At the A1 level, you are just beginning to learn Chinese. The word 促销 (cùxiāo) is a very useful word to know when you go shopping. It means 'sale' or 'promotion'. When you walk into a supermarket or a clothing store in China, you will often see big red signs with yellow letters. These signs usually say 促销. This means the store wants you to buy things, and they are making it cheaper or giving you a special deal. The first character, 促 (cù), means to push or promote. The second character, 销 (xiāo), means to sell. Together, they mean pushing sales. You don't need to know how to write it perfectly yet, but you should try to recognize it. If you see this word, it means you can save money! You might hear shop assistants saying '今天有促销' (Jīntiān yǒu cùxiāo), which means 'Today there is a sale'. You can use it in very simple sentences. For example, if you want to ask if a shirt is on sale, you can point to it and ask, '这个有促销吗?' (Zhège yǒu cùxiāo ma? - Does this have a promotion?). Learning this word helps you understand basic signs in stores and helps you save money when you buy food, clothes, or souvenirs. It is one of the most common words you will see in any shopping mall or market in China.
At the A2 level, you can start using 促销 (cùxiāo) in longer sentences and understand more about how it works in daily life. You already know it means 'sales promotion'. Now, you can learn how to combine it with other words. A very common phrase is 搞促销 (gǎo cùxiāo). The word 搞 (gǎo) means 'to do' or 'to make' in spoken Chinese. So, 搞促销 means 'having a sale' or 'running a promotion'. If your friend asks why the supermarket is so crowded, you can answer, '因为超市在搞促销' (Yīnwèi chāoshì zài gǎo cùxiāo - Because the supermarket is having a sale). You can also use it to talk about time. For example, '周末促销' (zhōumò cùxiāo) means a weekend sale. You might receive text messages from stores saying they have a big promotion for a holiday. You can also use it as an adjective before a noun. For example, 促销价 (cùxiāo jià) means 'promotional price'. If you see a price tag with two prices, the lower one is usually the 促销价. At this level, you should be able to ask shop assistants for details about the sale. You can ask, '促销活动什么时候结束?' (Cùxiāo huódòng shénme shíhou jiéshù? - When does the promotional event end?). Understanding this word helps you navigate shopping environments more confidently and allows you to have basic conversations about buying things and saving money.
At the B1 level, your understanding of 促销 (cùxiāo) deepens, and you can distinguish it from similar concepts. You know that it translates to 'sales promotion', but you also understand that it is a broader term than just 打折 (dǎzhé - discount). While 打折 means specifically lowering the price by a percentage, 促销 includes many different marketing strategies. For example, 'buy one get one free' (买一送一) is a type of 促销, but it is not 打折. You can use this word to discuss shopping habits and consumer behavior. You might say, '很多消费者喜欢在促销期间买东西' (Many consumers like to buy things during promotional periods). You will also encounter the term 促销活动 (cùxiāo huódòng - promotional event/activity) very frequently. This is used in both spoken and written Chinese to describe a specific marketing campaign. In e-commerce, which is huge in China, you will see this word everywhere during events like Double 11 (双十一). You can start expressing opinions about these events. For example, '我觉得有些促销活动太复杂了' (I think some promotional events are too complicated). You should also be comfortable using it as a verb, such as '这家公司正在促销他们的新产品' (This company is promoting their new product). Mastering this word at the B1 level allows you to engage in more complex conversations about commerce, advertising, and daily life in a modern Chinese context.
At the B2 level, you are expected to use 促销 (cùxiāo) in more professional and abstract contexts. You are no longer just a shopper looking for a deal; you can discuss the mechanics of marketing and business strategy. You understand that 促销 is a critical component of a company's 营销策略 (marketing strategy). You can discuss the effectiveness of different promotional methods, known as 促销手段 (cùxiāo shǒuduàn). For instance, you might analyze a company's approach by saying, '他们采用了降价和赠品相结合的促销手段' (They adopted a promotional method combining price reductions and gifts). You are also capable of discussing the economic impact of these activities. You can express ideas like, '大规模的促销活动可以有效刺激消费' (Large-scale promotional events can effectively stimulate consumption). In a business environment, you might be asked to draft a 促销方案 (promotional plan) or review the 促销预算 (promotional budget). You understand the nuances between 促销 and other business terms like 推销 (tuīxiāo - personal selling/peddling) and 推广 (tuīguǎng - general promotion/popularization). You can read and understand news articles about retail trends, e-commerce battles, and consumer psychology, where this vocabulary is heavily utilized. Your ability to use this word fluidly demonstrates a strong grasp of modern Chinese commercial terminology and the cultural importance of e-commerce festivals in contemporary Chinese society.
At the C1 level, your use of 促销 (cùxiāo) becomes highly sophisticated, reflecting an advanced understanding of business, economics, and consumer psychology. You can seamlessly integrate this term into complex discussions about market dynamics and corporate competition. You understand that promotional activities are not just about clearing inventory, but are strategic tools for market penetration (市场渗透) and brand positioning (品牌定位). You can critically analyze the long-term effects of frequent promotions, perhaps arguing that '过度依赖价格促销可能会损害品牌形象' (Over-reliance on price promotions might damage brand image). You are comfortable reading academic papers, industry reports, and in-depth financial news where terms like 促销组合 (promotional mix), 促销弹性 (promotional elasticity), and 交叉促销 (cross-promotion) are used. You can articulate the psychological mechanisms behind consumer behavior during these events, discussing concepts like FOMO (错失恐惧症) created by 限时促销 (limited-time promotions). In a professional setting, you can lead meetings to evaluate the ROI (投资回报率) of a recent campaign, using precise language to describe the metrics of success or failure. Your vocabulary is expansive enough to discuss the regulatory environment surrounding these activities, such as laws against 虚假促销 (false promotions) or 价格欺诈 (price fraud). At this level, the word is merely a building block in your comprehensive ability to analyze and debate complex macroeconomic and microeconomic phenomena in fluent Mandarin.
At the C2 level, you possess a near-native mastery of the term 促销 (cùxiāo) and its extensive semantic network. You can employ it effortlessly in any context, from casual banter about online shopping to rigorous academic discourse on macroeconomic policy. You understand the historical evolution of promotional strategies in the Chinese market, tracing the shift from traditional brick-and-mortar retail tactics to the highly sophisticated, algorithm-driven, and gamified promotional ecosystems of modern platforms like Taobao and Pinduoduo. You can dissect the socio-economic implications of phenomena like the 'Double 11' shopping festival, analyzing how nationwide 促销 events act as barometers for domestic consumption and economic health. You are adept at using idiomatic and highly specialized language related to marketing. You can debate the ethical considerations of algorithmic price discrimination (大数据杀熟) disguised as personalized promotions. In written Chinese, you can compose persuasive marketing copy, comprehensive strategic analyses, or critical essays on consumerism, utilizing the term with absolute precision. You recognize the subtle shifts in register when the word is used in a legal document versus a creative advertising pitch. Your understanding transcends the literal meaning of 'sales promotion'; you view it as a critical lens through which to examine the intersections of technology, culture, and commerce in contemporary China, articulating your insights with the eloquence and nuance of a highly educated native speaker.

