外包

wàibāo: 外包 - Outsource, Outsourcing

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: wàibāo, 外包, outsource Chinese, outsourcing in China, Chinese business terms, subcontracting in Chinese, what is waibao, China supply chain, business process outsourcing (BPO) China
  • Summary: Learn the meaning and usage of the essential Chinese business term 外包 (wàibāo), which translates to “outsource” or “outsourcing.” This guide covers its character breakdown, cultural significance in China's modern economy, practical examples for business contexts, and how it differs from related concepts like subcontracting. A must-know term for anyone doing business with or in China.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): wàibāo
  • Part of Speech: Verb, Noun
  • HSK Level: N/A (Essential for Business Chinese)
  • Concise Definition: To contract a business process or function to an external, third-party provider.
  • In a Nutshell: 外包 (wàibāo) is a straightforward and modern business term. Imagine a company has a “package” (包 bāo) of work, like customer service or manufacturing. Instead of doing it in-house, they give this package to an “outside” (外 wài) company that specializes in it. This is the core concept of outsourcing, and the Chinese term captures it perfectly.

Character Breakdown

  • 外 (wài): This character means “outside,” “external,” or “foreign.” It's found in words like `外国人 (wàiguórén)` - foreigner, and `外面 (wàimiàn)` - outside.
  • 包 (bāo): This character means “to wrap,” “a package,” “a bundle,” or “to contract.” It's used in words like `包括 (bāokuò)` - to include, and `包子 (bāozi)` - steamed bun (a wrapped food).
  • The characters combine literally to mean “outside package” or “to contract to the outside.” This construction vividly describes the act of handing over a bundle of work to an external party.

Cultural Context and Significance

  • Modern Economic Engine: Unlike ancient concepts like `关系 (guānxi)`, 外包 (wàibāo) is a product of modern globalized economics. Its significance in China is immense, as the country's rise as the “world's factory” was built on the principle of Western companies outsourcing manufacturing to Chinese partners.
  • Evolution of Outsourcing: Initially, 外包 in China was almost exclusively associated with low-cost manufacturing. However, as China's economy has developed, the term now covers a vast range of services, including IT support, software development, customer service call centers, animation, and even complex research and development.
  • Comparison to Western “Outsourcing”: The core business concept is identical to “outsourcing” in the West. The key difference lies in the scale and context. In China, 外包 is a fundamental pillar of the national economic strategy and a daily reality for tens of millions of workers. It's discussed not just in boardrooms but is a common topic related to employment, regional development, and international trade. The domestic market for outsourcing within China is also enormous, with large companies in Beijing or Shanghai outsourcing functions to companies in smaller, lower-cost cities.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • Business and Corporate: This is the most common context. The term is used in meetings, contracts, and business plans to discuss strategy, cost-cutting, and efficiency.
  • IT and Tech Industry: The tech sector frequently uses 外包 to refer to outsourcing software development, testing (QA), or IT infrastructure management.
  • Connotation: The term itself is neutral.
    • Positive: It's often used positively to frame a smart business decision: “We 外包 our non-core business to focus on innovation.” (我们外包非核心业务以专注于创新。)
    • Negative: It can carry a negative connotation for employees who fear their jobs might be outsourced, or for customers who complain about the lower quality of an outsourced service.
  • Formality: The term is standard and can be used in both formal presentations and informal discussions among colleagues.

