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分销 (fēn xiāo) — distribution (the system or process of getting goods from producer to buyer); retail distribution; retailing (as a business activity)

Definition

A business term for the wholesale-and-retail chain that moves goods from producer to consumer. Pairs with 网络 ('distribution network') and 成本 ('distribution costs'), as in the examples.

noun
distribution (the system or process of getting goods from producer to buyer)retail distributionretailing (as a business activity)

Examples

  • 分销。
    Tā men gōng sī fù zé quán guó de chǎn pǐn fēn xiāo.
    Their company is responsible for nationwide product distribution.
  • 分销。
    Zhè jiā qǐ yè jiàn lì le wán shàn de fēn xiāo wǎng luò.
    This enterprise has established a complete distribution network.
  • 分销。
    fēn xiāo Chéng běn zhàn dào le zǒng chéng běn de bǎi fēn zhī sān shí.
    Distribution costs account for 30% of the total cost.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

分fēndistribute
销xiāosell

分销 combines 分, meaning to distribute, with 销, meaning to sell, describing the process of moving goods to buyers.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

分 pairs 八 (to separate) with 刀 (knife), showing something cut apart with a knife.

Open 分 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 銷; 销 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
金金jīn
Sound part声符shēngfú
肖
肖xiào銷xiāo
Same sound today

The traditional form 銷 pairs 金 (metal) with 肖 as a sound part; simplified 销 is a later shorthand, and its parts are not historical components.

Open 销 →
Appears in
Marketing & Sales

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