gōngsī: 公司 - Company, Corporation, Firm

• Keywords: gongsi, 公司, company in Chinese, Chinese word for corporation, Chinese for business, firm in Chinese, how to say company in Chinese, HSK 1 vocabulary, Chinese business vocabulary.
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 公司 (gōngsī), which means “company,” “corporation,” or “firm.” As one of the most fundamental words in modern Mandarin (HSK 1), understanding gōngsī is crucial for anyone interested in business, work, or daily life in China. This guide breaks down its meaning, cultural context, and practical usage, helping you master how to say “company” in Chinese.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): gōngsī
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 1
• Concise Definition: A business entity, company, corporation, or firm.
• In a Nutshell: 公司 (gōngsī) is the standard, everyday word for a legally registered business. Whether you're talking about a small tech startup, a local trading firm, or a multinational giant like Apple or Alibaba, 公司 is the correct and most common term to use. It's the direct equivalent of “company” in English and is a cornerstone of business and professional vocabulary in Chinese.

• 公 (gōng): This character's primary meaning is “public,” “common,” or “official.” Think of it as relating to the community or state. For example, `公园 (gōngyuán)` is a “public park.”
• 司 (sī): This character means “to manage,” “to control,” or “department.” It implies an organized function or administration. For example, a `司机 (sījī)` is a driver—someone who manages or controls a vehicle.
• When combined, 公司 (gōngsī) literally translates to “public management” or an “official entity for management.” This perfectly captures the modern meaning of a company: a formally registered (publicly acknowledged) organization that manages business affairs.

While 公司 (gōngsī) translates directly to “company,” its cultural weight in China can be heavier than in the West. Historically, the concept of the `单位 (dānwèi)` or “work unit” was central to a person's life, providing not just a salary but also housing, healthcare, and social identity. Today, while the `dānwèi` system has largely been replaced by the modern 公司, some of that legacy remains. A 公司 is often more than just a workplace. It can be a major source of social life, personal identity, and community. The company's success and reputation are often felt collectively by its employees, reflecting a more collectivist mindset compared to the often individualistic, “free-agent” career culture in the West. Joining a good 公司 is a significant life goal, seen as a source of stability and social standing.

公司 (gōngsī) is a neutral, universally understood term used in all contexts, from casual conversation to formal business contracts.

• Identifying Your Workplace: It's the most common way to state where you work.
• `我在一家科技公司工作。` (Wǒ zài yījiā kējì gōngsī gōngzuò.) - I work at a tech company.
• In Business Titles and Names: The word 公司 is an official part of a registered company's name.
• `华为技术有限公司` (Huáwéi Jìshù Yǒuxiàn Gōngsī) - Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
• The suffix `有限公司 (yǒuxiàn gōngsī)` means “Limited Company” (Ltd./LLC).
• As a Suffix: It's often attached to a field to specify the type of company.
• `贸易公司` (màoyì gōngsī) - Trading company
• `广告公司` (guǎnggào gōngsī) - Advertising company
• `律师事务所` (lǜshī shìwùsuǒ) - Law firm (Note: “firm” for professions like law or accounting often uses `事务所`, not `公司`).

