zhanhui: 展会 - Exhibition, Trade Fair, Expo

  • Keywords: zhanhui, zhǎnhuì, 展会, exhibition in Chinese, trade fair in Chinese, expo in Chinese, Chinese business fair, Canton Fair, Shanghai Auto Show, what is a zhanhui, Chinese for trade show
  • Summary: The Chinese word 展会 (zhǎnhuì) refers to an exhibition, trade fair, or expo. It's a cornerstone of modern Chinese business, describing large-scale events where companies showcase products and services to network, find partners, and generate sales. Understanding 展会 is essential for anyone interested in commerce or industry in China, from the massive Canton Fair to specialized tech expos.
  • Pinyin (with tone marks): zhǎnhuì
  • Part of Speech: Noun
  • HSK Level: HSK 5
  • Concise Definition: A large-scale, organized event where products, services, or art are displayed for commercial or public viewing.
  • In a Nutshell: Think of a convention center filled with booths from different companies in the same industry—that's a `展会`. It's a “display gathering” where businesses come to show off their latest and greatest, meet potential clients, and see what the competition is up to. It's a very common and important term in the world of Chinese business and commerce.
  • 展 (zhǎn): This character means to unfold, open up, display, or exhibit. Imagine unfolding a scroll or a map to show its contents to others.
  • 会 (huì): This character means a meeting, gathering, or assembly. It's the same `会` found in `会议 (huìyì)`, which means “meeting”.
  • When combined, 展会 (zhǎnhuì) literally translates to an “exhibition gathering” or “display meeting,” a perfect and logical description of a trade fair or expo.

The concept of a trade fair is universal, but the scale and cultural importance of the `展会` in modern China are immense. Since the economic reforms of the 1980s, `展会` have become a primary engine for China's integration into the global economy. They are not just places to do business; they are symbols of China's industrial might, technological ambition, and openness to the world. A key cultural difference compared to a Western trade show lies in the approach to networking. While a Western businessperson might focus on immediate lead generation and sales pitches, the Chinese approach at a `展会` often prioritizes building 关系 (guānxi)—long-term, trust-based relationships. The initial meeting at a booth is just the first step. It's often followed by a formal dinner or tea, where the real relationship-building begins. The goal is not just to close a single deal, but to establish a reliable partner for the future. Therefore, attending a `展会` in China is as much about social navigation and demonstrating respect as it is about product demonstration.

`展会` is a formal and standard term used extensively in business, media, and official contexts.

  • In Business: Companies “participate in a `展会`” (`参加展会 - cānjiā zhǎnhuì`) to launch new products, find suppliers (`找供应商 - zhǎo gōngyìngshāng`), meet distributors, and conduct market research. Announcements for upcoming fairs are common in industry publications and news.
  • In Conversation: People in business-related fields will frequently talk about preparing for, attending, or returning from a `展会`. For example: “Which `展会` are you going to next month?” (`下个月你去哪个展会?`).
  • Beyond Business: While predominantly commercial, the term can also apply to large-scale public exhibitions like a book fair (`书展会 - shū zhǎnhuì`) or an auto show (`车展会 - chē zhǎnhuì`), which are massive cultural events.
  • Example 1:
    • 我们公司每年都参加上海的那个科技展会
    • Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī měinián dōu cānjiā Shànghǎi de nàge kējì zhǎnhuì.
    • English: Our company participates in that tech expo in Shanghai every year.
    • Analysis: This is a very typical sentence showing how a company regularly attends a specific trade fair as part of its business strategy.
  • Example 2:
    • 你要去参加今年的广交会展会吗?
    • Pinyin: Nǐ yào qù cānjiā jīnnián de Guǎngjiāohuì zhǎnhuì ma?
    • English: Are you going to attend this year's Canton Fair?
    • Analysis: “广交会 (Guǎngjiāohuì)” is the Canton Fair, China's most famous `展会`. The word `展会` here is slightly redundant but often added for clarity, similar to saying “the ATM machine.”
  • Example 3:
    • 这个展会的规模非常大,有来自一百多个国家的参展商。
    • Pinyin: Zhège zhǎnhuì de guīmó fēicháng dà, yǒu láizì yībǎi duō ge guójiā de cānzhǎnshāng.
    • English: The scale of this expo is huge; there are exhibitors from over 100 countries.
    • Analysis: This sentence uses `规模 (guīmó)` to describe the size of the fair and introduces the related term `参展商 (cānzhǎnshāng)`, meaning “exhibitor.”
  • Example 4:
    • 我在展会上认识了很多潜在客户。
    • Pinyin: Wǒ zài zhǎnhuì shàng rènshi le hěn duō qiánzài kèhù.
    • English: I met a lot of potential clients at the trade fair.
    • Analysis: This highlights a primary goal of attending a `展会`: networking and lead generation.
  • Example 5:
    • 为了准备下周的展会,我们团队一直在加班。
    • Pinyin: Wèile zhǔnbèi xiàzhōu de zhǎnhuì, wǒmen tuánduì yīzhí zài jiābān.
    • English: In order to prepare for next week's trade fair, our team has been working overtime.
    • Analysis: Shows the significant effort and preparation that goes into participating in a `展会`.
  • Example 6:
    • 今天的汽车展会上展出了很多新款电动车。
    • Pinyin: Jīntiān de qìchē zhǎnhuì shàng zhǎnchū le hěn duō xīnkuǎn diàndòngchē.
    • English: Many new models of electric cars were displayed at the auto show today.
    • Analysis: A specific example of an industry-focused `展会` (an auto show).
  • Example 7:
    • 你需要一张门票才能进入这个艺术展会
    • Pinyin: Nǐ xūyào yī zhāng ménpiào cáinéng jìnrù zhège yìshù zhǎnhuì.
    • English: You need a ticket to be able to enter this art exhibition.
    • Analysis: This shows that `展会` isn't exclusively for B2B; it can also be for public-facing events like an art fair.
  • Example 8:
    • 我们在展会上的展台在A区。
    • Pinyin: Wǒmen zài zhǎnhuì shàng de zhǎntái zài A qū.
    • English: Our booth at the expo is in Area A.
    • Analysis: Introduces the essential vocabulary `展台 (zhǎntái)`, meaning “exhibition booth/stand.”
  • Example 9:
    • 这次展会为我们提供了一个很好的学习机会。
    • Pinyin: Zhècì zhǎnhuì wèi wǒmen tígōng le yī ge hěn hǎo de xuéxí jīhuì.
    • English: This trade fair provided us with a great learning opportunity.
    • Analysis: Emphasizes that `展会` is also for learning about industry trends and competitors, not just selling.
  • Example 10:
    • 展会明天就结束了,我们得抓紧时间。
    • Pinyin: Zhǎnhuì míngtiān jiù jiéshù le, wǒmen děi zhuājǐn shíjiān.
    • English: The expo ends tomorrow, we have to hurry up.
    • Analysis: A practical sentence about the time-limited nature of these events.

