====== zuòshēngyi: 做生意 - To Do Business, To Run a Business ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** zuo shengyi, 做生意, do business in Chinese, how to say run a business in Chinese, Chinese for business, Chinese commerce, 做买卖, Chinese entrepreneurship, HSK 3 vocabulary.
  * **Summary:** "做生意" (zuò shēngyi) is the essential Chinese phrase for the act of "doing business" or "running a business." It's a versatile term that covers everything from a small street vendor's trade to the operations of a large corporation. More than just a single transaction, it implies the ongoing process of engaging in commerce, managing an enterprise, and navigating the crucial social relationships that underpin business success in China. Understanding "做生意" is a key step for anyone interested in Chinese commerce or culture.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** zuò shēngyi
  * **Part of Speech:** Verb-Object Phrase
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 3
  * **Concise Definition:** To engage in commercial activities; to run or operate a business.
  * **In a Nutshell:** "做生意" is the most common and practical way to say you are involved in business. Think of it as the active, hands-on process. If someone's profession is to buy, sell, or provide a service for profit, they "做生意". It's less abstract than the English "commerce" and more grounded in the day-to-day reality of making a living through trade.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **做 (zuò):** "To do" or "to make". This is the action component of the phrase. It's one of the most fundamental verbs in Chinese, indicating an activity.
  * **生 (shēng):** "Life," "to be born," or "to generate." In this context, it relates to livelihood and the generation of value.
  * **意 (yì):** "Idea," "meaning," or "intention." When combined with 生, 生意 (shēngyi) means "business."
  * **How they combine:** The word for business, 生意 (shēngyi), can be thought of as the "business of life" or "generating an idea/intention" for trade. Adding the verb 做 (zuò) in front turns the noun "business" into the action "to do business."
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
  * "做生意" is deeply woven into the fabric of Chinese society. For centuries, from the Silk Road merchants to the modern-day tech giants, the spirit of entrepreneurship has been a powerful force. The act of "做生意" is often seen as a practical, respectable, and primary way to improve one's financial standing and provide for one's family.
  * **Comparison to Western "Networking":** In the West, "running a business" involves "networking." In China, "做生意" is inextricably linked to the concept of **[[关系]] (guānxi)**. While networking can sometimes be transactional, `关系` implies a deeper, long-term web of mutual obligation, trust, and favor. A successful businessperson in China doesn't just have a good product; they are skilled at building and maintaining strong `关系`. A deal might be sealed not just on its financial merits, but on the strength of the relationship between the two parties. This means that dinners, gift-giving, and showing respect (**[[面子]] (miànzi)**, "face") are not just pleasantries—they are integral parts of the process of "做生意".
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
  * **Versatility:** The term is used for any scale of commercial activity. The owner of a tiny noodle shop and the CEO of a multinational corporation both "做生意".
  * **In Conversation:** It's a very common and neutral term. Asking someone "你家是做什么生意的？" (Nǐ jiā shì zuò shénme shēngyi de? - What kind of business is your family in?) is a standard way to inquire about their profession or family background.
  * **Connotations:**
    * **Neutral (Most Common):** Simply stating a fact. "他在北京做生意。" (He does business in Beijing.)
    * **Positive:** Praising someone's skill. "他很会做生意。" (Tā hěn huì zuò shēngyi - He's very good at doing business.)
    * **Slightly Negative:** Can occasionally imply someone is overly calculating or purely profit-driven, though this is less common. For example, "他这个人，做什么都像在做生意。" (Tā zhège rén, zuò shénme dōu xiàng zài zuò shēngyi - This guy, everything he does is like he's doing business.)
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 我爸爸是**做生意**的。
    * Pinyin: Wǒ bàba shì **zuò shēngyi** de.
    * English: My dad does business / is a businessman.
    * Analysis: The `是...的` (shì...de) structure is used here to emphasize the nature of his profession. This is a very common way to describe what someone does for a living.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 他大学毕业后，决定自己**做生意**。
    * Pinyin: Tā dàxué bìyè hòu, juédìng zìjǐ **zuò shēngyi**.
    * English: After graduating from university, he decided to start his own business.
    * Analysis: This shows "做生意" used in the context of entrepreneurship or starting one's own venture. `自己做生意` (zìjǐ zuò shēngyi) means "to be one's own boss."
  * **Example 3:**
    * 现在经济不景气，**做生意**很难。
    * Pinyin: Xiànzài jīngjì bù jǐngqì, **zuò shēngyi** hěn nán.
    * English: The economy is not good right now, so doing business is very difficult.
    * Analysis: A common sentiment expressing the challenges of commerce. `不景气` (bù jǐngqì) is a great word for "economic downturn" or "recession."
  * **Example 4:**
    * 他们家是**做**服装**生意**的。
    * Pinyin: Tāmen jiā shì **zuò** fúzhuāng **shēngyi** de.
    * English: Their family is in the clothing business.
    * Analysis: This demonstrates how to specify the type of business. You insert the industry (e.g., 服装 fúzhuāng - clothing, 餐饮 cānyǐn - food and beverage) between `做` and `生意`.
