应酬

應酬
yìngchou
noun HSK 7-9 #16,351

Meanings

  1. 1 social engagement; business entertainment
  2. 2 to socialize; to wine and dine

Characters

Literally 'responding with entertainment' - the obligatory socializing and entertaining that comes with professional life.

Examples

HSK 1
Wǒ bù xǐhuan yìngchou, tài lèi le.
I don't like business socializing - it's too exhausting.
HSK 2
Tā jīnwǎn yǒu yìngchou, huílái de wǎn.
He has a social engagement tonight - he'll be back late.

Tips

culture
应酬 is a huge part of Chinese business culture - it typically means going out for dinner and drinks with clients, bosses, or business partners. It's considered a professional obligation rather than a personal choice. Many Chinese professionals cite 应酬太多 (too many social engagements) as a major source of work stress.

Stroke Order

yīng
chóu