jīngyíng: 经营 - To Operate, Run, Manage (a business)

• Keywords: 经营, jingying, jīngyíng, run a business in Chinese, operate a company in Chinese, Chinese business vocabulary, 经营 vs 管理, what does jingying mean, Chinese for management, HSK 5 vocabulary.
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese business term 经营 (jīngyíng), which means to operate, run, or manage an enterprise. This page breaks down its deeper meaning, distinguishing it from simple “management” (管理, guǎnlǐ) by highlighting its focus on long-term strategy, market positioning, and profitability. Discover how 经营 is used in modern China, from corporate boardrooms to metaphorical discussions about life and relationships, with practical examples and cultural insights for learners.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jīngyíng
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To operate, run, or manage a business or other commercial enterprise.
• In a Nutshell: 经营 (jīngyíng) is about more than just day-to-day management. It encompasses the entire strategic process of running an organization to make it successful and profitable. Think of it as steering the ship: deciding the destination, charting the course, and navigating the market. It implies foresight, planning, and ultimate responsibility for the enterprise's success or failure.

• 经 (jīng): This character's original meaning is related to the vertical threads (warp) in weaving, which form the foundation of the cloth. This evolved to mean “to pass through,” “to undergo,” and by extension, “to manage” or “to handle,” as in managing a continuous process.
• 营 (yíng): This character is associated with a “camp” or “barracks,” a place of organized activity. It also carries the meaning of “to plan,” “to build,” and “to seek” (often, to seek profit).
• Together, 经营 (jīngyíng) combines the idea of systematic management and process (经) with goal-oriented planning and building (营). The result is a powerful term for the strategic, long-term operation of a business with the aim of growth and profitability.

In Chinese business culture, there is a crucial distinction between 经营 (jīngyíng) and 管理 (guǎnlǐ), a nuance often lost in the English words “run” or “manage.”

• 经营 (jīngyíng) is about the “what” and the “why.” It's outward-facing and strategic. It asks: What business are we in? Who are our customers? How will we compete and make a profit? It deals with business models, market strategy, and long-term vision. The person who is good at `经营` is a strategist and a visionary.
• 管理 (guǎnlǐ) is about the “how.” It's inward-facing and administrative. It asks: How do we organize our teams? How do we improve efficiency? How do we control our budget and execute the plan? It deals with people, processes, and resources. The person who is good at `管理` is an organizer and an implementer.

This distinction is similar to the Western concept of “leadership” vs. “management.” 经营 is akin to leadership—setting the direction and vision. 管理 is about executing that vision efficiently. A successful enterprise needs both, but they are understood as distinct skill sets. The term `经营` embodies the entrepreneurial spirit that has fueled China's economic development, emphasizing proactive strategy over reactive administration.

经营 is a formal and professional term used widely in business, legal, and economic contexts.

• In Business: It's used to describe the core activity of a company. You'll see it in official documents like a business license (`营业执照`), which lists the `经营范围` (jīngyíng fànwéi) or “scope of business.” It's also used in job titles, like `经营总监` (jīngyíng zǒngjiān), an Operations Director or COO.
• Metaphorical Use: In a more literary or philosophical sense, `经营` can be applied to non-business contexts that require long-term effort, strategy, and care. For instance, one might talk about 经营人生 (jīngyíng rénshēng)—“managing one's life”—or 经营婚姻 (jīngyíng hūnyīn)—“cultivating a marriage.” This usage implies a conscious, strategic effort to build a successful and meaningful life or relationship, not just letting things happen passively.

