Types of Businesses Vocabulary in Traditional Chinese: 60 real-life businesses for beginners

You’ll learn the most common ways to say “company,” “shop,” “bank,” “clinic,” and a bunch of other places adults mysteriously spend money. Every item includes Traditional Chinese characters, pinyin (tone marks), an English meaning, and a short example sentence you can actually use. Tap the speaker buttons to hear Taiwan Mandarin (zh-TW).

Yak Snark

If you call everything a 公司, people will assume you have HR, meetings, and a printer that never works. Sometimes it’s just… a 店. Keep it simple.

Quick-use business words (tap to hear them)

公司

gōngsī

company

商店

shāngdiàn

shop / store

餐廳

cāntīng

restaurant

咖啡店

kāfēidiàn

café

便利商店

biànlì shāngdiàn

convenience store

超級市場

chāojí shìchǎng

supermarket

銀行

yínháng

bank

藥局

yàojú

pharmacy

Useful phrases you’ll actually say

你在哪裡上班？

Nǐ zài nǎlǐ shàngbān?

Where do you work?

這家公司做什麼？

Zhè jiā gōngsī zuò shénme?

What does this company do?

這家店幾點開門？

Zhè jiā diàn jǐ diǎn kāimén?

What time does this place open?

可以刷卡嗎？

Kěyǐ shuākǎ ma?

Can I pay by card?

可以開發票嗎？

Kěyǐ kāi fāpiào ma?

Can you issue an invoice/receipt?

有沒有分店？

Yǒu méiyǒu fēndiàn?

Do you have a branch?

可以外送嗎？

Kěyǐ wàisòng ma?

Do you deliver?

可以預約嗎？

Kěyǐ yùyuē ma?

Can I make a reservation/appointment?

我想找附近的咖啡店。

Wǒ xiǎng zhǎo fùjìn de kāfēidiàn.

I want to find a nearby café.

你們有客服嗎？

Nǐmen yǒu kèfú ma?

Do you have customer service?

我想應徵這個職缺。

Wǒ xiǎng yìngzhēng zhège zhíquē.

I want to apply for this opening.

我們是新創公司。

Wǒmen shì xīnchuàng gōngsī.

We’re a startup.

A quick “Chinese business naming” cheat code

Common endings: 店 (shop), 行 (store/firm, often specialty shops in Taiwan), 館 (venue), 所 (office/clinic), 院 (hospital/institute), 社 (agency/publisher).
Counting: 一家 usually works for businesses (一家公司 / 一家店). 一間 is common for physical shops/rooms (一間店 / 一間診所).

Mini pattern examples

Traditional Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning (EN)	Example (ZH + pinyin)	Translation (EN)
店	diàn	shop (ending)	這家花店很漂亮。 Zhè jiā huādiàn hěn piàoliàng.	This flower shop is really pretty.
所	suǒ	office / institute (ending)	我去物理治療所復健。 Wǒ qù wùlǐ zhìliáosuǒ fùjiàn.	I’m going to a physical therapy clinic for rehab.
館	guǎn	venue / hall (ending)	這個博物館週一休館。 Zhège bówùguǎn zhōuyī xiūguǎn.	This museum is closed on Mondays.

More business types (grouped so your brain doesn’t quit)

Food & drink

Traditional Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning (EN)	Example (ZH + pinyin)	Translation (EN)
小吃店	xiǎochīdiàn	snack shop	夜市的小吃店很多。Yèshì de xiǎochīdiàn hěn duō.	There are lots of snack shops at the night market.
麵店	miàndiàn	noodle shop	我常去那家麵店吃牛肉麵。Wǒ cháng qù nà jiā miàndiàn chī niúròumiàn.	I often go to that noodle shop for beef noodles.
飲料店	yǐnliàodiàn	drink shop (tea, boba, etc.)	這家飲料店的珍珠很Q。Zhè jiā yǐnliàodiàn de zhēnzhū hěn Q.	This drink shop’s boba is really chewy.
茶館	cháguǎn	teahouse	我們在茶館聊天喝茶。Wǒmen zài cháguǎn liáotiān hē chá.	We chat and drink tea at the teahouse.
麵包店	miànbāodiàn	bakery	麵包店剛出爐的味道很香。Miànbāodiàn gāng chūlú de wèidào hěn xiāng.	The fresh-from-the-oven smell at the bakery is amazing.
甜點店	tiándiǎndiàn	dessert shop	這家甜點店的千層蛋糕很有名。Zhè jiā tiándiǎndiàn de qiāncéng dàngāo hěn yǒumíng.	This dessert shop is famous for its mille crepe cake.
火鍋店	huǒguōdiàn	hot pot restaurant	天氣冷的時候，我們去火鍋店。Tiānqì lěng de shíhou, wǒmen qù huǒguōdiàn.	When it’s cold, we go to a hot pot place.

