盈利

yínglì: 盈利 - Profit, to Make a Profit

Quick Summary

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  • Summary: Learn the essential Chinese business term 盈利 (yínglì), which means “profit” or “to make a profit.” This page provides a deep dive into its meaning, character breakdown, and cultural significance in modern China's economy. Discover how it differs from the more specific 利润 (lìrùn) and the colloquial 赚钱 (zhuànqián). With over 10 practical example sentences and analysis, you'll master how to use 盈利 (yínglì) in formal business contexts like financial reports, news articles, and strategic discussions about profitability.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): yínglì
  • Part of Speech: Verb / Noun
  • HSK Level: HSK 5
  • Concise Definition: To gain a profit; the profit or earnings of a business.
  • In a Nutshell: 盈利 (yínglì) is the formal, business-world term for making a profit. Think of it as the word you'd see in a company's annual report, a headline in the Financial Times, or a CEO's presentation. It describes the state of a business being financially successful, where its income exceeds its expenses. It's less about a specific number and more about the overall positive financial performance and sustainability of an enterprise.

Character Breakdown

  • 盈 (yíng): This character means “to be full,” “surplus,” or “to overflow.” Imagine a cup (皿) filled to the brim. It signifies having more than enough, an abundance.
  • 利 (lì): This character means “profit,” “benefit,” or “sharp.” Its ancient form is a pictograph of a stalk of grain or wheat (禾) being cut by a knife (刂). This act of harvesting is the fundamental source of gain and benefit.
  • The two characters combine beautifully: 盈 (yíng), the overflowing surplus, plus 利 (lì), the beneficial gain from an endeavor. Together, 盈利 (yínglì) paints a vivid picture of a successful enterprise whose gains are so abundant they are overflowing.

Cultural Context and Significance

  • 盈利 (yínglì) is a cornerstone of China's economic vocabulary, especially since the “Reform and Opening Up” (改革开放, gǎigé kāifàng) period began in 1978. The concept of private or corporate profit-making was once politically sensitive, but now 盈利 is a celebrated sign of a healthy, modern, and competitive company.
  • Comparison to “Profit” in the West: While “profit” in American business culture is often seen primarily through the lens of maximizing shareholder value, the concept of 盈利 in China can carry a slightly broader connotation. For State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) and even large private companies, achieving 盈利 is not just about enriching investors. It's also seen as a contribution to national strength, a means to drive technological innovation, a sign of global competitiveness, and a way to provide stable employment. A profitable company is a strong and socially responsible entity that contributes to the nation's overall goals. This reflects a perspective where corporate success is intertwined with national progress.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • 盈利 is a formal term used almost exclusively in business, finance, and economic contexts. You will rarely hear it in casual, everyday conversation about personal finances.
  • Business and Finance: This is its natural habitat. It's used in financial statements (财务报表), business plans (商业计划书), and shareholder meetings (股东大会) to discuss a company's performance.
    • e.g., 盈利能力 (yínglì nénglì) - “profitability” or “earning power”
    • e.g., 盈利模式 (yínglì móshì) - “profit model” or “business model”
  • News and Analysis: Financial news outlets constantly use 盈利 to report on corporate earnings, market trends, and economic health.
  • Formality and Connotation: It is formal and carries a neutral-to-positive connotation. Achieving 盈利 is a significant milestone and a key performance indicator for any company.