促销 in 30 Seconds

  • Means 'sales promotion' or 'special offer'.
  • Used in retail and e-commerce contexts.
  • Can be a noun (a sale) or verb (to promote).
  • Broader than just a discount (打折).
The Chinese word 促销 (cùxiāo) is an essential vocabulary item for anyone navigating the vibrant and fast-paced consumer culture of modern China. At its core, the word is a combination of two distinct characters that perfectly encapsulate its meaning. The first character, 促 (cù), means to promote, to urge, or to facilitate. You might recognize it from other words like 促进 (cùjìn), which means to promote or advance. The second character, 销 (xiāo), translates to sell, sales, or to market, as seen in words like 销售 (xiāoshòu), meaning sales. When combined, 促销 literally translates to 'promote sales,' which in English is most commonly understood as a sales promotion, a special offer, or a marketing campaign designed to boost consumer purchasing.
Linguistic Breakdown
The morphological structure of this word is highly logical, combining a verb of action with a noun of commerce, creating a compound noun that can also function as a verb in specific contexts.
In everyday life, you will encounter this word in almost every commercial environment. Whether you are walking through a bustling underground shopping mall in Shanghai, browsing the endless digital aisles of Taobao or JD.com, or simply picking up groceries at a local convenience store, the concept of 促销 is omnipresent.

这家超市正在搞促销

Retailers use these strategies to clear out old inventory, introduce new products to the market, or simply drive foot traffic into their physical or digital storefronts. The term encompasses a wide variety of activities. It is not limited merely to discounting prices, which is specifically called 打折 (dǎzhé). Instead, 促销 is an umbrella term. It includes buy-one-get-one-free offers (买一送一), distributing coupons (发优惠券), limited-time flash sales (限时秒杀), and even complex gamified shopping experiences during major e-commerce festivals.

双十一是全年最大的促销活动。

Understanding this word gives you a window into the psychology of the Chinese consumer market, where buyers are highly sensitive to value and actively seek out the best deals.
Cultural Context
Chinese consumers often pride themselves on their ability to navigate complex promotional rules to maximize their savings, turning shopping into a strategic game.
Furthermore, the word is frequently used in business and professional contexts. Marketing teams spend months planning their 促销 strategies.

我们需要制定一个新的促销方案。

They analyze consumer data, monitor competitor pricing, and design eye-catching advertisements to ensure their campaigns are successful. For language learners, mastering this word is not just about expanding your vocabulary; it is about equipping yourself with the linguistic tools necessary to participate fully in modern Chinese society. Whether you are haggling at a market, discussing business strategies with colleagues, or simply trying to understand the advertisements that bombard you on the subway, recognizing and understanding this concept is absolutely crucial.

国庆节期间有很多促销

It bridges the gap between basic transactional language and a deeper comprehension of economic activities.
Practical Application
Next time you are in a Chinese supermarket, look for the dedicated promotional aisles, usually marked with large banners and enthusiastic staff members offering free samples.
By internalizing the meaning and context of this word, you will find yourself much more capable of navigating the dynamic and exciting world of Chinese commerce.

这次促销的效果非常好。

Understanding the grammatical function and syntactic placement of 促销 (cùxiāo) is vital for achieving fluency and sounding natural when speaking Chinese. Primarily, this word functions as a noun, representing the abstract concept of a sales promotion or the specific event itself. However, because Chinese grammar is highly flexible and many words can shift parts of speech depending on the context, it can also be used as a verb, meaning 'to promote sales.'
Noun Usage
When used as a noun, it is frequently paired with support verbs like 搞 (gǎo - to do/to engage in) or 进行 (jìnxíng - to conduct/to carry out).
For example, a very common colloquial expression is 搞促销 (gǎo cùxiāo), which translates to 'running a promotion' or 'having a sale.'

商场周末会搞促销

This phrasing is ubiquitous in spoken Chinese and is the most natural way to describe a store's activities. In more formal or written contexts, such as business reports or news articles, you are more likely to see 进行促销 (jìnxíng cùxiāo) or 开展促销活动 (kāizhǎn cùxiāo huódòng - to launch promotional activities). When functioning as a verb, it directly takes an object, usually the product or service being promoted.

他们正在促销新款手机。

This usage highlights the active effort of the seller to push a specific item into the market.
Adjectival Modification
The word can also act as an attributive modifier, functioning similarly to an adjective in English, to describe other nouns related to sales and marketing.
For instance, you will frequently encounter terms like 促销价 (cùxiāo jià - promotional price), 促销员 (cùxiāo yuán - sales promoter), and 促销手段 (cùxiāo shǒuduàn - promotional methods).

这个商品的促销价很便宜。

In these cases, it directly precedes the noun it modifies, adhering to the standard Chinese grammatical rule where modifiers come before the modified word. It is also important to note the use of prepositions and time words when discussing these events. You might say 在促销期间 (zài cùxiāo qījiān - during the promotional period) to establish the timeframe of an action. By mastering these various syntactic structures, you can express complex ideas about commerce, shopping, and business strategy with precision and confidence.

由于促销,店里人山人海。

Whether you are a consumer looking for a bargain or a business professional analyzing market trends, the ability to manipulate this word grammatically is an indispensable skill.
Negative Forms
To express the absence of a promotion, you would typically use 没搞 (méi gǎo) or 没有 (méiyǒu) before the word, as in 这家店今天没有促销 (This store has no promotions today).

如果停止促销,销量会下降。

The word 促销 (cùxiāo) is deeply embedded in the auditory and visual landscape of modern China, making it impossible to ignore if you spend any significant amount of time in the country or engage with its digital ecosystem. One of the most prominent places you will hear this word is within the physical retail environment.
Supermarkets and Malls
When you walk into a large Chinese supermarket like RT-Mart or Carrefour, you are often greeted by the sound of employees using portable microphones or automated loudspeakers announcing the daily deals.
These announcements frequently feature the word prominently, urging shoppers to take advantage of limited-time offers.