  * **Example 5:**
    * **做生意**最重要的是诚信。
    * Pinyin: **Zuò shēngyi** zuì zhòngyào de shì chéngxìn.
    * English: The most important thing in doing business is integrity/trustworthiness.
    * Analysis: This sentence highlights the cultural values associated with business. `诚信` (chéngxìn) is a crucial concept.
  * **Example 6:**
    * 你想跟我一起**做生意**吗？
    * Pinyin: Nǐ xiǎng gēn wǒ yīqǐ **zuò shēngyi** ma?
    * English: Do you want to go into business with me?
    * Analysis: Shows how to propose a business partnership. `跟...一起` (gēn...yīqǐ) means "together with..."
  * **Example 7:**
    * 他很会**做生意**，才几年就发财了。
    * Pinyin: Tā hěn huì **zuò shēngyi**, cái jǐ nián jiù fācái le.
    * English: He is very good at doing business; he got rich in just a few years.
    * Analysis: `会` (huì) here means "to be skilled at." `发财` (fācái) means "to get rich," a common goal of doing business.
  * **Example 8:**
    * 跟这种不诚实的人**做生意**，你得小心点儿。
    * Pinyin: Gēn zhè zhǒng bù chéngshí de rén **zuò shēngyi**, nǐ děi xiǎoxīn diǎnr.
    * English: You have to be careful doing business with this kind of dishonest person.
    * Analysis: A practical warning, showing that the phrase can be used in cautionary contexts.
  * **Example 9:**
    * 他**做生意**失败了，欠了很多钱。
    * Pinyin: Tā **zuò shēngyi** shībài le, qiàn le hěn duō qián.
    * English: His business failed, and he owes a lot of money.
    * Analysis: This shows the opposite of success. `失败` (shībài) means "to fail" and `欠钱` (qiàn qián) means "to owe money."
  * **Example 10:**
    * 在中国**做生意**，你需要了解当地的文化。
    * Pinyin: Zài Zhōngguó **zuò shēngyi**, nǐ xūyào liǎojiě dāngdì de wénhuà.
    * English: To do business in China, you need to understand the local culture.
    * Analysis: This sentence directly links the act of doing business to cultural understanding, a key theme of this page.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **General Activity vs. A Single Deal:** "做生意" refers to the overall, ongoing activity of being in business. It's not typically used for a single transaction. For that, you would use more specific terms like `做一笔买卖` (zuò yī bǐ mǎimai - to make a deal) or `谈成了一笔生意` (tán chéng le yī bǐ shēngyi - successfully negotiated a deal).
    * **Correct:** 他是做生意的。 (He is a businessman.)
    * **Less Common:** 我们昨天做了一次生意。(We did business once yesterday.) -> It's better to say: 我们昨天谈成了一笔生意。 (We closed a deal yesterday.)
  * **False Friend: "To Do Business":** An English speaker might say, "I'm flying to Shanghai to do business," meaning they have a few meetings. Using "我去上海做生意" (Wǒ qù Shànghǎi zuò shēngyi) in Chinese can imply a much more permanent intention, like you're moving there to open up shop. For a short business trip, it's better to say `我去上海出差` (Wǒ qù Shànghǎi chūchāi - I'm going to Shanghai on a business trip) or `我去上海谈生意` (Wǒ qù Shànghǎi tán shēngyi - I'm going to Shanghai to negotiate business).
  * **Strictly Commercial:** Do not use "做生意" for non-commercial arrangements or favors, even if there's an exchange.
    * **Incorrect:** `我帮了你，现在我们是做生意了。` (I helped you, now we are doing business.) This sounds very transactional and cold.
    * **Correct:** `我帮了你，你欠我一个人情。` (Wǒ bāng le nǐ, nǐ qiàn wǒ yī ge rénqíng - I helped you, you owe me a favor.) See [[人情]].
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * `[[谈生意]] (tán shēngyi)` - To negotiate business; to talk business. This is a specific part of the "做生意" process.
  * `[[做买卖]] (zuò mǎimai)` - To buy and sell; to trade. Very similar to `做生意`, but can feel slightly more colloquial and focused on the direct act of trading goods.
  * `[[创业]] (chuàngyè)` - To start a business; to be an entrepreneur. This term has a more modern, "start-up" feel and emphasizes the creation of a new enterprise.
  * `[[商人]] (shāngrén)` - Businessman; merchant. The noun for the person who does `做生意`.
  * `[[老板]] (lǎobǎn)` - Boss; owner. The person in charge of the business.
  * `[[客户]] (kèhù)` - Client; customer. The people you `做生意` with.
  * `[[企业]] (qǐyè)` - Enterprise; company. The formal, official term for a business entity.
  * `[[关系]] (guānxi)` - Connections; relationships. The network of personal connections that is fundamentally important to successfully `做生意` in China.
  * `[[盈利]] (yínglì)` - To make a profit; profit (noun). The ultimate financial goal of `做生意`.
  * `[[市场]] (shìchǎng)` - Market. The environment where `做生意` takes place.