yǐnjìn: 引进 - to Introduce, to Import, to Bring in

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Summary: Discover the meaning of the essential Chinese verb 引进 (yǐnjìn), which means “to introduce,” “to import,” or “to bring in.” This page provides a deep dive into how 引进 is used in modern China, particularly in business, technology, and policy, to describe the strategic introduction of foreign technology, talent, and concepts. Learn the difference between 引进 and similar words like 介绍 (jièshào) and 进口 (jìnkǒu) with clear examples and cultural context.

Pinyin (with tone marks): yǐn jìn

Part of Speech: Verb

HSK Level: HSK 5

Concise Definition: To introduce or bring in something new from an external source into a system, organization, or country.

In a Nutshell: Think of 引进 as “leading something in.” It’s not just about introducing one person to another (that's `介绍 jièshào`). Instead, 引进 is a formal and strategic action. It’s what a company does when it brings in a new manufacturing process from Japan, what a country does when it adopts a successful foreign policy, or what a farm does when it imports a new, hardier type of crop. It implies progress, improvement, and learning from the outside world.

引 (yǐn): This character means “to pull,” “to draw,” or “to lead.” The left side, 弓 (gōng), is a pictograph of a bow. The right side is a vertical stroke. Together, they represent the action of drawing a bow, which requires pulling and guiding.

进 (jìn): This character means “to enter” or “to advance.” It's composed of 辶 (chuò), the “walking” radical, and 隹 (zhuī), a character for a short-tailed bird. It paints a picture of a bird moving forward, signifying progress and entry.

When combined, 引进 (yǐnjìn) literally means “to lead/pull (引) something so that it enters (进).” This perfectly captures the modern meaning of actively bringing something from the outside, *in*.

The term 引进 is deeply connected to China's “Reform and Opening Up” (改革开放, gǎigé kāifàng) period, which began in the late 1970s. During this era, a core national strategy was to 引进 foreign technology (引进技术), foreign investment (引进外资), and advanced management practices (引进管理经验) to rapidly modernize the country. The word carries the weight of this transformative national project.

In Western business culture, there is often a strong emphasis on “homegrown innovation” and a “not invented here” skepticism. In contrast, the widespread and positive use of 引进 in China reflects a pragmatic cultural value: if a better idea or technology exists elsewhere, the smart move is to learn from it, adopt it, and adapt it. It highlights a strategic willingness to absorb external knowledge for internal development, a key driver of China's economic growth.

引进 is a semi-formal to formal word. You will hear it constantly in news reports, business meetings, academic papers, and official documents. It's less common in very casual, everyday conversation unless you're discussing one of these topics.

进口 (jìnkǒu) - To import (physical goods for trade).

出口 (chūkǒu) - To export (physical goods for trade). The opposite of `进口`.

介绍 (jièshào) - To introduce (a person, a topic); to present.

推荐 (tuījiàn) - To recommend (a person for a job, a book, a restaurant).

技术 (jìshù) - Technology. A very common object of the verb `引进`.

人才 (réncái) - Talent; skilled person. Another common object of `引进`.

外资 (wàizī) - Foreign investment/capital.

吸收 (xīshōu) - To absorb; to assimilate. Often describes what happens after something is `引进`d.

采用 (cǎiyòng) - To adopt; to use (e.g., a method, a suggestion).

改革开放 (gǎigé kāifàng) - Reform and Opening Up. The historical policy that made `引进` a keyword for modern China.