超市广播里一直播放着促销信息。

You will also hear it from dedicated sales staff, known as 促销员 (cùxiāo yuán), who stand at small booths offering free samples of new food products or demonstrating household gadgets. They will proactively approach you, explaining the benefits of the product and the details of the current promotional offer. Beyond physical stores, the digital realm is saturated with this vocabulary. China's e-commerce landscape is arguably the most advanced and competitive in the world, dominated by giants like Alibaba (Taobao/Tmall), JD.com, and Pinduoduo.

淘宝的首页满是促销广告。

During major shopping festivals, such as the famous Double 11 (Singles' Day on November 11th) or the 618 Mid-Year Shopping Festival, the word becomes inescapable. It is plastered across every app interface, mentioned in every promotional text message, and shouted by enthusiastic live-streamers.
Live Streaming E-commerce
Live commerce (直播带货) has revolutionized retail in China. Hosts like Austin Li (Li Jiaqi) constantly use this terminology to describe the exclusive deals they have negotiated for their viewers.

直播间里的促销力度非常大。

Furthermore, you will encounter this word in everyday conversations among friends and colleagues. People frequently share information about good deals, asking each other if they know of any ongoing promotions for specific items like electronics, cosmetics, or travel packages. In professional environments, particularly in marketing, sales, and business development, the term is a staple of daily meetings, strategy documents, and performance reviews.

经理要求我们总结上个月的促销数据。

From the chaotic energy of a wet market to the sophisticated algorithms of a tech giant, the concept permeates every level of economic exchange.
Holiday Marketing
Traditional holidays like Chinese New Year or Mid-Autumn Festival are also prime times for these activities, focusing on gift boxes and celebratory goods.

春节前夕,各大品牌都在疯狂促销

While 促销 (cùxiāo) is a relatively straightforward concept, language learners often stumble when trying to distinguish it from related vocabulary, leading to unnatural phrasing or slight misunderstandings in context. The most frequent error is confusing it with 打折 (dǎzhé), which specifically means 'to give a discount.'
The Discount Distinction
While a discount is a type of promotion, not all promotions are discounts. Using the terms interchangeably can lead to imprecise communication.
For instance, if a store is offering a 'buy one, get one free' deal, it is conducting a 促销, but it is not technically 打折, because the price of the single item hasn't been reduced by a percentage.

买一送一是促销,不是打折。

Learners might mistakenly say '这家店在打折' (This store is discounting) when they actually mean '这家店在搞促销' (This store is having a promotional event). Another common pitfall involves the word 推销 (tuīxiāo), which means to peddle, to push sales, or to market aggressively. If you say a company is 推销 its products, you imply they are aggressively pushing them onto customers, whereas saying they are 促销 implies they are offering incentives to encourage purchases.

我不喜欢接听推销电话,但我喜欢看促销广告。

Grammatically, learners sometimes struggle with the verb-object structure. Because the word itself contains a verb (促) and a noun/object (销), it is technically a separable verb (离合词) in some rare classical contexts, but in modern Chinese, it is treated as a solid two-character word.
Grammar Pitfalls
Do not try to separate the characters with aspect particles like 了 (le) or 过 (guo) in the middle. Always place them after the entire word.
For example, you should say 促销了 (cùxiāo le), never 促了销.

他们昨天促销了很多商品。

Furthermore, learners often forget to use the support verb 搞 (gǎo) in colloquial speech, resulting in sentences that sound overly formal or stiff. Instead of saying 商店有促销 (The store has a promotion), which is grammatically correct but slightly dry, native speakers will almost always say 商店在搞促销 (The store is running a promotion). Finally, be careful with the translation of 'sale.' In English, 'sale' can mean the act of selling or a promotional event. In Chinese, the act of selling is 销售 (xiāoshòu), while the promotional event is 促销.

销售额的增长得益于这次促销

Mixing these up can cause significant confusion in business contexts.
Contextual Accuracy
Always ensure you are using the right word for the specific type of commercial activity you are describing to maintain professional clarity.

不要把正常的销售和短期的促销混为一谈。

To build a rich and nuanced vocabulary in Chinese, it is essential to understand the landscape of words related to 促销 (cùxiāo). While this word serves as an excellent general term for sales promotions, there are numerous alternatives that provide more specific meanings depending on the exact nature of the commercial activity.
Direct Price Reductions
When the focus is purely on lowering the price, several specific terms are used instead of the broader concept of a promotional event.
The most common is 打折 (dǎzhé), which means to give a discount based on a percentage. In Chinese, discounts are calculated by the percentage of the original price you pay, not the percentage taken off. So, 打八折 (dǎ bā zhé) means you pay 80%, which is a 20% discount.

这件衣服现在打五折,比平时的促销还划算。

Another related term is 降价 (jiàngjià), which simply means a price reduction or price drop. This is often used for permanent price decreases rather than temporary promotional events. For aggressive sales tactics, you might encounter 特价 (tèjià), meaning special price. Items marked as 特价 are usually heavily discounted to clear inventory.

超市的特价区总是有很多促销商品。

Marketing and Strategy
In a business context, there are broader terms that encompass promotions as part of a larger strategy.
营销 (yíngxiāo) translates to marketing. While a promotion is a short-term tactic, marketing is the overarching strategy.

成功的营销不仅依赖于促销,还需要品牌建设。

Another important word is 推广 (tuīguǎng), which means to popularize, to spread, or to promote (a concept, a product, or a technology). You might 推广 a new app by offering a 促销 to new users. Finally, there is 推销 (tuīxiāo), which means to peddle or push sales. As mentioned earlier, this has a slightly negative connotation of aggressive selling, unlike the generally positive reception of a promotional event.

那个推销员一直向我推荐没有促销的产品。

Understanding these distinctions allows you to navigate shopping environments and business discussions with much greater accuracy.
E-commerce Specifics
In the digital age, words like 秒杀 (miǎoshā - flash sale/sec-kill) and 拼团 (pīntuán - group buying) have become highly specific forms of promotional activities.