• Example 1:
  • 这是一家新公司。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shì yījiā xīn gōngsī.
  • English: This is a new company.
  • Analysis: A simple, declarative sentence. Note the use of the measure word `家 (jiā)` for companies and other establishments.
• Example 2:
  • 你在哪家公司上班？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ zài nǎjiā gōngsī shàngbān?
  • English: Which company do you work at?
  • Analysis: A very common question when getting to know someone. `上班 (shàngbān)` means “to go to work.”
• Example 3:
  • 我们公司的福利很好。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī de fúlì hěn hǎo.
  • English: Our company's benefits are very good.
  • Analysis: Shows possession. You can say `我们的公司`, but dropping the `的 (de)` after `我们` is very common and natural in this context.
• Example 4:
  • 他想自己开一家公司。
  • Pinyin: Tā xiǎng zìjǐ kāi yījiā gōngsī.
  • English: He wants to open a company himself.
  • Analysis: The verb `开 (kāi)`, meaning “to open,” is used for starting a business or company.
• Example 5:
  • 这家公司在全球有很多分公司。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī zài quánqiú yǒu hěnduō fēngōngsī.
  • English: This company has many branch offices around the world.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates the use of `分公司 (fēn gōngsī)`, meaning “branch company” or “subsidiary.”
• Example 6:
  • 苹果是一家非常有名的美国公司。
  • Pinyin: Píngguǒ shì yījiā fēicháng yǒumíng de Měiguó gōngsī.
  • English: Apple is a very famous American company.
  • Analysis: Shows how to describe a company's nationality and reputation.
• Example 7:
  • 我明天要去那家公司面试。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ míngtiān yào qù nà jiā gōngsī miànshì.
  • English: I'm going to that company for an interview tomorrow.
  • Analysis: A practical sentence for job seekers. `面试 (miànshì)` means “interview.”
• Example 8:
  • 公司规定，员工必须准时上班。
  • Pinyin: Gōngsī guīdìng, yuángōng bìxū zhǔnshí shàngbān.
  • English: The company rules state that employees must be on time for work.
  • Analysis: Shows 公司 used as the subject of a sentence, representing the entity that makes rules (`规定`).
• Example 9:
  • 我刚接到公司的电话，需要回去加班。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ gāng jiē dào gōngsī de diànhuà, xūyào huíqù jiābān.
  • English: I just got a call from the company, I need to go back to work overtime.
  • Analysis: “The company” is used here to refer to one's workplace or employer in a general sense. `加班 (jiābān)` means “to work overtime.”
• Example 10:
  • 他们两家公司是竞争对手。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen liǎng jiā gōngsī shì jìngzhēng duìshǒu.
  • English: Their two companies are competitors.
  • Analysis: A useful sentence for business contexts, showing how to talk about relationships between companies.

A common point of confusion for learners is the difference between 公司 (gōngsī) and 企业 (qǐyè).

• 公司 (gōngsī) vs. 企业 (qǐyè) - Enterprise:
  • 公司 (gōngsī): Refers to a specific legal structure: a company, corporation (Inc.), or limited liability company (LLC). It has been legally registered as such.
  • 企业 (qǐyè): A much broader term for “enterprise” or “business.” It includes `公司`, but also state-owned enterprises (SOEs), partnerships, and even large sole proprietorships.
  • Rule of Thumb: Every `公司` is a type of `企业`, but not every `企业` is a `公司`. In everyday conversation about your office job, `公司` is almost always the right choice. `企业` is more formal and used in economic or industrial contexts.
• 公司 (gōngsī) vs. 生意 (shēngyi) - Business/Trade:
  • 公司 (gōngsī): The entity, the organization, the building.
  • 生意 (shēngyi): The activity, the trade, the transactions.
  • Incorrect: “我开一个生意。” (I open a business transaction.)
  • Correct: “我开一个公司。” (I open a company.)
  • Correct: “我做生意。” (I do business.)

• 企业 (qǐyè) - Enterprise; a broader, more formal term for a business organization.
• 单位 (dānwèi) - Work unit; a culturally significant term, often used interchangeably with `公司` in casual talk about one's workplace (“我的单位” = My workplace).
• 上班 (shàngbān) - To go to work; the action of working at a `公司`.
• 老板 (lǎobǎn) - Boss; the person in charge of the `公司`.
• 同事 (tóngshì) - Colleague/coworker; the people who work with you at a `公司`.
• 生意 (shēngyi) - Business/trade; the commercial activity that a `公司` performs.
• 集团 (jítuán) - Group/conglomerate; a large corporate group composed of multiple companies.
• 分公司 (fēn gōngsī) - Branch company or subsidiary.
• 总公司 (zǒng gōngsī) - Head office or headquarters.
• 办公室 (bàngōngshì) - Office; the physical space where people work within a `公司`.