Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== zhanhui: 展会 - Exhibition, Trade Fair, Expo ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** zhanhui, zhǎnhuì, 展会, exhibition in Chinese, trade fair in Chinese, expo in Chinese, Chinese business fair, Canton Fair, Shanghai Auto Show, what is a zhanhui, Chinese for trade show * **Summary:** The Chinese word **展会 (zhǎnhuì)** refers to an exhibition, trade fair, or expo. It's a cornerstone of modern Chinese business, describing large-scale events where companies showcase products and services to network, find partners, and generate sales. Understanding **展会** is essential for anyone interested in commerce or industry in China, from the massive Canton Fair to specialized tech expos. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** zhǎnhuì * **Part of Speech:** Noun * **HSK Level:** HSK 5 * **Concise Definition:** A large-scale, organized event where products, services, or art are displayed for commercial or public viewing. * **In a Nutshell:** Think of a convention center filled with booths from different companies in the same industry—that's a `展会`. It's a "display gathering" where businesses come to show off their latest and greatest, meet potential clients, and see what the competition is up to. It's a very common and important term in the world of Chinese business and commerce. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **展 (zhǎn):** This character means to unfold, open up, display, or exhibit. Imagine unfolding a scroll or a map to show its contents to others. * **会 (huì):** This character means a meeting, gathering, or assembly. It's the same `会` found in `会议 (huìyì)`, which means "meeting". * When combined, **展会 (zhǎnhuì)** literally translates to an "exhibition gathering" or "display meeting," a perfect and logical description of a trade fair or expo. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== The concept of a trade fair is universal, but the scale and cultural importance of the `展会` in modern China are immense. Since the economic reforms of the 1980s, `展会` have become a primary engine for China's integration into the global economy. They are not just places to do business; they are symbols of China's industrial might, technological ambition, and openness to the world. A key cultural difference compared to a Western trade show lies in the approach to networking. While a Western businessperson might focus on immediate lead generation and sales pitches, the Chinese approach at a `展会` often prioritizes building **[[关系]] (guānxi)**—long-term, trust-based relationships. The initial meeting at a booth is just the first step. It's often followed by a formal dinner or tea, where the real relationship-building begins. The goal is not just to close a single deal, but to establish a reliable partner for the future. Therefore, attending a `展会` in China is as much about social navigation and demonstrating respect as it is about product demonstration. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== `展会` is a formal and standard term used extensively in business, media, and official contexts. * **In Business:** Companies "participate in a `展会`" (`参加展会 - cānjiā zhǎnhuì`) to launch new products, find suppliers (`找供应商 - zhǎo gōngyìngshāng`), meet distributors, and conduct market research. Announcements for upcoming fairs are common in industry publications and news. * **In Conversation:** People in business-related fields will frequently talk about preparing for, attending, or returning from a `展会`. For example: "Which `展会` are you going to next month?" (`下个月你去哪个展会？`). * **Beyond Business:** While predominantly commercial, the term can also apply to large-scale public exhibitions like a book fair (`书展会 - shū zhǎnhuì`) or an auto show (`车展会 - chē zhǎnhuì`), which are massive cultural events. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 我们公司每年都参加上海的那个科技**展会**。 * Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī měinián dōu cānjiā Shànghǎi de nàge kējì **zhǎnhuì**. * English: Our company participates in that tech expo in Shanghai every year. * Analysis: This is a very typical sentence showing how a company regularly attends a specific trade fair as part of its business strategy. * **Example 2:** * 你要去参加今年的广交会**展会**吗？ * Pinyin: Nǐ yào qù cānjiā jīnnián de Guǎngjiāohuì **zhǎnhuì** ma? * English: Are you going to attend this year's Canton Fair? * Analysis: "广交会 (Guǎngjiāohuì)" is the Canton Fair, China's most famous `展会`. The word `展会` here is slightly redundant but often added for clarity, similar to saying "the ATM machine." * **Example 3:** * 这个**展会**的规模非常大，有来自一百多个国家的参展商。 * Pinyin: Zhège **zhǎnhuì** de guīmó fēicháng dà, yǒu láizì yībǎi duō ge guójiā de cānzhǎnshāng. * English: The scale of this expo is huge; there are exhibitors from over 100 countries. * Analysis: This sentence uses `规模 (guīmó)` to describe the size of the fair and introduces the related term `参展商 (cānzhǎnshāng)`, meaning "exhibitor." * **Example 4:** * 我在**展会**上认识了很多潜在客户。 * Pinyin: Wǒ zài **zhǎnhuì** shàng rènshi le hěn duō qiánzài kèhù. * English: I met a lot of potential clients at the trade fair. * Analysis: This highlights a primary goal of attending a `展会`: networking and lead generation. * **Example 5:** * 为了准备下周的**展会**，我们团队一直在加班。 * Pinyin: Wèile zhǔnbèi xiàzhōu de **zhǎnhuì**, wǒmen tuánduì yīzhí zài jiābān. * English: In order to prepare for next week's trade fair, our team has been working overtime. * Analysis: Shows the significant effort and preparation that goes into participating in a `展会`. * **Example 6:** * 今天的汽车**展会**上展出了很多新款电动车。 * Pinyin: Jīntiān de qìchē **zhǎnhuì** shàng zhǎnchū le hěn duō xīnkuǎn diàndòngchē. * English: Many new models of electric cars were displayed at the auto show today. * Analysis: A specific example of an industry-focused `展会` (an auto show). * **Example 7:** * 你需要一张门票才能进入这个艺术**展会**。 * Pinyin: Nǐ xūyào yī zhāng ménpiào cáinéng jìnrù zhège yìshù **zhǎnhuì**. * English: You need a ticket to be able to enter this art exhibition. * Analysis: This shows that `展会` isn't exclusively for B2B; it can also be for public-facing events like an art fair. * **Example 8:** * 我们在**展会**上的展台在A区。 * Pinyin: Wǒmen zài **zhǎnhuì** shàng de zhǎntái zài A qū. * English: Our booth at the expo is in Area A. * Analysis: Introduces the essential vocabulary `展台 (zhǎntái)`, meaning "exhibition booth/stand." * **Example 9:** * 这次**展会**为我们提供了一个很好的学习机会。 * Pinyin: Zhècì **zhǎnhuì** wèi wǒmen tígōng le yī ge hěn hǎo de xuéxí jīhuì. * English: This trade fair provided us with a great learning opportunity. * Analysis: Emphasizes that `展会` is also for learning about industry trends and competitors, not just selling. * **Example 10:** * **展会**明天就结束了，我们得抓紧时间。 * Pinyin: **Zhǎnhuì** míngtiān jiù jiéshù le, wǒmen děi zhuājǐn shíjiān. * English: The expo ends tomorrow, we have to hurry up. * Analysis: A practical sentence about the time-limited nature of these events. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== A common point of confusion for learners is the difference between **展会 (zhǎnhuì)** and **展览 (zhǎnlǎn)**. * **展会 (zhǎnhuì):** Emphasizes the **event** aspect (the `会`, or gathering). It's a fair, an expo, a show. It implies a large-scale, time-limited event with many participants, usually with a commercial or interactive focus. * Correct: 我要去参加一个招聘**展会**。 (Wǒ yào qù cānjiā yī ge zhāopìn **zhǎnhuì**.) - I'm going to attend a job fair. * **展览 (zhǎnlǎn):** Emphasizes the **display** itself (the `览`, or viewing). It refers to an exhibition of items for people to look at, often in a museum or gallery setting. It's less about commerce and more about viewing and appreciation. * Correct: 故宫博物院正在举办一个明代家具**展览**。 (Gùgōng Bówùyuàn zhèngzài jǔbàn yī ge Míngdài jiājù **zhǎnlǎn**.) - The Palace Museum is holding an exhibition of Ming Dynasty furniture. **Common Mistake:** Using `展览` when you mean a trade fair. * Incorrect: 我要去一个科技**展览**找客户。(Wǒ yào qù yī ge kējì **zhǎnlǎn** zhǎo kèhù.) * Why it's wrong: While people might understand you, it sounds awkward. A "tech exhibition" where you find clients is a `展会` because the primary purpose is the commercial gathering, not just passive viewing. * Correct: 我要去一个科技**展会**找客户。(Wǒ yào qù yī ge kējì **zhǎnhuì** zhǎo kèhù.) ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[展览]] (zhǎnlǎn) - An exhibition, a display (often in a museum/gallery, less commercial). * [[博览会]] (bólǎnhuì) - A large-scale, often international, exposition (e.g., the World Expo). More formal and grand than `展会`. * [[展台]] (zhǎntái) - The physical booth or stand that a company occupies at a `展会`. * [[展品]] (zhǎnpǐn) - The products or items on display at an exhibition; the exhibits. * [[参展]] (cānzhǎn) - A verb meaning "to participate in an exhibition." * [[广交会]] (Guǎngjiāohuì) - The Canton Fair, China's largest and most famous biannual trade fair held in Guangzhou. * [[会议]] (huìyì) - A meeting or conference. A `展会` might contain several `会议`, but the main focus is on the displays. * [[商务]] (shāngwù) - Business; commercial affairs. The context in which `展会` is most often used. * [[供应商]] (gōngyìngshāng) - Supplier; vendor. A key type of business partner people look for at a `展会`.