秒杀是目前最受欢迎的促销方式之一。

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The character 销 (xiāo) has the metal radical (钅) because its earliest meaning was to melt or fuse metal. Over centuries, 'melting away' became a metaphor for goods 'disappearing' from a shop as they were sold, leading to its modern meaning of 'sales'.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /tsuː.ɕjɑʊ/
US /tsuː.ɕjɑʊ/
The stress is relatively even, but the 4th tone on 促 (cù) gives it a strong, punchy start, followed by the sustained high pitch of 销 (xiāo).
Rhymes With
目标 (mùbiāo) 取消 (qǔxiāo) 发烧 (fāshāo) 推销 (tuīxiāo) 报销 (bàoxiāo) 微小 (wēixiǎo - near rhyme) 高效 (gāoxiào - near rhyme) 呼啸 (hūxiào - near rhyme)
Common Errors
  • Pronouncing 'c' as an English 'k' or soft 'c' (s). It must be a 'ts' sound.
  • Pronouncing 'x' as an English 'ks' or hard 'sh'. It is a palatal fricative, softer than 'sh'.
  • Getting the tones wrong: saying 'cǔ' (3rd tone) instead of 'cù' (4th tone).
  • Mispronouncing 'iao' as two separate syllables instead of a smooth triphthong.
  • Dropping the 'i' in 'xiao', making it sound like 'xao'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

The characters are common, but 销 has many strokes. Easy to recognize in context.

Writing 6/5

Writing 销 from memory can be tricky for beginners due to the metal radical and right-side components.

Speaking 4/5

Pronunciation requires mastering the 'c' and 'x' sounds and the 4th-1st tone combination.

Listening 3/5

Often heard in loud environments, but the context (shopping) makes it highly predictable.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

买 (buy) 卖 (sell) 钱 (money) 商店 (store) 贵 (expensive)

Learn Next

打折 (discount) 便宜 (cheap) 价格 (price) 免费 (free) 广告 (advertisement)

Advanced

营销 (marketing) 策略 (strategy) 预算 (budget) 垄断 (monopoly) 消费者 (consumer)

Grammar to Know

Verb + Object Structure

搞促销 (to do a promotion). In Chinese, abstract nouns often need a 'dummy' verb to function in a sentence.

Noun as Adjective (Attributive)

促销价 (promotional price). Nouns can directly modify other nouns by being placed in front of them.

Time Phrases with 期间

促销期间 (during the promotion). Time phrases usually act as adverbials and are placed before the main verb.

Expressing Purpose with 为了

为了增加销量,他们搞了促销 (In order to increase sales, they ran a promotion).

Passive Voice with 被

我被促销广告吸引了 (I was attracted by the promotional ad).

Examples by Level

1

超市有促销。

The supermarket has a promotion.

Basic Subject + 有 (to have) + Noun structure.

2

这个促销吗?

Is this on sale?

Using 吗 to form a simple yes/no question.

3

今天没有促销。

There is no promotion today.

Using 没有 to negate 有.

4

促销很好。

The promotion is very good.

Simple Subject + 很 + Adjective structure.

5

我喜欢促销。

I like sales.

Basic Subject + Verb + Object structure.

6

这是促销商品。

This is a promotional product.

Using 促销 as a modifier before a noun (商品).

7

促销在哪里?

Where is the promotion?

Asking for location using 在哪里.

8

大促销!

Big sale!

Adding 大 (big) to emphasize the scale.

1

这家店周末搞促销。

This store is having a sale on the weekend.

Using the colloquial verb 搞 with 促销.

2

促销价是多少钱?

How much is the promotional price?

Using 促销价 as a compound noun.

3

因为有促销,所以人很多。

Because there is a promotion, there are many people.

Using the 因为...所以... (because... so...) conjunction pattern.

4

我买了很多促销的衣服。

I bought a lot of clothes on sale.

Using 促销的 to modify a noun (衣服).

5

促销活动明天结束。

The promotional event ends tomorrow.

Using 促销活动 to specify the event.

6

那个手机现在不促销了。

That phone is no longer on sale now.

Using 不...了 to indicate a change of state.

7

你想去看看促销吗?

Do you want to go see the sale?

Using 想 (want to) and reduplication of verb 看看.

8

他们在网上做促销。

They are doing a promotion online.

Using 在网上 to indicate the location of the action.

1

双十一是最大的网络促销活动。

Double 11 is the biggest online promotional event.

Using superlatives (最大的) and complex noun phrases.

2

打折和促销不一样。

Discounting and sales promotions are not the same.

Comparing two concepts using A和B不一样.

3

为了增加销量,经理决定开展促销。

In order to increase sales volume, the manager decided to launch a promotion.

Using 为了 (in order to) to express purpose.

4

这种促销手段非常有效。

This kind of promotional method is very effective.

Using 手段 (method/means) in a business context.

5

消费者很容易被促销广告吸引。

Consumers are easily attracted by promotional advertisements.

Using the passive voice marker 被.

6

买一送一是最常见的促销方式。

Buy one get one free is the most common promotional method.

Introducing specific types of promotions (买一送一).

7

促销期间,很多商品都卖光了。

During the promotional period, many goods were sold out.

Using 期间 to indicate a specific time frame.

8

他们正在大力促销这款新车。

They are vigorously promoting this new car.

Using 促销 as a verb with an adverbial modifier (大力).

1

制定一个成功的促销方案需要深入的市场调研。

Formulating a successful promotional plan requires in-depth market research.

Using formal business vocabulary (制定, 方案, 调研).

2

过度频繁的促销可能会降低消费者的购买欲望。

Overly frequent promotions might reduce consumers' desire to purchase.

Expressing complex cause-and-effect relationships.

3

电商平台通过算法为用户提供个性化的促销信息。

E-commerce platforms provide personalized promotional information to users through algorithms.

Using 通过 (through/by means of) to explain a process.

4

这次促销活动的预算超标了。

The budget for this promotional event exceeded the limit.

Using financial terminology (预算, 超标).

5

品牌商希望通过跨界合作来进行联合促销。

Brand owners hope to conduct joint promotions through cross-industry cooperation.

Discussing advanced marketing strategies (跨界合作, 联合).

6

虚假促销不仅违法,还会严重损害企业声誉。

False promotions are not only illegal but will also severely damage corporate reputation.

Using the 不仅...还... (not only... but also...) structure.

7

销售人员必须清楚了解所有的促销规则。

Sales personnel must clearly understand all promotional rules.

Using modal verbs (必须) for requirements.

8

限时秒杀是一种利用消费者心理的促销策略。

Limited-time flash sales are a promotional strategy that utilizes consumer psychology.

Defining a concept using 是...的 structure.