• Example 1:
  • 他经营着一家成功的软件公司。
  • Pinyin: Tā jīngyíng zhe yī jiā chénggōng de ruǎnjiàn gōngsī.
  • English: He runs a successful software company.
  • Analysis: A straightforward example showing the primary use of `经营` for running a business.
• Example 2:
  • 由于经营不善，那家餐厅上个月关门了。
  • Pinyin: Yóuyú jīngyíng bù shàn, nà jiā cāntīng shàng ge yuè guānmén le.
  • English: Due to poor management/operation, that restaurant closed last month.
  • Analysis: Here, `经营不善` (jīngyíng bù shàn) is a common phrase meaning “poorly run” or “mismanaged,” specifically referring to strategic or operational failure.
• Example 3:
  • 这家公司的经营理念是“创新与服务”。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī de jīngyíng lǐniàn shì “chuàngxīn yǔ fúwù”.
  • English: This company's business philosophy is “innovation and service.”
  • Analysis: `经营理念` (jīngyíng lǐniàn) is a set phrase for “business philosophy” or “operating principles,” highlighting the strategic nature of the term.
• Example 4:
  • 我们的经营范围包括进出口贸易。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen de jīngyíng fànwéi bāokuò jìnchūkǒu màoyì.
  • English: Our scope of business includes import-export trade.
  • Analysis: `经营范围` (jīngyíng fànwéi) is a legal and official term found on business licenses.
• Example 5:
  • 一个好的婚姻也需要用心去经营。
  • Pinyin: Yī ge hǎo de hūnyīn yě xūyào yòngxīn qù jīngyíng.
  • English: A good marriage also needs to be mindfully cultivated/managed.
  • Analysis: This shows the metaphorical use of `经营`, applying business strategy concepts to personal relationships. It implies active effort, not passivity.
• Example 6:
  • 他在如何经营人际关系方面很有经验。
  • Pinyin: Tā zài rúhé jīngyíng rénjì guānxì fāngmiàn hěn yǒu jīngyàn.
  • English: He is very experienced in how to manage interpersonal relationships.
  • Analysis: Another metaphorical example. “Managing relationships” here means building and maintaining them strategically for long-term benefit, much like a business asset.
• Example 7:
  • 公司的经营状况最近不太理想。
  • Pinyin: Gōngsī de jīngyíng zhuàngkuàng zuìjìn bù tài lǐxiǎng.
  • English: The company's operational status has not been ideal recently.
  • Analysis: `经营状况` (jīngyíng zhuàngkuàng) refers to the overall health and performance of the business.
• Example 8:
  • 政府出台了新政策来支持小微企业经营。
  • Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ chūtái le xīn zhèngcè lái zhīchí xiǎo wēi qǐyè jīngyíng.
  • English: The government introduced new policies to support the operation of small and micro enterprises.
  • Analysis: This shows the term used in a formal, economic context.
• Example 9:
  • 他的主要职责是负责公司的日常经营活动。
  • Pinyin: Tā de zhǔyào zhízé shì fùzé gōngsī de rìcháng jīngyíng huódòng.
  • English: His main responsibility is to oversee the company's daily business operations.
  • Analysis: `经营活动` (jīngyíng huódòng) refers to all the activities involved in running the business.
• Example 10:
  • 通过多年的精心经营，他的小书店现在远近闻名。
  • Pinyin: Tōngguò duōnián de jīngxīn jīngyíng, tā de xiǎo shūdiàn xiànzài yuǎnjìn wénmíng.
  • English: Through many years of careful operation, his small bookstore is now famous far and wide.
  • Analysis: This sentence emphasizes the long-term, deliberate effort implied by `经营`. `精心经营` means “to operate meticulously.”

The most common mistake for learners is confusing 经营 (jīngyíng) with 管理 (guǎnlǐ).

• Don't use `经营` for simple administrative tasks. You don't `经营` a department meeting or `经营` an employee's schedule. You `管理` (manage) those things.
  • Incorrect: 我需要经营我的团队。 (Wǒ xūyào jīngyíng wǒ de tuánduì.) → This sounds like you are running your team as a for-profit business.
  • Correct: 我需要管理我的团队。 (Wǒ xūyào guǎnlǐ wǒ de tuánduì.) → “I need to manage my team.”
• `经营` implies a whole entity, while `管理` can apply to a part of it. You `经营` a company, a store, or a brand. You `管理` a project, a team, or a budget within that company.
• `经营` vs. `做生意 (zuò shēngyi)`:
  • 做生意 (zuò shēngyi) means “to do business.” It's more colloquial and can refer to the general act of commerce or even a single transaction. (e.g., `他去上海做生意了` - He went to Shanghai to do business).
  • 经营 (jīngyíng) is more formal and refers to the structured, long-term operation of a specific company or enterprise. You `经营` a company, and as part of that, you `做生意` with customers.

• 管理 (guǎnlǐ) - To manage; focuses on internal administration, processes, and people. The “how.”
• 运营 (yùnyíng) - To operate; very similar to `经营`, but can sometimes focus more on the day-to-day execution and operational flow of the business.
• 企业 (qǐyè) - Enterprise, company; the kind of organization that is the object of `经营`.
• 创业 (chuàngyè) - To start a business, entrepreneurship; the act of creating a business that you will then `经营`.
• 生意 (shēngyi) - Business, trade; the commercial activity itself. A successful `经营` leads to good `生意`.
• 策略 (cèlüè) - Strategy; a core component of good `经营`.
• 利润 (lìrùn) - Profit; often the primary goal of commercial `经营`.
• 老板 (lǎobǎn) - Boss, owner; the person who is ultimately responsible for the `经营` of a company.