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 我们公司去年终于开始盈利了。
    • Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī qùnián zhōngyú kāishǐ yínglì le.
    • English: Our company finally started to make a profit last year.
    • Analysis: Here, 盈利 is used as a verb, “to make a profit.” This is a common way to announce that a business has become financially successful (turned a corner from making a loss).
  • Example 2:
    • 这家初创公司的盈利模式非常独特。
    • Pinyin: Zhè jiā chuàngyè gōngsī de yínglì móshì fēicháng dútè.
    • English: This startup's profit model is very unique.
    • Analysis: 盈利模式 (yínglì móshì) is a fixed phrase meaning “profit model” or “business model.” Here, 盈利 acts as a noun within a compound term.
  • Example 3:
    • 分析师预测，该公司的盈利将增长20%。
    • Pinyin: Fēnxīshī yùcè, gāi gōngsī de yínglì jiāng zēngzhǎng bǎi fēn zhī èrshí.
    • English: Analysts predict the company's profit will grow by 20%.
    • Analysis: In this sentence, 盈利 is used as a noun, synonymous with “profit” or “earnings.” This is very common in financial news.
  • Example 4:
    • 提高盈利能力是我们的首要任务。
    • Pinyin: Tígāo yínglì nénglì shì wǒmen de shǒuyào rènwù.
    • English: Increasing profitability is our top priority.
    • Analysis: 盈利能力 (yínglì nénglì), “profitability,” is another key business term. It refers to the company's ability to generate profit.
  • Example 5:
    • 由于成本上升，我们的盈利空间变小了。
    • Pinyin: Yóuyú chéngběn shàngshēng, wǒmen de yínglì kōngjiān biàn xiǎo le.
    • English: Due to rising costs, our profit margin has shrunk.
    • Analysis: 盈利空间 (yínglì kōngjiān) literally means “profit space,” a common way to refer to the “profit margin.”
  • Example 6:
    • 很多互联网公司在初期都无法盈利。
    • Pinyin: Hěnduō hùliánwǎng gōngsī zài chūqī dōu wúfǎ yínglì.
    • English: Many internet companies are unable to make a profit in their early stages.
    • Analysis: This uses 盈利 as a verb again, highlighting the challenge of achieving profitability for new ventures.
  • Example 7:
    • 新产品给公司带来了巨大的盈利。
    • Pinyin: Xīn chǎnpǐn gěi gōngsī dài lái le jùdà de yínglì.
    • English: The new product brought huge profits to the company.
    • Analysis: Here, 盈利 functions as a noun, referring to the financial gains themselves.
  • Example 8:
    • 企业的最终目标是实现可持续盈利。
    • Pinyin: Qǐyè de zuìzhōng mùbiāo shì shíxiàn kě chíxù yínglì.
    • English: The ultimate goal of an enterprise is to achieve sustainable profitability.
    • Analysis: This sentence uses a sophisticated business concept, “sustainable profitability” (可持续盈利), showing the formal nature of the term.
  • Example 9:
    • 尽管营业额很高，但公司尚未盈利。
    • Pinyin: Jǐnguǎn yíngyè'é hěn gāo, dàn gōngsī shàngwèi yínglì.
    • English: Although the sales turnover is high, the company has not yet made a profit.
    • Analysis: This highlights the difference between revenue (营业额) and profit (盈利), a key business distinction.
  • Example 10:
    • 我们需要找到新的盈利增长点。
    • Pinyin: Wǒmen xūyào zhǎodào xīn de yínglì zēngzhǎng diǎn.
    • English: We need to find new profit growth points.
    • Analysis: 盈利增长点 (yínglì zēngzhǎng diǎn) is a business-strategy term for new areas or products that can drive profit growth.

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • The most common point of confusion for learners is the difference between 盈利 (yínglì), 利润 (lìrùn), and 赚钱 (zhuànqián).
    • 盈利 (yínglì): (Verb/Noun) The formal term for the *act or state* of being profitable. Focuses on the overall performance.
    • 利润 (lìrùn): (Noun only) The specific, countable amount of money left after subtracting costs. It's the “net profit” figure. You cannot use it as a verb.
    • 赚钱 (zhuànqián): (Verb) The general, colloquial term for “to make money.” Used for anything from a billion-dollar company to selling your old bike.
  • Common Mistake 1: Using 盈利 in casual situations.
    • Incorrect: 我今天卖了我的旧书，盈利了50块钱。(Wǒ jīntiān mài le wǒ de jiù shū, yínglì le 50 kuài qián.)
    • Why it's wrong: This sounds comically formal, like you're issuing a financial report for a garage sale.
    • Correct: 我今天卖了我的旧书，赚了50块钱。(Wǒ jīntiān mài le wǒ de jiù shū, zhuàn le 50 kuài qián.)
  • Common Mistake 2: Using 利润 (lìrùn) as a verb.
    • Incorrect: 我们公司去年利润了很多钱。(Wǒmen gōngsī qùnián lìrùn le hěn duō qián.)
    • Why it's wrong: 利润 is a noun only. It's the “what,” not the “doing.”
    • Correct: 我们公司去年的利润很高。(Wǒmen gōngsī qùnián de lìrùn hěn gāo.) - Our company's profit last year was very high.
    • Correct: 我们公司去年盈利了。(Wǒmen gōngsī qùnián yínglì le.) - Our company made a profit last year.

Related Terms and Concepts

  • 利润 (lìrùn) - Net profit; the specific, quantifiable amount of money a business makes. 盈利 is the state of being profitable, while 利润 is the number.
  • 赚钱 (zhuànqián) - The informal, everyday verb for “to make money.” It's the colloquial counterpart to the formal 盈利.
  • 亏损 (kuīsǔn) - To make a loss; deficit. This is the direct antonym of 盈利.
  • 收益 (shōuyì) - Income or revenue. This is the total money that comes in before costs are deducted. Profit (盈利 or 利润) is收益 minus 成本.
  • 成本 (chéngběn) - Costs; the expenses incurred to produce a product or run a business.
  • 营业额 (yíngyè'é) - Sales turnover; the total value of goods or services sold in a specific period. A high营业额 does not guarantee 盈利.
  • 盈利能力 (yínglì nénglì) - Profitability; a company's ability to generate profit. A key metric for investors.
  • 盈利模式 (yínglì móshì) - Profit model; the specific strategy a company uses to make money.