1

在激烈的市场竞争中,价格战和恶性促销往往是两败俱伤的。

In fierce market competition, price wars and vicious promotions often result in mutual destruction.

Using advanced idioms (两败俱伤) and complex modifiers.

2

企业应将促销视为短期刺激手段,而非长期发展的核心动力。

Enterprises should view promotions as a short-term stimulus method, rather than the core driving force for long-term development.

Using formal comparative structures (将...视为..., 而非...).

3

大数据分析使得精准营销和动态促销成为可能。

Big data analysis makes precision marketing and dynamic promotions possible.

Discussing technological impacts on business practices.

4

监管部门加大了对电商平台“先提价后打折”等欺诈性促销行为的打击力度。

Regulatory authorities have increased their crackdown on fraudulent promotional behaviors by e-commerce platforms, such as 'raising prices before discounting'.

Using formal bureaucratic language (监管部门, 打击力度).

5

评估促销效果不能仅看短期销量,还要考量客户留存率和品牌忠诚度。

Evaluating the effectiveness of a promotion cannot solely look at short-term sales volume; it must also consider customer retention rate and brand loyalty.

Using correlative conjunctions (不能仅..., 还要...).

6

这种饥饿营销式的促销手段,虽然能引发一时的轰动,但容易引起消费者的反感。

This hunger-marketing style of promotional method, although able to cause a temporary sensation, easily provokes consumer resentment.

Using concessive clauses (虽然...但...) with advanced vocabulary.

7

为了消化库存压力,零售商不得不采取断崖式的降价促销。

In order to digest inventory pressure, retailers had to adopt cliff-like price reduction promotions.

Using vivid metaphors (断崖式) in an economic context.

8

促销组合的优化需要综合考虑产品生命周期、目标受众和竞争态势。

The optimization of the promotional mix requires comprehensive consideration of the product life cycle, target audience, and competitive landscape.

Using academic marketing terminology (促销组合, 生命周期).

1

宏观经济下行周期内,企业往往倾向于通过高频次的促销来维持现金流,但这无异于饮鸩止渴。

During macroeconomic downturn cycles, enterprises often tend to maintain cash flow through high-frequency promotions, but this is tantamount to drinking poison to quench thirst.

Integrating classical idioms (饮鸩止渴) into macroeconomic analysis.

2

平台经济下的算法合谋,使得所谓的个性化促销实质上沦为对消费者剩余的精准榨取。

Algorithmic collusion under the platform economy has reduced so-called personalized promotions to the precise extraction of consumer surplus.

Employing advanced economic theory concepts (消费者剩余, 算法合谋).

3

从长远来看,构建品牌护城河远比依赖同质化的促销战更能抵御市场周期的波动。

In the long run, building a brand moat is far more capable of resisting market cycle fluctuations than relying on homogenized promotional wars.

Using strategic business metaphors (护城河) and comparative structures (远比...更能...).

4

该法案的颁布旨在规制无序的商业促销行为,重塑公平竞争的市场生态。

The promulgation of this bill aims to regulate disorderly commercial promotional behaviors and reshape a market ecology of fair competition.

Using highly formal legal and bureaucratic phrasing (旨在规制, 重塑).

5

在消费者主权时代,传统的填鸭式促销已然失效,取而代之的是基于价值共创的互动式营销。

In the era of consumer sovereignty, traditional force-feeding style promotions have already become ineffective, replaced by interactive marketing based on value co-creation.

Discussing paradigm shifts in marketing theory (消费者主权, 价值共创).

6

跨国企业在进行本土化促销时,必须敏锐地捕捉并契合当地的文化语境与消费心理。

When multinational enterprises conduct localized promotions, they must acutely capture and align with the local cultural context and consumer psychology.

Addressing complex global business strategies and cultural nuances.

7

过度促销所引发的棘轮效应,使得企业一旦停止让利,便面临销量断崖式下跌的窘境。

The ratchet effect triggered by excessive promotions puts enterprises in the dilemma of facing a cliff-like drop in sales once they stop yielding profits.

Applying specific economic theories (棘轮效应) to business outcomes.

8

学者们对“双十一”等狂欢式促销的异化现象进行了深刻的社会学批判。

Scholars have conducted profound sociological critiques on the alienation phenomenon of carnival-style promotions like 'Double 11'.

Using academic sociological terminology (异化现象, 批判).

Common Collocations

搞促销
促销活动
促销价
促销手段
促销策略
进行促销
促销员
降价促销
联合促销
打折促销

Common Phrases

大促销

— A big sale or major promotional event. Used to emphasize the scale of the discounts.

国庆节有大促销。 (There is a big sale during the National Day holiday.)

限时促销

— A limited-time promotion. Creates a sense of urgency for the buyer.

这是限时促销,赶快买! (This is a limited-time promotion, buy it quickly!)

节日促销

— Holiday promotion. Sales events tied to specific public holidays.

春节期间的节日促销很多。 (There are many holiday promotions during the Spring Festival.)

促销期

— Promotional period. The specific timeframe during which the sale is active.

促销期只有三天。 (The promotional period is only three days.)

促销品

— Promotional items. Goods that are specifically put on sale or given away as gifts.

这些是免费的促销品。 (These are free promotional items.)

参与促销

— To participate in a promotion. Used for both businesses offering it and consumers joining it.

很多商家参与了这次促销。 (Many merchants participated in this promotion.)

促销力度

— The intensity or magnitude of the promotion (how good the deal is).

这次的促销力度很大。 (The magnitude of this promotion is very large.)

疯狂促销

— Crazy sale/frenzied promotion. Used colloquially to describe massive, chaotic sales.

黑五是疯狂促销的日子。 (Black Friday is a day of crazy promotions.)

捆绑促销

— Bundled promotion. Selling multiple items together at a lower combined price.

买电脑送鼠标是捆绑促销。 (Buying a computer and getting a mouse free is a bundled promotion.)

满减促销

— Spend-and-save promotion. (e.g., spend 100, get 20 off). Very common in China.

淘宝经常有满减促销。 (Taobao often has spend-and-save promotions.)

Often Confused With

促销 vs 打折 (dǎzhé)

打折 strictly means to give a percentage discount. 促销 is the umbrella term for all promotional activities, including discounts, gifts, and coupons.

促销 vs 推销 (tuīxiāo)

推销 means to peddle or push sales aggressively (like a door-to-door salesman). 促销 is a marketing event that attracts customers.

