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商务 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
商务shāngwùcommercial affairsHSK 5, n, 16 strokes, rank #9518, Hard
商务shāngwùcommercialHSK 5, n, 16 strokes, rank #9518, Hard
商务shāngwùcommerceHSK 5, n, 16 strokes, rank #9518, Hard
商务shāngwùbusinessHSK 5, n, 16 strokes, rank #9518, Hard
shāngwù(shang1wu4)shang wu T1
  1. 1commercial affairs
  2. 2commercial
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March 24, 2026

商务(商務)shāngwù(shang1wu4)

商务 refers to matters related to commerce and business activities. It encompasses a wide range of professional interactions, including trade, negotiations, and corporate relationships, often in formal contexts.

Strokes16Frequency#9518DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, business transactions often involve building relationships and trust, known as 'guanxi'. Understanding 商务 is essential for navigating these interactions effectively.

Memory Tip

Think of 商 (shang) as a shop where business is conducted, while 务 (wu) can remind you of work. Picture a bustling shop where people are hard at work negotiating deals and making sales, reinforcing the connection to commerce.

Meanings of 商务

shāngwù(shang1wu4)
1commercial affairs
2commercial
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 商务

商务Simplified
商務Traditional
16Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#9518Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2BCT✓CEFRB1

Podcast: 商务

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Podcast: 商务

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AI Study Notes for 商务

Quick Contrast

商务 (business) vs 贸易 (trade) — use 商务 for broader business activities, while 贸易 specifically refers to trade transactions.

Usage Notes

商务 is typically used in formal contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversations. Common collocations include 商务旅行 (business travel) and 商务会议 (business meeting). Be mindful of tone, as mispronouncing 商 (shang) can change the meaning.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 5 word, 商务 connects well with other business-related vocabulary. Focus on how it is used in conjunction with other terms like 交流 (communication) and 合作 (cooperation) in business contexts.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 商务 with 日常 (daily), thinking they can use it to describe everyday activities. For example, saying '我今天有商务的事情' to mean 'I have daily matters' is incorrect; it should be '日常的事情'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 商务

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Component Characters

商Shāngthe Shang dynasty, 16th to 11th century BC
HSK 711 strokes口
View full entry
务wùaffair
HSK 45 strokes夂
View full entry

How to say commercial affairs in Chinese

“commercial affairs” in Chinese is商务shāngwù

商务 refers to matters related to commerce and business activities. It encompasses a wide range of professional interactions, including trade, negotiations, and corporate relationships, often in formal contexts.

When to use 商务

商务 is typically used in formal contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversations. Common collocations include 商务旅行 (business travel) and 商务会议 (business meeting). Be mindful of tone, as mispronouncing 商 (shang) can change the meaning.

商务 or something close to it

商务 (business) vs 贸易 (trade) — use 商务 for broader business activities, while 贸易 specifically refers to trade transactions.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 商务 with 日常 (daily), thinking they can use it to describe everyday activities. For example, saying '我今天有商务的事情' to mean 'I have daily matters' is incorrect; it should be '日常的事情'.

Write 商务

商
务

Practice writing 商务 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 商务

商务 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

你可以付费升级到____舱。

You can pay to be upgraded to a business class seat.

Example Sentences for 商务 (6)

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1
你可以付费升级到商务舱。

nǐ kě yǐ fù fèi shēng jí dào shāng wù cāng。

You can pay to be upgraded to a business class seat.
2
她最近在商务印书馆出版了她的第4本专著.

tā zuì jìn zài shāng wù yìn shū guǎn chū bǎn le tā de dì4 4 běn zhuān.

She has recently published her fourth book with the Commercial Press.
3
一门特别的商务法语选修课引起了大家的关注。

yī mén tè bié de shāng wù fǎ yǔ xuǎn xiū kè yǐn qǐ le dà jiā de guān zhù。

Attention is drawn to a special voluntary course in Commercial French.
4
这些权威得到了出版商的力推和商务出版界的大肆宣传。

zhè xiē quán wēi dé dào le chū bǎn shāng de lì tuī hé shāng wù chū bǎn jiè de dà sì xuān chuán。

These gurus are being promoted by publishers and hyped in the business press.
5
我们转入宽频传输领域后，将会提供多种电子商务服务。

wǒ mén zhuǎn rù kuān pín chuán shū lǐng yù hòu， ， jiāng huì tí gōng duō zhǒng diàn zǐ shāng wù fú。

As we move into broadband, a wide range of e-commerce services will become available.
6
申请表应寄给；商务编辑。

shēn qǐng biǎo yīng jì gěi； ； shāng wù biān。

Applications should be addressed to: The business affairs editor.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 商务

商务 refers specifically to commercial affairs, while 业务 typically refers to business operations or services.

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