yíngyè shōurù: 营业收入 - Operating Revenue, Sales Revenue

• Keywords: yingye shouru, 营业收入, operating revenue in Chinese, sales revenue in Chinese, turnover, business income, Chinese business terms, financial report, top-line revenue, how to say revenue in Chinese
• Summary: Learn the crucial Chinese business term 营业收入 (yíngyè shōurù), which translates to “operating revenue” or “sales revenue.” This page provides a deep dive into its meaning, character breakdown, and practical use in modern China. Understand how to read Chinese financial reports and discuss a company's performance by mastering this fundamental concept, distinguishing it clearly from profit (利润).

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yíngyè shōurù
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: N/A (Specialized Business/Finance Term)
• Concise Definition: The total income a company generates from its primary, day-to-day business activities before any expenses are subtracted.
• In a Nutshell: 营业收入 (yíngyè shōurù) is the “top line” on a company's income statement. It's the total amount of money a business brings in from selling its goods or services. Think of it as the raw number that reflects a company's sales performance before considering costs like salaries, rent, or materials. It answers the question: “How much money did the company make from its core business?”

• 营 (yíng): This character means “to operate,” “to manage,” or “to run.” It's often associated with organized activities, like running a business or a military camp (兵营 - bīngyíng).
• 业 (yè): This character refers to “business,” “industry,” or “profession.” It signifies a line of work or a commercial enterprise.
• 收 (shōu): Meaning “to receive” or “to collect.” Picture it as the action of gathering things that are coming to you.
• 入 (rù): Meaning “to enter.” The character itself looks like an arrow pointing inwards.

When combined, 营业 (yíngyè) means “business operations,” and 收入 (shōurù) means “income.” Therefore, 营业收入 (yíngyè shōurù) literally translates to “business operations income”—the money that comes in from running the business.

While 营业收入 (yíngyè shōurù) is a universal business concept, its prominence in China is tied to the country's “growth-first” economic story over the past few decades. For a long time, increasing market share and growing revenue were seen as the most important indicators of a company's success and potential, sometimes even more so than immediate profitability. Comparison with “Revenue” in the West: The concept is nearly identical to “Operating Revenue” or “Turnover” as defined by international accounting standards. The key cultural nuance for a learner is understanding its place in the hierarchy of business metrics in China. It is the fundamental starting point for any discussion about a company's financial health. A crucial distinction to make is between 营业收入 (yíngyè shōurù) and 利润 (lìrùn - profit). In both Western and Chinese business culture, this is a critical difference. Revenue is the grand total of sales, while profit is the much smaller amount left after all costs are paid. However, in casual discussions or news headlines in China, you will often see massive 营业收入 figures used to convey a company's scale and market dominance, which is a powerful indicator of influence and status.

This is a formal and technical term used almost exclusively in business and financial contexts. You will not hear it in casual daily conversation unless someone is specifically discussing their company's performance or analyzing a stock.

• In Financial Reports (财报 - cáibào): This is the first major line item on an income statement (利润表 - lìrùn biǎo). It's the basis from which all other profit calculations are made.
• In Business News: Journalists and analysts frequently cite a company's 营业收入 and its growth rate (e.g., 同比增长 - tóngbǐ zēngzhǎng, year-on-year growth) to report on its performance.
• In Investor Meetings: CEOs and CFOs will present their company's 营业收入 figures to shareholders to demonstrate sales trends and market position.

The term has a neutral connotation. It is simply a factual measure of sales.