Shopping & retail

Traditional Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning (EN)	Example (ZH + pinyin)	Translation (EN)
百貨公司	bǎihuò gōngsī	department store	百貨公司週年慶人很多。Bǎihuò gōngsī zhōuniánqìng rén hěn duō.	Department stores are packed during anniversary sales.
量販店	liàngfàn diàn	big-box store / warehouse store	我們去量販店買一大箱水。Wǒmen qù liàngfàn diàn mǎi yí dà xiāng shuǐ.	We went to a big-box store to buy a big case of water.
書店	shūdiàn	bookstore	我在書店找中文學習書。Wǒ zài shūdiàn zhǎo Zhōngwén xuéxí shū.	I’m looking for Chinese-learning books at the bookstore.
文具店	wénjùdiàn	stationery store	文具店有很多筆記本。Wénjùdiàn yǒu hěn duō bǐjìběn.	The stationery store has lots of notebooks.
服飾店	fúshìdiàn	clothing store	這家服飾店正在打折。Zhè jiā fúshìdiàn zhèngzài dǎzhé.	This clothing store is having a discount.
電器行	diànqìháng	electronics store (common in Taiwan)	我去電器行買耳機。Wǒ qù diànqìháng mǎi ěrjī.	I went to an electronics shop to buy headphones.
五金行	wǔjīnháng	hardware store	五金行可以買到螺絲和工具。Wǔjīnháng kěyǐ mǎi dào luósī hé gōngjù.	You can buy screws and tools at a hardware store.
花店	huādiàn	flower shop	我在花店買一束花。Wǒ zài huādiàn mǎi yì shù huā.	I bought a bouquet at the flower shop.
二手店	èrshǒudiàn	secondhand store	二手店常常能挖到寶。Èrshǒudiàn chángcháng néng wā dào bǎo.	You can often find great stuff at secondhand shops.
網路商店	wǎnglù shāngdiàn	online shop	我在網路商店下單。Wǒ zài wǎnglù shāngdiàn xiàdān.	I placed an order on an online shop.

Services, transport & logistics

Traditional Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning (EN)	Example (ZH + pinyin)	Translation (EN)
理髮店	lǐfàdiàn	barbershop	我去理髮店剪頭髮。Wǒ qù lǐfàdiàn jiǎn tóufǎ.	I’m going to the barbershop for a haircut.
美髮沙龍	měifà shālóng	hair salon	她在美髮沙龍染頭髮。Tā zài měifà shālóng rǎn tóufǎ.	She dyes her hair at a salon.
美甲店	měijiǎdiàn	nail salon	週末我想去美甲店。Zhōumò wǒ xiǎng qù měijiǎdiàn.	I want to go to a nail salon this weekend.
按摩店	ànmódiàn	massage shop	工作太累，我去按摩店放鬆。Gōngzuò tài lèi, wǒ qù ànmódiàn fàngsōng.	Work is exhausting, so I go to a massage shop to relax.
洗衣店	xǐyīdiàn	laundromat / laundry shop	我把外套拿去洗衣店洗。Wǒ bǎ wàitào ná qù xǐyīdiàn xǐ.	I take my coat to the laundry shop.
修車廠	xiūchēchǎng	auto repair shop	車子怪怪的，我去修車廠。Chēzi guàiguài de, wǒ qù xiūchēchǎng.	Something’s off with the car, so I’m going to a repair shop.
加油站	jiāyóuzhàn	gas station	前面有加油站，我們先加油。Qiánmiàn yǒu jiāyóuzhàn, wǒmen xiān jiāyóu.	There’s a gas station ahead—let’s fuel up first.
搬家公司	bānjiā gōngsī	moving company	我下週要搬家，已經找搬家公司了。Wǒ xiàzhōu yào bānjiā, yǐjīng zhǎo bānjiā gōngsī le.	I’m moving next week, and I already booked a moving company.
物流公司	wùliú gōngsī	logistics company	這家物流公司送貨很快。Zhè jiā wùliú gōngsī sònghuò hěn kuài.	This logistics company delivers fast.