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 为了降低成本，我们公司决定把一部分生产任务外包出去。
    • Pinyin: Wèile jiàngdī chéngběn, wǒmen gōngsī juédìng bǎ yībùfèn shēngchǎn rènwù wàibāo chūqù.
    • English: In order to reduce costs, our company decided to outsource a portion of the production tasks.
    • Analysis: A classic and very common example of using 外包 as a verb in a business strategy context.
  • Example 2:
    • 很多科技公司会把客户服务外包给专业的呼叫中心。
    • Pinyin: Hěnduō kējì gōngsī huì bǎ kèhù fúwù wàibāo gěi zhuānyè de hūjiào zhōngxīn.
    • English: Many tech companies will outsource their customer service to professional call centers.
    • Analysis: This sentence highlights a specific business function (customer service) that is commonly outsourced.
  • Example 3:
    • 这个项目是外包的，所以我们需要和供应商保持良好沟通。
    • Pinyin: Zhège xiàngmù shì wàibāo de, suǒyǐ wǒmen xūyào hé gōngyìngshāng bǎochí liánghǎo gōutōng.
    • English: This project is outsourced, so we need to maintain good communication with the vendor.
    • Analysis: Here, 外包 is used adjectivally to describe the project.
  • Example 4:
    • 你觉得我们应该自己开发这个软件，还是把它外包？
    • Pinyin: Nǐ juéde wǒmen yīnggāi zìjǐ kāifā zhège ruǎnjiàn, háishì bǎ tā wàibāo?
    • English: Do you think we should develop this software ourselves, or outsource it?
    • Analysis: A typical question that comes up in business meetings, presenting outsourcing as a strategic choice.
  • Example 5:
    • 我们正在寻找一个可靠的外包合作伙伴。
    • Pinyin: Wǒmen zhèngzài xúnzhǎo yīgè kěkào de wàibāo hézuò huǒbàn.
    • English: We are looking for a reliable outsourcing partner.
    • Analysis: In this sentence, 外包 functions as a noun, modifying “partner.”
  • Example 6:
    • 外包的主要好处是能让公司专注于其核心业务。
    • Pinyin: Wàibāo de zhǔyào hǎochù shì néng ràng gōngsī zhuānzhù yú qí héxīn yèwù.
    • English: The main benefit of outsourcing is that it allows a company to focus on its core business.
    • Analysis: 外包 is the subject of the sentence, used as a noun to refer to the concept of outsourcing.
  • Example 7:
    • 自从把IT支持外包后，我们的技术问题解决得慢多了。
    • Pinyin: Zìcóng bǎ IT zhīchí wàibāo hòu, wǒmen de jìshù wèntí jiějué de màn duō le.
    • English: Ever since we outsourced IT support, our technical problems are solved much more slowly.
    • Analysis: This example shows a negative perspective on the results of outsourcing.
  • Example 8:
    • 他是一家外包公司的项目经理。
    • Pinyin: Tā shì yījiā wàibāo gōngsī de xiàngmù jīnglǐ.
    • English: He is a project manager at an outsourcing company.
    • Analysis: Demonstrates how 外包 can be used to describe a type of company.
  • Example 9:
    • 人力资源外包现在越来越普遍了。
    • Pinyin: Rénlì zīyuán wàibāo xiànzài yuèláiyuè pǔbiàn le.
    • English: Human resources outsourcing is becoming more and more common now.
    • Analysis: Shows how 外包 can be combined with other business functions, like HR (人力资源).
  • Example 10:
    • 这家小公司接了很多大企业的外包订单。
    • Pinyin: Zhè jiā xiǎo gōngsī jiēle hěnduō dà qǐyè de wàibāo dìngdān.
    • English: This small company took on many outsourcing orders from large corporations.
    • Analysis: This sentence illustrates the other side of the transaction—the company *receiving* the outsourced work.

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • 外包 (wàibāo) vs. 分包 (fēnbāo) - Outsourcing vs. Subcontracting:
    • 外包 (wàibāo) is about contracting out an entire business function or process (e.g., all customer service, all manufacturing). The focus is on the *function*.
    • 分包 (fēnbāo), “to subcontract,” is about breaking down a single, large project into smaller parts and giving those parts to other contractors. The focus is on a *part of a project*. For example, a main construction company might 分包 the electrical work and plumbing to specialized firms.
    • Common Mistake: Using 外包 when you mean a specific part of a single project. If you're building one house and hire someone else just to do the roof, that's closer to 分包. If you are a home-building company and you decide another company will now do *all* the roofs for *all* your houses, that's 外包.
  • Not for Hiring Individuals:
    • 外包 refers to a business-to-business arrangement. You don't 外包 a task to a single freelance worker. In that case, you would use words like `雇 (gù)` (to hire) or `请 (qǐng)` (to hire/invite). For a temporary worker, you might use `临时工 (línshígōng)`.

Related Terms and Concepts

  • 分包 (fēnbāo) - Subcontracting. Often confused with 外包, but refers to a part of a project, not an entire business function.
  • 供应商 (gōngyìngshāng) - Supplier / Vendor. The company that receives the outsourced work is a 供应商.
  • 供应链 (gōngyìngliàn) - Supply Chain. A concept deeply connected to outsourcing, especially in manufacturing.
  • 成本控制 (chéngběn kòngzhì) - Cost Control. A primary motivation for a company to 外包.
  • 核心业务 (héxīn yèwù) - Core Business / Core Competency. Companies 外包 their non-core activities to focus on this.
  • 制造业 (zhìzàoyè) - Manufacturing Industry. The sector most famously associated with 外包 in China.
  • 承包 (chéngbāo) - To contract (to undertake a project). This is what the supplier does; they 承包 the work that the client 外包s.
  • 劳务派遣 (láowù pàiqiǎn) - Labor Dispatch / Staffing Services. Related but different. This is about hiring *people* from an agency to work within your company, whereas 外包 is about contracting a *service* from another company.
  • 外派 (wàipài) - To be sent on assignment abroad; an expatriate. This term is about moving personnel, not tasks. Do not confuse `外派员工` (expatriate employee) with 外包.