• Example 1:
  • 去年，我们公司的营业收入增长了百分之二十。
  • Pinyin: Qùnián, wǒmen gōngsī de yíngyè shōurù zēngzhǎng le bǎifēnzhī èrshí.
  • English: Last year, our company's operating revenue grew by twenty percent.
  • Analysis: A standard, formal sentence you might hear in a business meeting, stating a key performance indicator.
• Example 2:
  • 这家科技巨头的营业收入主要来自广告。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā kējì jùtóu de yíngyè shōurù zhǔyào láizì guǎnggào.
  • English: This tech giant's operating revenue mainly comes from advertising.
  • Analysis: This sentence breaks down the source of revenue, a common topic in business analysis.
• Example 3:
  • 财报显示，第三季度的营业收入达到了五亿元。
  • Pinyin: Cáibào xiǎnshì, dì-sān jìdù de yíngyè shōurù dádào le wǔ yì yuán.
  • English: The financial report shows that third-quarter operating revenue reached 500 million yuan.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates how the term is used when citing official figures. “财报 (cáibào)” is the financial report.
• Example 4:
  • 分析师预测他们的营业收入将继续下滑。
  • Pinyin: Fēnxīshī yùcè tāmen de yíngyè shōurù jiāng jìxù xiàhuá.
  • English: Analysts predict their operating revenue will continue to decline.
  • Analysis: Shows the term used in the context of financial forecasting and analysis.
• Example 5:
  • 尽管营业收入很高，但公司的利润却很低。
  • Pinyin: Jǐnguǎn yíngyè shōurù hěn gāo, dàn gōngsī de lìrùn què hěn dī.
  • English: Although the operating revenue is high, the company's profit is very low.
  • Analysis: A classic and important sentence that directly contrasts revenue with profit (利润 - lìrùn).
• Example 6:
  • 我们的新产品能带来多少营业收入？
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen de xīn chǎnpǐn néng dàilái duōshǎo yíngyè shōurù?
  • English: How much operating revenue can our new product generate?
  • Analysis: A forward-looking question used in business planning and strategy sessions.
• Example 7:
  • 受疫情影响，许多公司的营业收入都受到了冲击。
  • Pinyin: Shòu yìqíng yǐngxiǎng, xǔduō gōngsī de yíngyè shōurù dōu shòudào le chōngjī.
  • English: Affected by the pandemic, many companies' operating revenues have taken a hit.
  • Analysis: This sentence puts the term in a real-world macroeconomic context.
• Example 8:
  • 公司的总营业收入中，海外市场占了百分之三十。
  • Pinyin: Gōngsī de zǒng yíngyè shōurù zhōng, hǎiwài shìchǎng zhàn le bǎifēnzhī sānshí.
  • English: In the company's total operating revenue, the overseas market accounts for 30%.
  • Analysis: This shows how revenue figures are often segmented, for example, by geography.
• Example 9:
  • 为了提高营业收入，我们必须扩大销售渠道。
  • Pinyin: Wèile tígāo yíngyè shōurù, wǒmen bìxū kuòdà xiāoshòu qúdào.
  • English: In order to increase operating revenue, we must expand our sales channels.
  • Analysis: A common sentence used when discussing business strategy to boost sales.
• Example 10:
  • 请解释一下营业收入和净利润的区别。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng jiěshì yīxià yíngyè shōurù hé jìng lìrùn de qūbié.
  • English: Please explain the difference between operating revenue and net profit.
  • Analysis: A question a business student or new employee might ask, highlighting a key learning point.

• Mistake #1: Confusing Revenue with Profit.
  • This is the most common and critical mistake. 营业收入 (yíngyè shōurù) is the total money collected from sales (the top line). 利润 (lìrùn) is the money left after all expenses are paid (the bottom line).
  • Incorrect: 他们的营业收入很高，所以他们赚了很多钱。(Their revenue is high, so they earned a lot of money.)
  • Why it's likely wrong: A company can have massive revenue but still lose money if its costs are even higher. A high-revenue, low-profit business is very common.
  • Correct: 他们的营业收入很高，但是因为成本也很高，所以利润并不多。(Their revenue is high, but because costs are also high, their profit is not much.)
• Mistake #2: Using it for Personal Income.
  • 营业收入 is strictly for businesses. An individual's salary or income is simply 收入 (shōurù) or 工资 (gōngzī).
  • Incorrect: 我这个月的营业收入是一万块。(My “operating revenue” this month is 10,000 kuai.)
  • Correct: 我这个月的收入是一万块。(My income this month is 10,000 kuai.)

• 利润 (lìrùn) - Profit. The most important related concept; what remains after subtracting costs from revenue.
• 成本 (chéngběn) - Cost. The expenses incurred to generate revenue.
• 毛利 (máolì) - Gross Profit. The profit after subtracting the direct costs of producing goods (Cost of Goods Sold). It's a step between revenue and net profit.
• 净利润 (jìng lìrùn) - Net Profit. The final “bottom-line” profit after all expenses, taxes, and interest have been deducted from revenue.
• 营业额 (yíngyè'é) - Turnover / Sales Volume. A very close synonym for 营业收入. They are often used interchangeably in business news, though 营业收入 is the more formal accounting term.
• 财报 (cáibào) - Financial Report. The official document where you will find the 营业收入 figure.
• 同比增长 (tóngbǐ zēngzhǎng) - Year-on-year growth. A common metric used to describe the change in 营业收入 compared to the same period in the previous year.
• 收入 (shōurù) - Income. The general term for “income.” When used alone, it can refer to a person's salary or a business's revenue, but 营业收入 is unambiguously business revenue.