When combined, 代理 (dàilǐ) literally means “to substitute and manage” or “to act on behalf of (代) and handle the affairs (理).” This perfectly captures the meaning of an agent who represents and manages business for another party.
While 代理 (dàilǐ) is a practical business and legal term, its application in China has a unique cultural flavor. In the West, the relationship with an “agent” or “distributor” is often strictly contractual and transactional. In China, the relationship with a 代理商 (dàilǐshāng - agent/distributor) is frequently built on a deeper foundation of trust and 关系 (guānxi), or personal connection. A foreign company choosing a Chinese 代理 (dàilǐ) isn't just hiring a salesperson; they are entrusting their brand's face and reputation to that person or company in a specific region. The success of the partnership often depends as much on the agent's network and social capital as it does on the formal contract. This agent becomes the embodiment of the brand, and their personal honor is tied to the product's success. This contrasts with a more “arms-length” Western approach, highlighting how business in China often involves a blend of personal relationships and formal agreements.
代理 (dàilǐ) is an extremely common word in several key areas of modern Chinese life.
This is one of the most common contexts. A 代理商 (dàilǐshāng) is an “agent” or “distributor.” A 总代理 (zǒngdàilǐ) is the “sole agent” or “general agent” for a country or region.
For anyone using the internet in China, 代理 (dàilǐ) is a familiar term. It refers to a 代理服务器 (dàilǐ fúwùqì), or “proxy server.” People often just say “我要开一下代理” (wǒ yào kāi yīxià dàilǐ - “I need to turn on my proxy”). This is the technology that VPNs use to help users access websites that are blocked in China.
A 代理人 (dàilǐrén) is a “legal agent,” “proxy,” or “attorney-in-fact” who is authorized to act on someone's behalf. For example, a parent is the 法定代理人 (fǎdìng dàilǐrén), or “legal representative,” of their minor child.