tuángòu: 团购 - Group Buying, Group Purchase

Keywords: tuangou, 团购, group buying China, group purchase, Chinese e-commerce, Pinduoduo, Meituan, community buying, what is tuangou, buying in a group in Chinese, collective buying

Summary: Discover the meaning of 团购 (tuángòu), a cornerstone of modern Chinese life and e-commerce. More than just “group buying,” tuangou is a social and economic phenomenon where communities, friends, or online users band together to purchase goods and services at a discounted price. This guide explores its cultural roots in collectivism, its massive role on platforms like Pinduoduo and Meituan, and how you can use the term practically in everyday conversation.

Pinyin (with tone marks): tuán gòu

Part of Speech: Verb / Noun

HSK Level: HSK 5

Concise Definition: To purchase something as a group to secure a better price; a group purchase.

In a Nutshell: Imagine “team-buying.” 团购 (tuángòu) is the act of pooling everyone's individual orders together into one large order to get a bulk discount. It's a highly social and practical activity in China, done for everything from groceries and movie tickets to electronics and cars. It's not just about saving money; it's about smart, collective action.

团 (tuán): This character means “group,” “团體 (tuántǐ - team),” or “society.” The character 囗 represents an enclosure, with the component inside suggesting a gathering. Think of it as people coming together in one unit.

购 (gòu): This character means “to buy” or “to purchase.” It's composed of 贝 (bèi), which originally meant “shell” and was used as ancient currency, and 勾 (gōu), which provides the phonetic sound. So, it's literally the act of using money (贝) to acquire something.

Together, 团 (group) + 购 (buy) creates the straightforward and literal meaning: “to buy as a group.”

团购 (tuángòu) is far more than the Western concept of “Groupon” or a Costco run. While the goal is a discount, the process is deeply embedded in Chinese social dynamics and the cultural value of collectivism (集体主义, jítǐ zhǔyì).

Comparison to “Groupon”: A Western service like Groupon is often an anonymous, one-off transaction between an individual and a business, facilitated by a platform. Chinese 团购, especially 社区团购 (shèqū tuángòu - community group buying), is built on social trust. It's often organized within a WeChat group for a specific apartment complex by a trusted neighbor known as a 团长 (tuánzhǎng - group leader). This turns a simple purchase into a community-building activity, strengthening neighborhood bonds.

A Lifeline: During the 2022 Shanghai lockdown, 团购 became an essential lifeline for millions. With normal logistics shut down, residents organized massive group buys for basic necessities like vegetables, meat, and milk. This event solidified 团购 not just as a commercial convenience but as a powerful tool for community self-organization and mutual support. It embodies the idea that the group's collective power can solve problems that are difficult for an individual to overcome.

团购 is a daily activity for many people in China, facilitated by technology.

Online Super-Apps: Platforms like 美团 (Měituán) and 大众点评 (Dàzhòng Diǎnpíng) are famous for offering 团购 deals on meals, hotel stays, movie tickets, and beauty services. You buy a voucher through the app and redeem it at the business.

E-commerce Giants: 拼多多 (Pīnduōduō) built its entire empire on a social 团购 model. Users initiate a group buy for a product and must invite friends to join to unlock the lower price, turning every user into a promoter.

Community Group Buying (社区团购): This is arguably the most common form today. A 团长 (tuánzhǎng) in a residential community will post daily offers for fresh produce, baked goods, or other items in a WeChat group. Residents place their orders, the 团长 consolidates them, and the bulk order is delivered to a central pickup point in the complex the next day. This is the epitome of practical, trust-based 团购.

Connotation: The term is overwhelmingly positive and practical. Participating in a 团购 is seen as being savvy, resourceful, and community-minded.

拼多多 (Pīnduōduō) - A massive e-commerce platform whose primary business model is social group buying.

美团 (Měituán) - A super-app known for its 团购 deals on food, entertainment, and local services.

团长 (tuánzhǎng) - The “group leader,” a crucial community organizer for neighborhood 团购.

社区团购 (shèqū tuángòu) - “Community group buying,” the hyperlocal model popular in residential areas.

打折 (dǎzhé) - To give a discount. This is the main motivation for participating in a 团购.

性价比 (xìngjiàbǐ) - The cost-performance ratio. A high 性价比 is the goal of a good 团购.

秒杀 (miǎoshā) - “Flash sale” (literally “second kill”). Another extremely popular online shopping concept in China.

优惠券 (yōuhuìquàn) - A coupon. These are often used in combination with 团购 deals for extra savings.

批量购买 (pīliàng gòumǎi) - Bulk buying. The act of a single entity buying a large quantity, distinct from the collective action of 团购.

凑单 (còudān) - To add items to an order to meet a minimum threshold, often for free shipping or a discount. This is a common action within a 团购.