事業 / 事业
shìyè
The English word business can be translated into Mandarin as 事業 / 事业 (shìyè). If unsure, use 事業 / 事业. Wiktionary also lists 企業 / 企业 (qǐyè).
Meaning: commercial enterprise or establishment (noun)
Ways to say it
| Mandarin | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 事業 / 事业 | shìyè |
| 企業 / 企业 | qǐyè |
Which one should you use?
事業 / 事业 (shìyè) refers more to a person's career, a grand undertaking or a life's work rather than a simple commercial shop or company. In contrast, 企業 / 企业 (qǐyè) is the term used specifically for a commercial enterprise, corporation or business entity in a professional or economic context. When talking about the act of doing business or making money (e.g., 'business is good'), use 生意 (shēngyi) instead of 事業 / 事业 or 企業 / 企业.
How do you pronounce it?
shìyè
Did you know?
- While 企業 (qǐyè) means 'enterprise', the first character 企 originally depicted a person standing on their tiptoes. This represents the 'anticipation' or 'looking forward' involved in starting a new venture.
- In Chinese culture, the phrase 做生意 (zuò shēngyi) for 'doing business' is often linked to the concept of 'luck'. Many business owners place a 'money tree' or a 'lucky cat' in their shops to attract this energy.
- The term 事業 (shìyè) can be used to describe a revolutionary movement or a political cause. It is not limited to professional careers but can refer to 'the great cause' of a nation.
Examples in context
- 我们需要商讨一些重要的事务。We need to discuss some important business matters.
- 这家公司在国际商业领域有很高的地位。This company holds a high position in the international business arena.
- 他在做房地产买卖。He is involved in real estate business.
- 創業 / 创业to start a business
Sources
- Wiktionary, “business” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