Finance & legal

Traditional Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning (EN)	Example (ZH + pinyin)	Translation (EN)
保險公司	bǎoxiǎn gōngsī	insurance company	我想換一家保險公司。Wǒ xiǎng huàn yì jiā bǎoxiǎn gōngsī.	I want to switch to a different insurance company.
證券公司	zhèngquàn gōngsī	securities firm / brokerage	他在證券公司開戶。Tā zài zhèngquàn gōngsī kāihù.	He opened an account at a brokerage.
信用合作社	xìnyòng hézuòshè	credit union	我家附近有信用合作社。Wǒ jiā fùjìn yǒu xìnyòng hézuòshè.	There’s a credit union near my home.
會計師事務所	kuàijìshī shìwùsuǒ	accounting firm	報稅的時候，我會找會計師事務所。Bàoshuì de shíhou, wǒ huì zhǎo kuàijìshī shìwùsuǒ.	When it’s tax time, I use an accounting firm.
律師事務所	lǜshī shìwùsuǒ	law firm	這件事我想先問律師事務所。Zhè jiàn shì wǒ xiǎng xiān wèn lǜshī shìwùsuǒ.	I want to ask a law firm about this first.
不動產仲介	bùdòngchǎn zhòngjiè	real estate agent/agency	不動產仲介帶我們看房子。Bùdòngchǎn zhòngjiè dài wǒmen kàn fángzi.	A real estate agent showed us an apartment.
當鋪	dāngpù	pawn shop	他把手錶拿去當鋪。Tā bǎ shǒubiǎo ná qù dāngpù.	He took his watch to a pawn shop.

Health & wellness

Traditional Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning (EN)	Example (ZH + pinyin)	Translation (EN)
診所	zhěnsuǒ	clinic	我感冒了，去診所看醫生。Wǒ gǎnmào le, qù zhěnsuǒ kàn yīshēng.	I caught a cold, so I’m going to a clinic.
牙醫診所	yáyī zhěnsuǒ	dental clinic	我今天要去牙醫診所洗牙。Wǒ jīntiān yào qù yáyī zhěnsuǒ xǐyá.	I’m going to the dentist for a cleaning today.
健身房	jiànshēnfáng	gym	他下班後去健身房運動。Tā xiàbān hòu qù jiànshēnfáng yùndòng.	He goes to the gym after work.
瑜伽館	yújiāguǎn	yoga studio	這間瑜伽館的課很放鬆。Zhè jiān yújiāguǎn de kè hěn fàngsōng.	The classes at this yoga studio are very relaxing.
物理治療所	wùlǐ zhìliáosuǒ	physical therapy clinic	他去物理治療所治療肩膀。Tā qù wùlǐ zhìliáosuǒ zhìliáo jiānbǎng.	He goes to physical therapy for his shoulder.
美容院	měiróngyuàn	beauty salon	她常去美容院做保養。Tā cháng qù měiróngyuàn zuò bǎoyǎng.	She often goes to a beauty salon for skincare treatments.
動物醫院	dòngwù yīyuàn	veterinary hospital	貓咪不舒服，我帶牠去動物醫院。Māomī bù shūfu, wǒ dài tā qù dòngwù yīyuàn.	My cat isn’t feeling well, so I’m taking it to the vet.

Education & culture

Traditional Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning (EN)	Example (ZH + pinyin)	Translation (EN)
補習班	bǔxíbān	cram school / tutoring center	他晚上要去補習班上課。Tā wǎnshàng yào qù bǔxíbān shàngkè.	He goes to cram school at night.
語言中心	yǔyán zhōngxīn	language center	我在語言中心學中文。Wǒ zài yǔyán zhōngxīn xué Zhōngwén.	I study Chinese at a language center.
幼兒園	yòu’éryuán	kindergarten	她的孩子在幼兒園。Tā de háizi zài yòu’éryuán.	Her child is in kindergarten.
圖書館	túshūguǎn	library	我週末去圖書館看書。Wǒ zhōumò qù túshūguǎn kàn shū.	I go to the library to read on weekends.
博物館	bówùguǎn	museum	這個博物館有特展。Zhège bówùguǎn yǒu tèzhǎn.	This museum has a special exhibition.
出版社	chūbǎnshè	publishing house	他在出版社當編輯。Tā zài chūbǎnshè dāng biānjí.	He works as an editor at a publishing house.

Tech & media

Traditional Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning (EN)	Example (ZH + pinyin)	Translation (EN)
科技公司	kējì gōngsī	tech company	他在科技公司做工程師。Tā zài kējì gōngsī zuò gōngchéngshī.	He’s an engineer at a tech company.
軟體公司	ruǎntǐ gōngsī	software company	這家軟體公司開發App。Zhè jiā ruǎntǐ gōngsī kāifā App.	This software company develops apps.
新創公司	xīnchuàng gōngsī	startup	他加入一間新創公司。Tā jiārù yì jiān xīnchuàng gōngsī.	He joined a startup.
廣告公司	guǎnggào gōngsī	advertising agency	廣告公司在做新的企劃。Guǎnggào gōngsī zài zuò xīn de qǐhuà.	The ad agency is working on a new campaign.
設計工作室	shèjì gōngzuòshì	design studio	我朋友在設計工作室上班。Wǒ péngyǒu zài shèjì gōngzuòshì shàngbān.	My friend works at a design studio.
遊戲公司	yóuxì gōngsī	game company / game studio	這家遊戲公司出了新作。Zhè jiā yóuxì gōngsī chū le xīnzuò.	This game company released a new title.

