Keywords: 采纳, caina, cǎinà, what does caina mean, caina meaning, adopt a suggestion in Chinese, accept advice in Chinese, 采纳 vs 接受, 采纳 vs 采用, Chinese for business, formal Chinese verbs.
Summary: Learn the meaning and use of the Chinese verb 采纳 (cǎinà), a key term in professional and formal contexts. This page breaks down how to use “cǎinà” to mean “adopt a suggestion” or “accept advice,” distinguishing it from similar words like `接受 (jiēshòu)` and `采用 (cǎiyòng)`. Discover its cultural significance in hierarchical settings and master its usage with practical example sentences, making your business and formal Chinese more precise and authentic.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): cǎinà
Part of Speech: Verb
HSK Level: HSK 5
Concise Definition: To formally adopt or accept a suggestion, opinion, plan, or piece of advice.
In a Nutshell: Think of `采纳` as the official “yes” to a good idea. It's a formal verb used when a person or group in authority, like a manager, a committee, or a government body, decides to take someone else's suggestion and make it their own official plan of action. It's more than just agreeing; it implies a process of selection and a commitment to implementation.
Character Breakdown
采 (cǎi): This character means “to pick,” “to gather,” or “to select.” You can visualize it as picking the best fruit from a tree. The top part (爫) represents a hand, and the bottom part (木) represents a tree.
纳 (nà): This character means “to accept,” “to receive,” or “to take in.” The left side is the silk radical (纟), and the right side (内) means “inside.” It evokes the idea of bringing something valuable (like silk) inside.
Together, 采纳 (cǎinà) literally means “to select and take in.” This perfectly describes the process of choosing the best suggestion or plan from a pool of options and formally accepting it.
Cultural Context and Significance
`采纳` reflects a structured and somewhat hierarchical approach to decision-making that is common in Chinese culture, particularly in business and government. An idea or suggestion is typically presented by a subordinate or an external party to a person or group with decision-making power. The act of `采纳` is the formal validation of that idea by the authority.
Comparison to Western Culture: In many Western business environments, brainstorming is often a more fluid, collaborative process where ideas are informally incorporated or merged. The term “adopt a suggestion” exists, but `采纳` carries a stronger sense of formal, top-down approval. For a junior employee in China, having their suggestion `采纳` by their boss is a significant form of recognition and respect. It affirms not only the quality of the idea but also the employee's contribution within the established structure. This act reinforces group harmony and respect for the decision-making process.
Practical Usage in Modern China
`采纳` is almost exclusively used in formal or professional settings. You would not use it for casual, everyday suggestions among friends.
In Business: This is its most common habitat. A manager `采纳` an employee's proposal (`方案`), a board `采纳` a new marketing strategy (`策略`), or a company `采纳` a consultant's advice (`建议`).
In Government and Academia: A government committee might `采纳` a new policy recommendation. An academic journal might `采纳` a scholar's proposed research direction.
Formality: It is a formal and polite word. Using it shows that you are taking the suggestion seriously and have gone through a deliberate thought process before accepting it.
Example Sentences
Example 1:
经理采纳了我的建议。
Pinyin: Jīnglǐ cǎinà le wǒ de jiànyì.
English: The manager adopted my suggestion.
Analysis: This is a classic and very common example of `采纳` in a business context. It shows a clear superior-subordinate dynamic where the superior approves the subordinate's idea.
English: Your opinion is very good; we will seriously consider and adopt it.
Analysis: This is a polite and professional way to respond to a suggestion, showing respect for the person's input. The phrase “认真考虑并采纳” (seriously consider and adopt) is common in formal communication.
Example 4:
不幸的是，我们的提议没有被采纳。
Pinyin: Bùxìng de shì, wǒmen de tíyì méiyǒu bèi cǎinà.
English: Unfortunately, our proposal was not accepted.
Analysis: This shows the negative form, using `没有被采纳` (méiyǒu bèi cǎinà), to mean “was not adopted/accepted.”
Example 5:
政府采纳了专家们关于环境保护的意见。
Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ cǎinà le zhuānjiāmen guānyú huánjìng bǎohù de yìjiàn.
