yèwù: 业务 - Business, Service, Professional Work

Keywords: yewu, 业务, Chinese for business, business operations, professional service, what is yewu, yewu meaning, Chinese business vocabulary, bànlǐ yèwù, 业务范围

Summary: A cornerstone of Chinese business vocabulary, 业务 (yèwù) refers to the specific professional work, services, or core operations of a company or an individual. More precise than the English “business,” `yèwù` describes the actual *function* or *scope of activities*—from a bank's financial services to a software company's development projects. Understanding `yèwù` is essential for navigating any professional or service-oriented environment in China.

Pinyin (with tone marks): yèwù

Part of Speech: Noun

HSK Level: HSK 4

Concise Definition: A specific area of business, a professional service, or tasks related to one's job.

In a Nutshell: Think of `业务` not as the company itself, but as what the company does. It's the “line of work,” the “scope of operations,” or the “professional services offered.” For an individual, it refers to their specific duties and professional responsibilities. If a company is a machine, its `业务` are its specific functions and outputs.

业 (yè): This character originally depicted a stand for hanging instruments. It has evolved to mean “occupation,” “profession,” “trade,” or “industry.” It points to a formal field of work.

务 (wù): This character relates to “affairs,” “duties,” or “matters.” It's the same `务` found in `任务 (rènwù)`, meaning “task.”

Combined Meaning: The two characters literally combine to mean “professional duties” or “industry affairs.” This perfectly captures the essence of `业务` as the specific tasks and functions within a professional setting.

`业务` reflects a pragmatic and function-oriented approach to work in Chinese culture. While Western business culture might often focus on abstract branding or “mission statements,” the term `业务` brings the conversation back to the concrete: What do you do? What service do you provide?

Contrast with “Business”: In English, “business” is a very broad term. It can mean a company (“I own a business”), a transaction (“We did some business”), or commerce in general (“I'm in the business of selling cars”). `业务` is much more specific. It almost never refers to the company itself (that's `公司 gōngsī`). Instead, it refers to the company's operational scope. For example, a restaurant's `业务` is “catering services” (餐饮服务), not the restaurant itself.

This focus on functional competence is crucial. Being “good at your `业务`” (`业务能力强 yèwù nénglì qiáng`) is a high form of praise, indicating practical skill and expertise in one's specific professional domain.

Corporate and Company Context: This is the most common usage. Companies define their “business scope” (`业务范围 yèwù fànwéi`), discuss their “main business” (`主营业务 zhǔyíng yèwù`), or plan to launch a “new business line” (`新业务 xīn yèwù`).

Service Counters (Banks, Telecom, Government): When you approach a service window, the first question you'll likely hear is, “请问您要办理什么业务?” (Qǐngwèn nín yào bànlǐ shénme yèwù?), meaning, “Excuse me, what service would you like to handle?” Here, `业务` refers to any transaction or service offered.

Individual Performance: A manager might ask an employee about the progress of their `业务`, referring to their assigned tasks, projects, or sales targets. Someone who is `业务熟练 (yèwù shúliàn)` is “proficient and skilled at their job.”

`公司 (gōngsī)` - Company, corporation. The legal entity that has `业务`.

`生意 (shēngyi)` - Business, trade, commerce. A more transactional and often smaller-scale counterpart to `业务`.

`工作 (gōngzuò)` - Work, job. The general concept of employment, whereas `业务` refers to the specific duties within that job.

`行业 (hángyè)` - Industry. The broad economic sector (e.g., finance, technology) where a company's `业务` is situated.

`项目 (xiàngmù)` - Project. A specific, time-bound initiative that is often a key part of a company's `业务`.

`任务 (rènwù)` - Task, assignment. A specific action item that contributes to completing one's `业务`.

`办理 (bànlǐ)` - To handle, to conduct. A verb very frequently paired with `业务` at service counters.

`客户 (kèhù)` - Client, customer. The recipient of the services or products that constitute a company's `业务`.

`范围 (fànwéi)` - Scope, range. Often used in the set phrase `业务范围` (business scope).