促销 vs 销售 (xiāoshòu)

销售 is the general noun/verb for 'sales' or 'selling'. 促销 is specifically 'sales promotion' (a temporary event to boost sales).

Idioms & Expressions

"薄利多销"

— Small profits but quick turnover. A business strategy closely related to running promotions.

这家店的策略是薄利多销。 (This store's strategy is small profits but quick turnover.)

Business/Proverb
"物美价廉"

— High quality and inexpensive. Often the goal or claim of a promotional event.

促销的商品真是物美价廉。 (The promotional goods are truly high quality and inexpensive.)

Everyday/Advertising
"跳楼价"

— 'Jump-off-a-building price'. Slang for an absurdly low, desperate clearance price.

老板破产了,全部跳楼价! (The boss went bankrupt, everything is at a jump-off-a-building price!)

Slang/Street vendor
"血本无归"

— To lose all one's capital. A risk if a promotion is poorly planned.

如果促销失败,可能会血本无归。 (If the promotion fails, one might lose all their capital.)

Formal/Business
"买椟还珠"

— To buy the wooden box and return the pearls. A metaphor for poor judgment, sometimes used when consumers are tricked by flashy promotional packaging rather than the product.

不要因为包装好看就买,那是买椟还珠。 (Don't buy it just because the packaging is nice; that's buying the box and returning the pearls.)

Literary/Idiom
"羊毛出在羊身上"

— The wool comes from the sheep's back. Meaning that the cost of the 'free' promotion is ultimately paid by the consumer.

别以为促销你赚了,羊毛出在羊身上。 (Don't think you profited from the promotion; the wool comes from the sheep.)

Colloquial/Proverb
"货比三家"

— To compare goods across three stores (shop around). What consumers do during promotions.

买大件商品一定要货比三家。 (When buying large items, you must definitely shop around.)

Everyday/Proverb
"供不应求"

— Supply does not meet demand. The desired outcome of a highly successful promotion.

促销开始后,商品立刻供不应求。 (After the promotion started, the goods were immediately in short supply.)

Formal/Business
"门庭若市"

— The courtyard is like a market. Describes a place crowded with people, like a store during a big sale.

打折促销让这家店门庭若市。 (The discount promotion made this store as crowded as a market.)

Literary/Idiom
"奇货可居"

— Rare commodities can be hoarded for profit. The opposite of a promotion; holding back stock to raise prices.

有些限量版商品被黄牛奇货可居。 (Some limited edition goods are hoarded for profit by scalpers.)

Literary/Idiom

Easily Confused

促销 vs 打折

Both relate to saving money.

打折 is a specific mathematical reduction in price (e.g., 20% off). 促销 is the whole event, which might not even involve a price drop (e.g., a free gift with purchase).

这次促销的活动是不打折,但是送礼物。 (The promotion this time doesn't offer a discount, but gives a gift.)

促销 vs 推销

Both end in 销 and relate to selling.

推销 is proactive and often annoying (pushing a product on someone). 促销 is attractive (offering a deal so people come to buy).

我讨厌推销员,但我喜欢促销活动。 (I hate salespeople, but I like promotional events.)

促销 vs 营销

Both are business terms ending in 销.

营销 is 'marketing' (the entire strategy including product, price, place, promotion). 促销 is just the 'promotion' part of marketing.

促销只是营销策略的一部分。 (Promotion is only a part of the marketing strategy.)

促销 vs 减价

Both mean things are cheaper.

减价 just means the price went down. It could be permanent. 促销 implies a special, temporary event.

这款旧手机减价了,这不是促销。 (This old phone's price dropped; this is not a promotion.)

促销 vs 畅销

Ends in 销, related to commerce.

畅销 means 'best-selling' (an adjective describing a popular product). 促销 is the action taken to make a product sell well.

通过促销,这本书成了畅销书。 (Through promotion, this book became a best-seller.)

Sentence Patterns

A1

[Place] 有 促销。

超市有促销。 (The supermarket has a promotion.)

A2

[Place] 在 搞 促销。

商场在搞促销。 (The mall is running a promotion.)

B1

为了 [Goal], [Subject] 决定 开展 促销。

为了提高销量,公司决定开展促销。 (To increase sales, the company decided to launch a promotion.)

B1

在 促销 期间,[Action]。

在促销期间,商品不退换。 (During the promotional period, goods cannot be returned or exchanged.)

B2

[Subject] 采用了 [Type] 的 促销 手段。

他们采用了买一送一的促销手段。 (They adopted the promotional method of buy-one-get-one-free.)

B2

与其 [Action A], 不如 搞 促销。

与其花钱做广告,不如直接搞促销。 (Rather than spending money on ads, it's better to directly run a promotion.)

C1

[Subject] 不仅 是 一种 促销,更是 [Deeper meaning]。

双十一不仅是一种促销,更是一种文化现象。 (Double 11 is not only a promotion, but also a cultural phenomenon.)

C2

过度依赖 促销 势必 导致 [Negative consequence]。

过度依赖促销势必导致品牌价值受损。 (Over-reliance on promotions will inevitably lead to damaged brand value.)

Word Family

Nouns

促销员 (sales promoter)
促销价 (promotional price)
促销期 (promotional period)
促销活动 (promotional event)

Verbs

搞促销 (to run a promotion)
进行促销 (to conduct a promotion)

Adjectives

促销的 (promotional)

Related

销售 (sales)
推销 (peddle)
营销 (marketing)
畅销 (best-selling)
滞销 (unsalable)

How to Use It

frequency

Extremely high. It is one of the most common words encountered in daily urban life and digital environments in China.

Common Mistakes
  • 这家店在打折促销。 (Meaning: This store is having a promotion, but using both words redundantly when not needed) 这家店在搞促销。 / 这家店在打折。

    While '打折促销' is sometimes used as a compound noun, using both as verbs is clunky. Choose one based on whether it's a general event (促销) or a specific percentage off (打折).

  • 他向我促销保险。 他向我推销保险。

    You cannot '促销' a product directly to a single person in a pushy way. That is 推销 (tuīxiāo - to peddle/pitch). 促销 is an event that attracts people.

  • 我促了销。 我搞了促销。

    促销 is not a separable verb in modern Chinese. You cannot put aspect particles like '了' inside it. Use a support verb like 搞 and put '了' after it.

  • 这个手机的促销很便宜。 这个手机的促销价很便宜。

    A 'promotion' (促销) itself cannot be cheap. The 'price' (价) is cheap. You must use the compound noun 促销价 (promotional price).