A common point of confusion for learners is the difference between 展会 (zhǎnhuì) and 展览 (zhǎnlǎn).

  • 展会 (zhǎnhuì): Emphasizes the event aspect (the `会`, or gathering). It's a fair, an expo, a show. It implies a large-scale, time-limited event with many participants, usually with a commercial or interactive focus.
    • Correct: 我要去参加一个招聘展会。 (Wǒ yào qù cānjiā yī ge zhāopìn zhǎnhuì.) - I'm going to attend a job fair.
  • 展览 (zhǎnlǎn): Emphasizes the display itself (the `览`, or viewing). It refers to an exhibition of items for people to look at, often in a museum or gallery setting. It's less about commerce and more about viewing and appreciation.
    • Correct: 故宫博物院正在举办一个明代家具展览。 (Gùgōng Bówùyuàn zhèngzài jǔbàn yī ge Míngdài jiājù zhǎnlǎn.) - The Palace Museum is holding an exhibition of Ming Dynasty furniture.

Common Mistake: Using `展览` when you mean a trade fair.

  • Incorrect: 我要去一个科技展览找客户。(Wǒ yào qù yī ge kējì zhǎnlǎn zhǎo kèhù.)
  • Why it's wrong: While people might understand you, it sounds awkward. A “tech exhibition” where you find clients is a `展会` because the primary purpose is the commercial gathering, not just passive viewing.
  • Correct: 我要去一个科技展会找客户。(Wǒ yào qù yī ge kējì zhǎnhuì zhǎo kèhù.)
  • 展览 (zhǎnlǎn) - An exhibition, a display (often in a museum/gallery, less commercial).
  • 博览会 (bólǎnhuì) - A large-scale, often international, exposition (e.g., the World Expo). More formal and grand than `展会`.
  • 展台 (zhǎntái) - The physical booth or stand that a company occupies at a `展会`.
  • 展品 (zhǎnpǐn) - The products or items on display at an exhibition; the exhibits.
  • 参展 (cānzhǎn) - A verb meaning “to participate in an exhibition.”
  • 广交会 (Guǎngjiāohuì) - The Canton Fair, China's largest and most famous biannual trade fair held in Guangzhou.
  • 会议 (huìyì) - A meeting or conference. A `展会` might contain several `会议`, but the main focus is on the displays.
  • 商务 (shāngwù) - Business; commercial affairs. The context in which `展会` is most often used.
  • 供应商 (gōngyìngshāng) - Supplier; vendor. A key type of business partner people look for at a `展会`.