====== jīnglǐ: 经理 - Manager ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** 经理, jīnglǐ, Chinese manager, what does jingli mean, manager in Chinese, Chinese business titles, 经理 vs 老板, Chinese job titles, business culture China, HSK 3 vocabulary
  * **Summary:** Learn the meaning and usage of **经理 (jīnglǐ)**, the essential Chinese word for "manager." This page breaks down the term, explains its crucial role in Chinese business culture, and contrasts it with the Western concept of a manager. Discover how to use **jīnglǐ** correctly in formal situations, understand its relationship to other titles like **老板 (lǎobǎn)**, and see practical examples to improve your business Chinese.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** jīnglǐ
  * **Part of Speech:** Noun
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 3
  * **Concise Definition:** A manager; a person responsible for controlling or administering an organization or group of staff.
  * **In a Nutshell:** **经理 (jīnglǐ)** is the standard, formal term for a "manager" in a Chinese corporate or business environment. It's not just a job description; it's a title of respect that signifies authority over a specific department, project, or team. If someone is in charge of a team but isn't the ultimate owner of the company, they are likely a **经理**.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **经 (jīng):** This character is associated with managing, handling, or passing through. Think of it as the "operations" part of management. It's the same character used in 经济 (jīngjì - economy) and 经验 (jīngyàn - experience).
  * **理 (lǐ):** This character means "to arrange," "to put in order," "reason," or "logic." It represents the organizational and logical side of management. It appears in words like 管理 (guǎnlǐ - to manage) and 道理 (dàolǐ - reason/principle).
  * Together, **经理 (jīnglǐ)** literally means someone who "manages and puts things in order," a perfect description of a manager's role.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
  * In Western business culture, the relationship with a manager can often be quite casual, with first names being the norm. However, in China, the title **经理** reinforces a more defined and respected hierarchy.
  * **Comparison to "Manager":** While the function is the same, the title **经理** carries a heavier weight of formality and social distance. Addressing a manager is a key part of workplace etiquette. You would almost always address them as "[Surname] + 经理" (e.g., 王经理 Wáng Jīnglǐ) as a sign of respect for their position. Calling them by their first name would be considered overly familiar and potentially disrespectful in most professional settings.
  * This reflects the broader cultural value placed on hierarchy and respect for authority. The title isn't just a label; it's a social signal that defines the relationship between a subordinate and their superior.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
  * **Formal Title:** **经理** is a formal job title used on business cards, in contracts, and in official company structures.
  * **Direct Address:** The most common and important use for a learner is in direct address. When speaking to a manager, you should use their surname followed by **经理**. For example, "Lǐ Jīnglǐ, nín hǎo" (Hello, Manager Li). Using the polite "you" (您 nín) is also recommended.
  * **Compound Titles:** It is frequently combined with a department name to create more specific titles:
    * **销售经理 (xiāoshòu jīnglǐ):** Sales Manager
    * **项目经理 (xiàngmù jīnglǐ):** Project Manager
    * **人事经理 (rénshì jīnglǐ):** HR Manager
    * **市场部经理 (shìchǎngbù jīnglǐ):** Marketing Department Manager
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 这是我们的新**经理**，王先生。
    * Pinyin: Zhè shì wǒmen de xīn **jīnglǐ**, Wáng xiānsheng.
    * English: This is our new manager, Mr. Wang.
    * Analysis: A neutral, common introduction in a workplace setting.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 李**经理**，这份报告需要您签字。
    * Pinyin: Lǐ **jīnglǐ**, zhè fèn bàogào xūyào nín qiānzì.
    * English: Manager Li, this report needs your signature.
    * Analysis: This demonstrates the proper way to address a manager formally: "Surname + Title." Note the use of 您 (nín) for politeness.
  * **Example 3:**
    * 我想申请贵公司的项目**经理**职位。
    * Pinyin: Wǒ xiǎng shēnqǐng guì gōngsī de xiàngmù **jīnglǐ** zhíwèi.
    * English: I would like to apply for the project manager position at your esteemed company.
    * Analysis: Shows how **经理** is used as part of a specific job title in a formal application context.
  * **Example 4:**
    * 作为一名**经理**，他必须对整个团队负责。
    * Pinyin: Zuòwéi yī míng **jīnglǐ**, tā bìxū duì zhěnggè tuánduì fùzé.
    * English: As a manager, he must be responsible for the entire team.