  • 超市做很多促销。 超市搞很多促销活动。

    While '做促销' is understandable, '搞促销活动' is much more natural and grammatically complete when referring to multiple events.

Tips

Use 搞 for Natural Speech

Instead of saying 商店有促销 (The store has a promotion), say 商店在搞促销. The verb 搞 (gǎo) makes you sound instantly more like a native speaker.

Look for the Red Signs

In Chinese supermarkets, promotional items are almost always marked with bright red and yellow signs. If you see these colors, look for the characters 促销 or 特价.

Double 11 is the King of Promotions

If you want to experience the ultimate 促销 event, check out Taobao on November 11th. It is the largest shopping day globally and a cultural phenomenon in China.

Don't Confuse with 推销

Be careful not to say 推销 (tuīxiāo) when you mean 促销. 推销 sounds like you are aggressively forcing someone to buy something, like a telemarketer.

Compound Words

Get used to seeing 促销 attached to other words. 促销价 (promo price), 促销员 (promoter), and 促销活动 (promo event) are treated as single vocabulary items.

Supermarket Announcements

Next time you are in a Chinese supermarket, listen to the loudspeakers. You will hear the word 促销 repeated constantly alongside prices and product names.

Asking for Deals

A great phrase to memorize is '这个参与促销吗?' (Does this participate in the promotion?). Use this when you aren't sure if an item is included in the sale.

Formal Contexts

If you are writing a business email or report, avoid 搞促销. Use 开展促销活动 (launch promotional activities) or 进行促销 (conduct promotions) for a professional tone.

Not Always Cheaper

Remember that a 促销 doesn't always mean a lower price. It could be a 'buy one get one' (买一送一) or a free gift (赠品). If you want a lower price, ask if it's 打折 (discounted).

剁手 (Chop Hands)

During massive 促销 events, people buy so much they joke about needing to 'chop off their hands' (剁手 - duò shǒu) to stop shopping. You'll hear this a lot around Double 11.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine you have to URGE (促 - cù) people to buy your shoes (sounds like 销 - xiāo). You urge them to buy shoes by having a big SALE PROMOTION.

Visual Association

Picture a giant red banner in a supermarket. On the left side is a person pushing (促) a shopping cart, and on the right side is a cash register ringing up sales (销).

Word Web

促销 (Sales Promotion) -> 促 (Urge/Promote) -> 促进 (Promote/Advance), 催促 (Urge) -> 销 (Sell) -> 销售 (Sales), 推销 (Peddle), 畅销 (Best-selling) -> Contexts -> 超市 (Supermarket), 淘宝 (Taobao), 打折 (Discount)

Challenge

Next time you see an ad online or walk past a store with a red sign, say '促销' out loud and try to identify what kind of promotion it is (discount, buy-one-get-one, etc.).

Word Origin

The word is a modern compound created to translate Western business and marketing concepts into Chinese. It combines existing classical characters to form a new specific meaning for the capitalist/market economy era.

Original meaning: 促 originally meant to urge, hurry, or press close. 销 originally meant to melt metal, which evolved to mean to expend, to cancel, and eventually to sell (as in liquidating goods).

Sino-Tibetan, Chinese.

Cultural Context

There are no specific cultural sensitivities or offensive connotations associated with this word. It is a standard, neutral business term.

In English-speaking countries, 'sales' are often tied to specific holidays (Black Friday, Boxing Day). In China, while holidays are important, e-commerce platforms have invented their own massive promotional holidays (Double 11, 618) that dominate the retail calendar.

双十一 (Double 11) - The world's largest shopping festival. 618 - JD.com's mid-year shopping festival. 李佳琦 (Li Jiaqi / Austin Li) - The 'Lipstick King', famous for his live-streamed promotions.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Supermarket Shopping

  • 促销价
  • 买一送一
  • 搞促销
  • 特价区

Online Shopping (E-commerce)

  • 双十一
  • 满减促销
  • 秒杀
  • 加入购物车

Business Meetings

  • 促销方案
  • 促销预算
  • 营销策略
  • 提高销量

Street Markets

  • 大减价
  • 清仓促销
  • 跳楼价
  • 随便挑

Restaurant Dining

  • 套餐促销
  • 节日促销
  • 打折优惠
  • 赠送饮料

Conversation Starters

"你知道最近哪家商场在搞促销吗? (Do you know which mall is having a sale recently?)"

"双十一你打算买什么?促销力度大吗? (What do you plan to buy on Double 11? Are the promotions big?)"

"你觉得这种满减促销真的划算吗? (Do you think this spend-and-save promotion is really worth it?)"

"那个牌子的手机现在有促销,你要换手机吗? (That brand of phone is on sale now, do you want to change phones?)"

"我最讨厌那些规则复杂的促销活动了,你呢? (I hate those promotional events with complicated rules the most, what about you?)"

Journal Prompts

Describe a time you bought something just because it was on a '促销'. Did you regret it?

Explain the difference between '促销' and '打折' in your own words.

Write about the biggest shopping festival in your country. How does it compare to China's Double 11?

If you owned a coffee shop, what kind of '促销活动' would you run to get more customers?

Write a short dialogue between a '促销员' (promoter) and a hesitant customer.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Yes, it can be used as a verb meaning 'to promote sales'. For example, '他们在促销新产品' (They are promoting new products). However, it is more commonly used as a noun in daily speech, paired with verbs like 搞 (gǎo) or 进行 (jìnxíng).

打折 (dǎzhé) specifically means 'discount' (reducing the price by a percentage). 促销 (cùxiāo) means 'sales promotion', which is a broader term. A promotion might include a discount, but it could also be 'buy one get one free', free shipping, or giving out coupons. All discounts are promotions, but not all promotions are discounts.

You can say '在搞促销' (zài gǎo cùxiāo) or '有促销' (yǒu cùxiāo). If you mean specifically discounted, you say '在打折' (zài dǎzhé). For example, 'This shirt is on sale' can be translated as '这件衣服在搞促销'.

促销价 (cùxiāo jià) translates to 'promotional price'. It is the special, lowered price offered during the promotional event, as opposed to the 原价 (yuánjià), which is the original price.

Absolutely. It is heavily used in e-commerce. You will see it constantly on apps like Taobao, JD.com, and Pinduoduo, especially during major shopping festivals like Double 11 (双十一).