English: The government adopted the experts' opinions on environmental protection.
Analysis: This demonstrates the use of `采纳` in a large-scale, official context like government policy.
Example 6:
如果你采纳我的忠告，就不会犯这样的错误了。
Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ cǎinà wǒ de zhōnggào, jiù bùhuì fàn zhèyàng de cuòwù le.
English: If you had taken my advice, you wouldn't have made this kind of mistake.
Analysis: Here, `采纳` is used for “advice” (`忠告`). This sentence has a slightly admonishing tone, often used when looking back on a past event.
Example 7:
这家公司最终采纳了更为先进的技术。
Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī zuìzhōng cǎinà le gèngwéi xiānjìn de jìshù.
English: This company finally adopted the more advanced technology.
Analysis: While 采用 (cǎiyòng) is more common for technology, `采纳` can be used here to emphasize the decision to *accept the plan* of using the new technology.
Example 8:
他很高兴自己的想法能被公司采纳。
Pinyin: Tā hěn gāoxìng zìjǐ de xiǎngfǎ néng bèi gōngsī cǎinà.
English: He is very happy that his idea could be adopted by the company.
Analysis: This focuses on the feeling of validation and accomplishment that comes from having one's suggestion `采纳`-ed.
Example 9:
我们应该采纳一个更灵活的策略。
Pinyin: Wǒmen yīnggāi cǎinà yí ge gèng línghuó de cèlüè.
English: We should adopt a more flexible strategy.
Analysis: Used here to propose a course of action for a group or company.
Example 10:
他们的设计理念被广泛采纳。
Pinyin: Tāmen de shèjì lǐniàn bèi guǎngfàn cǎinà.
English: Their design philosophy has been widely adopted.
Analysis: `广泛采纳` (guǎngfàn cǎinà) is a common collocation meaning “widely adopted,” often used to describe the influence of an idea or concept.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
`采纳 (cǎinà)` vs. `接受 (jiēshòu)`: This is a critical distinction for learners.
`接受` means “to accept” in a general sense. You can accept a gift (`接受礼物`), an apology (`接受道歉`), an invitation (`接受邀请`), or a fact (`接受现实`).
`采纳` is ONLY for accepting abstract things like suggestions, opinions, plans, or advice.
Incorrect: 我采纳你的道歉。(Wǒ cǎinà nǐ de dàoqiàn.) → I adopt your apology.
Correct: 我接受你的道歉。(Wǒ jiēshòu nǐ de dàoqiàn.) → I accept your apology.
`采纳 (cǎinà)` vs. `采用 (cǎiyòng)`: These two are very close and sometimes interchangeable, but there's a subtle difference.
`采纳` focuses on the decision to accept the idea or plan.
`采用` focuses on the action of adopting and using a concrete method, technology, system, or material.
You first `采纳` (accept) the suggestion, and then you `采用` (implement/use) the method.
Example: 公司采纳了我们的新营销方案 (The company adopted our new marketing plan), 然后采用了线上广告的方法 (and then used the method of online advertising).
Related Terms and Concepts
建议 (jiànyì) - Suggestion, proposal. This is the most common object of the verb `采纳`.
接受 (jiēshòu) - To accept (general). A much broader term. Never use `采纳` to accept a physical gift or an apology.
采用 (cǎiyòng) - To adopt and use (a method, technology). The next step after `采纳`. It focuses on implementation.
同意 (tóngyì) - To agree. A much more common and less formal word. You can `同意` with a friend's idea to see a movie, but you would `采纳` a colleague's business proposal.
拒绝 (jùjué) - To refuse, to reject. The direct antonym of both `采纳` and `接受`.
意见 (yìjiàn) - Opinion, view. Another common type of input that can be `采纳`-ed.
方案 (fāng'àn) - Plan, proposal, scheme. A formal, structured idea presented for consideration and potential `采纳`.
批准 (pīzhǔn) - To approve, to ratify. Even more formal than `采纳`. This is an official act of granting permission, often from a higher authority, and involves paperwork or a formal seal.