营业额

营业额 (yíngyè'é) refers to the total sales or revenue generated by a business over a period. It's the gross amount of money earned before any expenses are deducted. Think of it as the 'top line' number.

利润 (lìrùn), on the other hand, means profit. This is what's left after all expenses (like cost of goods, salaries, rent, etc.) are subtracted from the营业额. It's the 'bottom line' number, indicating how much money the business actually made.

You can use it just like 'turnover' or 'business volume' in English. Here are a few examples:

1. 我们公司的营业额去年增长了百分之十。 (Wǒmen gōngsī de yíngyè'é qùnián zēngzhǎng le bǎifēnzhī shí.)
Our company's turnover increased by ten percent last year.

2. 这家小店的月营业额不高，但利润很好。 (Zhè jiā xiǎo diàn de yuè yíngyè'é bù gāo, dàn lìrùn hěn hǎo.)
This small shop's monthly business volume isn't high, but the profit is very good.

3. 提高营业额是今年的主要目标。 (Tígāo yíngyè'é shì jīnnián de zhǔyào mùbiāo.)
Increasing turnover is this year's main goal.

No, not at all! 营业额 (yíngyè'é) can be used for businesses of any size, from a small street vendor to a multinational corporation. It simply refers to the total sales revenue generated. So whether it's a small shop or a big factory, you can talk about its 营业额.

Let's break it down:

• 营 (yíng): This character means 'to operate,' 'to manage,' or 'to do business.'
• 业 (yè): This means 'industry,' 'profession,' or 'business.' So, 营业 (yíngyè) together means 'business operations' or 'to do business.'
• 额 (é): This character means 'a fixed number,' 'amount,' or 'quota.'

Put them together and you get 营业额 (yíngyè'é), which literally translates to 'business operation amount' or 'business revenue amount,' making perfect sense for 'turnover' or 'business volume'.

Good question! While 销售额 (xiāoshòu'é) also means 'sales volume' or 'sales revenue,' it's generally considered a subset of 营业额 (yíngyè'é). 营业额 is broader and can include other forms of income beyond direct sales, like service fees or rental income, depending on the business type. For most everyday business contexts, using 营业额 is usually safe and more encompassing. If you're specifically talking about revenue from selling goods, 销售额 is perfectly fine.

To say 'high turnover,' you would say 高的营业额 (gāo de yíngyè'é) or more commonly, 营业额很高 (yíngyè'é hěn gāo). For example:

这家餐厅的营业额很高。 (Zhè jiā cāntīng de yíngyè'é hěn gāo.)
This restaurant has a high turnover.

The pinyin is yíngyè'é.

• 营 (yíng) is a second tone.
• 业 (yè) is a fourth tone.
• 额 (é) is a second tone.

Practice saying it slowly: yíng-yè-é.

营业额 (yíngyè'é) is primarily a business and economic term. While it's not overly formal, it's not something you'd typically use in a casual conversation about everyday life unless you're specifically discussing business performance. You'll hear it often in news reports, business meetings, or when talking about a company's financial performance.

Generally, 营业额 (yíngyè'é) refers to the total revenue generated before the deduction of taxes, such as sales tax or value-added tax (VAT), in many accounting practices. However, the exact definition can sometimes vary based on specific accounting standards or industry practices. When discussing detailed financial reports, it's always good to clarify if the figures are 'tax-inclusive' or 'tax-exclusive' if it's not explicitly stated, although usually it's pre-tax.

While 营业额 (yíngyè'é) itself is a straightforward business term and doesn't typically appear in many colorful idioms like some other Chinese words, you'll frequently see it used with verbs that describe its change, such as:

• 增加营业额 (zēngjiā yíngyè'é): to increase turnover
• 提高营业额 (tígāo yíngyè'é): to raise turnover
• 下降营业额 (xiàjiàng yíngyè'é): to decrease turnover
• 达到营业额 (dádào yíngyè'é): to reach a turnover (target)