Industry & building

Traditional Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning (EN)	Example (ZH + pinyin)	Translation (EN)
工廠	gōngchǎng	factory	這座工廠在工業區。Zhè zuò gōngchǎng zài gōngyèqū.	This factory is in an industrial area.
建築公司	jiànzhù gōngsī	construction company	建築公司在蓋新的大樓。Jiànzhù gōngsī zài gài xīn de dàlóu.	The construction company is building a new tower.
工程公司	gōngchéng gōngsī	engineering firm	這家工程公司做橋梁工程。Zhè jiā gōngchéng gōngsī zuò qiáoliáng gōngchéng.	This engineering firm works on bridges.
印刷廠	yìnshuāchǎng	printing factory/shop	我去印刷廠印名片。Wǒ qù yìnshuāchǎng yìn míngpiàn.	I went to a printer to print business cards.

Travel & hospitality

Traditional Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning (EN)	Example (ZH + pinyin)	Translation (EN)
飯店	fàndiàn	hotel	我們訂了市中心的飯店。Wǒmen dìng le shìzhōngxīn de fàndiàn.	We booked a hotel in the city center.
民宿	mínsù	B&B / guesthouse	這間民宿很安靜。Zhè jiān mínsù hěn ānjìng.	This guesthouse is very quiet.
青年旅館	qīngnián lǚguǎn	hostel	青年旅館比較便宜。Qīngnián lǚguǎn bǐjiào piányí.	Hostels are cheaper.
旅行社	lǚxíngshè	travel agency	我透過旅行社訂行程。Wǒ tòuguò lǚxíngshè dìng xíngchéng.	I booked an itinerary through a travel agency.

Public services & organizations

Traditional Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning (EN)	Example (ZH + pinyin)	Translation (EN)
郵局	yóujú	post office	我去郵局寄包裹。Wǒ qù yóujú jì bāoguǒ.	I’m going to the post office to send a package.
政府機關	zhèngfǔ jīguān	government agency	這份文件要去政府機關辦理。Zhè fèn wénjiàn yào qù zhèngfǔ jīguān bànlǐ.	This document needs to be handled at a government office.
非營利組織	fēi yínglì zǔzhī	nonprofit organization	她在非營利組織工作。Tā zài fēi yínglì zǔzhī gōngzuò.	She works at a nonprofit.
基金會	jījīnhuì	foundation	這個基金會在做公益活動。Zhège jījīnhuì zài zuò gōngyì huódòng.	This foundation runs charity events.

Entertainment & events

Traditional Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning (EN)	Example (ZH + pinyin)	Translation (EN)
電影院	diànyǐngyuàn	movie theater	我們去電影院看電影。Wǒmen qù diànyǐngyuàn kàn diànyǐng.	We’re going to the movie theater.
遊樂園	yóulèyuán	amusement park	小朋友很喜歡遊樂園。Xiǎopéngyǒu hěn xǐhuān yóulèyuán.	Kids really love amusement parks.
展覽館	zhǎnlǎnguǎn	exhibition hall	展覽館今天有市集。Zhǎnlǎnguǎn jīntiān yǒu shìjí.	There’s a market event at the exhibition hall today.
卡拉OK	kǎlā ōukèi	karaoke place	我們晚上去卡拉OK唱歌。Wǒmen wǎnshàng qù kǎlā ōukèi chànggē.	We’re going to karaoke tonight.

Optional variants (because Chinese loves options)

What you want to say	Traditional Chinese	Pinyin	Notes
“a company”	一家公司	yì jiā gōngsī	一家 is a super common “business counter.”
“a (physical) shop”	一間店	yì jiān diàn	一間 is very natural for places you can walk into.
“branch store”	分店	fēndiàn	Useful for chains. Ask: 有沒有分店？
“head office / HQ”	總公司	zǒng gōngsī	Opposite vibe of 分店.

Yak Snark (final)

Learn five endings (店 / 行 / 館 / 所 / 院) and you can “guess” a shocking number of business names. It’s basically a cheat code… that your brain can afford.