    * Analysis: This sentence describes the responsibilities that come with the role of a **经理**.
  * **Example 5:**
    * 你好，我想找你们的**经理**谈一谈。
    * Pinyin: Nǐ hǎo, wǒ xiǎng zhǎo nǐmen de **jīnglǐ** tán yī tán.
    * English: Hello, I would like to speak to your manager.
    * Analysis: A typical phrase used by a customer asking to speak to the person in charge, for example, in a store or hotel.
  * **Example 6:**
    * 我们的**经理**要求我们明天早上九点准时开会。
    * Pinyin: Wǒmen de **jīnglǐ** yāoqiú wǒmen míngtiān zǎoshang jiǔ diǎn zhǔnshí kāihuì.
    * English: Our manager requires us to have a meeting punctually at 9 AM tomorrow.
    * Analysis: Illustrates a manager giving a command or setting a requirement for their staff.
  * **Example 7:**
    * 他是一个非常严格的**经理**，但也很公平。
    * Pinyin: Tā shì yī ge fēicháng yángé de **jīnglǐ**, dàn yě hěn gōngpíng.
    * English: He is a very strict manager, but also very fair.
    * Analysis: Shows how you can use adjectives to describe a manager's personality or management style.
  * **Example 8:**
    * 他是人事部**经理**，不是财务部**经理**。
    * Pinyin: Tā shì rénshìbù **jīnglǐ**, bùshì cáiwùbù **jīnglǐ**.
    * English: He is the HR manager, not the finance manager.
    * Analysis: This clarifies the specific domain or department a **经理** is in charge of.
  * **Example 9:**
    * 我希望将来能成为一名成功的酒店**经理**。
    * Pinyin: Wǒ xīwàng jiānglái néng chéngwéi yī míng chénggōng de jiǔdiàn **jīnglǐ**.
    * English: I hope to become a successful hotel manager in the future.
    * Analysis: Expressing a career aspiration involving a management role.
  * **Example 10:**
    * 这个决定最终需要**经理**的批准。
    * Pinyin: Zhège juédìng zuìzhōng xūyào **jīnglǐ** de pīzhǔn.
    * English: This decision ultimately needs the manager's approval.
    * Analysis: Highlights the manager's authority in the decision-making process.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **经理 (jīnglǐ) vs. 老板 (lǎobǎn):** This is the most common point of confusion.
    * **经理 (jīnglǐ):** A hired employee who manages a part of the business. They report to someone higher up.
    * **老板 (lǎobǎn):** The owner, the boss, the founder. They own the company. A small restaurant owner is a **老板**, not a **经理**.
    * **Incorrect usage:** Pointing to the owner of a small noodle shop and saying, "他是经理 (Tā shì jīnglǐ)." You should say, "他是老板 (Tā shì lǎobǎn)."
  * **经理 (jīnglǐ) vs. 总经理 (zǒngjīnglǐ):**
    * **总经理 (zǒngjīnglǐ):** "General Manager" or "CEO" in some contexts. The 总 (zǒng) means "chief" or "general." This is a high-level executive who often oversees other managers. A **总经理** is much higher in rank than a regular **经理**.
  * **经理 (jīnglǐ) vs. 主管 (zhǔguǎn):**
    * **主管 (zhǔguǎn):** "Supervisor." This is typically a lower-level management position. A **主管** might lead a small team within a department that is run by a **经理**.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[老板]] (lǎobǎn) - The boss, owner. The person a **经理** reports to.
  * [[总经理]] (zǒngjīnglǐ) - General Manager. A higher-ranking manager who oversees other **经理**.
  * [[主管]] (zhǔguǎn) - Supervisor. A lower-level management role, often subordinate to a **经理**.
  * [[管理]] (guǎnlǐ) - The verb "to manage" or the noun "management." This is the action that a **经理** performs.
  * [[领导]] (lǐngdǎo) - Leader. A broader term for anyone in authority, including a **经理**, but also government officials or team captains.
  * [[下属]] (xiàshǔ) - Subordinate. The employees who work under a **经理**.
  * [[同事]] (tóngshì) - Colleague; co-worker. Someone at the same hierarchical level.
  * [[部门]] (bùmén) - Department. The specific division a **经理** is in charge of, e.g., 销售部 (sales department).
  * [[公司]] (gōngsī) - Company; firm. The organization where a **经理** works.
  * [[职位]] (zhíwèi) - (Job) position. **经理** is a common **职位**.