu.
  • English: He just started his business, so he doesn't have enough experience yet.
  • Analysis: Highlights the learning curve involved in running a business. `经验 (jīngyàn)` means “experience.”
• Example 8:
  • 老王做买卖很精明，从来不吃亏。
  • Pinyin: Lǎo Wáng zuò mǎimài hěn jīngmíng, cónglái bù chīkuī.
  • English: Old Wang is very shrewd in business; he never gets taken advantage of.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses `做买卖` to describe someone's skill. `精明 (jīngmíng)` means “astute/shrewd,” and `吃亏 (chīkuī)` is a vital idiom meaning “to suffer a loss” or “be at a disadvantage.”
• Example 9:
  • 以前，我们家就在这条街上做小买卖。
  • Pinyin: Yǐqián, wǒmen jiā jiù zài zhè tiáo jiē shàng zuò xiǎo mǎimài.
  • English: In the past, our family used to run a small business on this street.
  • Analysis: The addition of `小 (xiǎo)`, meaning “small,” emphasizes the scale of the business, making it very relatable.
• Example 10:
  • 和气生财，是做买卖的基本道理。
  • Pinyin: Héqi shēngcái, shì zuò mǎimài de jīběn dàolǐ.
  • English: “Harmony brings wealth” is a fundamental principle of doing business.
  • Analysis: This connects the act of `做买卖` to a famous Chinese cultural value and proverb, `和气生财 (héqi shēngcái)`.

• `做买卖 (zuò mǎimài)` vs. `做生意 (zuò shēngyi)`
  • These two terms are very close in meaning and are often used interchangeably. `做生意` is arguably more common in modern colloquial Mandarin.
  • Subtle Difference: `做买卖` can sometimes feel more traditional or focused on the literal transaction of goods (buy/sell). `做生意` (literally “do life-meaning”) can feel slightly broader, referring to the general state of one's business or commercial venture. You might say `生意怎么样?` (How's business?), but you wouldn't say `买卖怎么样?`. In short, `生意` is both the activity and the state of business, while `买卖` is primarily the activity itself.
• Common Mistake: Confusing it with Being an Employee
  • A learner might incorrectly use `做买卖` to describe their job at a large company.
  • Incorrect: 我在苹果公司做买卖。 (Wǒ zài Píngguǒ gōngsī zuò mǎimài.)
  • Why it's wrong: This implies that you *personally* run a business of buying and selling things at Apple, or perhaps that you are a partner or owner. If you are just an employee, the correct term is `上班 (shàngbān)`.
  • Correct: 我在苹果公司上班。 (Wǒ zài Píngguǒ gōngsī shàngbān.) - I work at Apple Inc.

• 做生意 (zuò shēngyi) - The most common synonym for `做买卖`, often used interchangeably but can feel slightly more general or modern.
• 老板 (lǎobǎn) - The “boss” or “owner” of a business; the person who `做买卖`.
• 创业 (chuàngyè) - “To start a business” or “entrepreneurship.” This term has a more modern, ambitious, startup-culture feel than `做买卖`.
• 商人 (shāngrén) - A businessperson, merchant. A more formal noun for someone who does business.
• 经商 (jīngshāng) - A formal, literary term for “to engage in commerce.” Used in written language or very formal speech.
• 赚钱 (zhuànqián) - To earn money. This is the primary goal of most people who `做买卖`.
• 亏本 (kuīběn) - To lose capital; to have a losing business. The opposite of a successful `买卖`.
• 讨价还价 (tǎojià huánjià) - To haggle or bargain. A key skill in many types of `买卖`.
• 个体户 (gètǐhù) - A specific term for a “private entrepreneur” or “self-employed household,” which became common during China's economic reforms.