A 促销员 (cùxiāo yuán) is a sales promoter. These are the staff members in supermarkets or malls who stand at booths, offer free samples, and explain the promotional deals to customers to encourage them to buy.

No, it is a neutral business term and is generally viewed positively by consumers looking for deals. However, the related word 推销 (tuīxiāo - to peddle/push sales) can have a negative or annoying connotation.

You can ask: '促销活动什么时候结束?' (Cùxiāo huódòng shénme shíhou jiéshù?). 结束 means to end or finish.

满减 (mǎn jiǎn) is a very common type of promotion in China. It means 'spend a certain amount, get a certain amount off'. For example, '满100减20' means if you spend 100 RMB, you get 20 RMB off.

When referring to the abstract concept, no measure word is needed. When referring to a specific promotional event, you can use 次 (cì - time) or 场 (chǎng - session/event), e.g., 一次大促销 (one big promotion).

Test Yourself 200 questions

writing

Translate into Chinese: 'The supermarket is having a big sale today.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Use '在搞' for 'is having' and '大促销' for 'big sale'.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Use '在搞' for 'is having' and '大促销' for 'big sale'.

writing

Translate into Chinese: 'What is the promotional price of this phone?'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Use '促销价' for promotional price.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Use '促销价' for promotional price.

writing

Translate into Chinese: 'During the promotional period, there are many people.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Use '促销期间' for during the promotional period.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Use '促销期间' for during the promotional period.

writing

Write a sentence using the phrase '促销活动'.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Ensure '促销活动' is used as a noun phrase meaning promotional event.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Ensure '促销活动' is used as a noun phrase meaning promotional event.

writing

Translate into Chinese: 'I don't like telemarketing (pushy sales), but I like sales promotions.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Contrast '推销' (peddling) with '促销' (promotion).

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Contrast '推销' (peddling) with '促销' (promotion).

writing

Write a formal sentence stating: 'The company decided to conduct a promotion.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Use the formal verb '进行' instead of '搞'.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Use the formal verb '进行' instead of '搞'.

writing

Translate into Chinese: 'Buy one get one free is a promotional method.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Use '促销手段' for promotional method.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Use '促销手段' for promotional method.

writing

Translate into Chinese: 'This product is not participating in the promotion.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Use '参与' for participate.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Use '参与' for participate.

writing

Write a sentence using '促销员'.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Use '促销员' to refer to the sales staff.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Use '促销员' to refer to the sales staff.

writing

Translate into Chinese: 'The promotional budget exceeded the limit.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Use '促销预算' for promotional budget.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Use '促销预算' for promotional budget.

writing

Translate into Chinese: 'False promotions are illegal.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Use '虚假促销' for false promotions.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Use '虚假促销' for false promotions.

writing

Write a sentence explaining the difference between 打折 and 促销.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Highlight that promotion includes more than just discounts.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Highlight that promotion includes more than just discounts.

writing

Translate into Chinese: 'The magnitude of this promotion is very large.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Use '促销力度' for the magnitude/intensity.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Use '促销力度' for the magnitude/intensity.

writing

Translate into Chinese: 'Clearance sale.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Use '清仓' for clearance.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Use '清仓' for clearance.

writing

Write a sentence using '满减促销'.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Use '满减促销' for spend-and-save promotion.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Use '满减促销' for spend-and-save promotion.

writing

Translate into Chinese: 'Holiday promotion.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Use '节日' for holiday.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Use '节日' for holiday.

writing

Translate into Chinese: 'They are vigorously promoting the new product.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Use 促销 as a verb here.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Use 促销 as a verb here.

writing

Write a sentence using '联合促销'.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Use '联合促销' for joint promotion.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Use '联合促销' for joint promotion.

writing

Translate into Chinese: 'Promotional strategy.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Use '策略' for strategy.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Use '策略' for strategy.

writing

Translate into Chinese: 'The promotion ends tomorrow.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Use '结束' for ends.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Use '结束' for ends.

speaking

How would you ask a shop assistant if a specific pair of shoes is on sale?

Read this aloud:

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Polite inquiry using 请问 and the basic 有促销 structure.

speaking

Tell your friend that the supermarket is having a big sale today.

Read this aloud:

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Using the colloquial 搞 and 大 for emphasis.

speaking

Explain briefly in Chinese that 'buy one get one free' is a type of promotion.

Read this aloud:

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Directly defining the concept.

speaking

Say 'I don't like telemarketing (推销), I like sales promotions (促销).'

Read this aloud:

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Practicing the contrast between the two similar-sounding words.

speaking

Ask when the promotional event ends.

Read this aloud:

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Using 什么时候 for 'when' and 结束 for 'end'.

speaking

State that the promotional price is very cheap.

Read this aloud:

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Using the compound noun 促销价.

speaking

Tell someone that during the promotion, there are many people.

Read this aloud:

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Using 期间 for 'during the period'.

speaking

Say 'This is a limited-time promotion.'

Read this aloud:

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Using the common phrase 限时促销.

speaking

As a manager, suggest: 'We need to change our promotional strategy.'

Read this aloud:

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Using formal business vocabulary 策略.

speaking

Complain that the promotion rules are too complicated.

Read this aloud:

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Using 规则 (rules) and 复杂 (complicated).

speaking

Say 'Double 11 is the biggest promotional event.'

Read this aloud:

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Using superlatives.

speaking

Ask if this item participates in the spend-and-save promotion.

Read this aloud:

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Using 参与 and 满减.

speaking

State that false promotions are illegal.

Read this aloud:

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Using 虚假 (false) and 违法 (illegal).

speaking

Say 'The sales promoter is very enthusiastic.'

Read this aloud:

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Using 促销员 and 热情.

speaking

Suggest doing a clearance sale.

Read this aloud:

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Using 清仓 (clearance) and the suggestion particle 吧.

speaking

Say 'The intensity of this promotion is very large.'

Read this aloud:

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Using 力度 (intensity/magnitude).

speaking

State that they are vigorously promoting the new car.

Read this aloud:

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Using 促销 as a verb with 大力.

speaking

Say 'I bought a lot of promotional items.'

Read this aloud:

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Using 促销品.

speaking

Explain that the budget exceeded the limit.

Read this aloud:

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Using 预算 and 超标.

speaking

Say 'Don't confuse normal sales with promotions.'

Read this aloud:

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Using the advanced idiom 混为一谈.

listening

Listen to the audio: '各位顾客请注意,生鲜区正在进行限时促销,全场八折。' What is happening in the fresh food area?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

'限时促销' means limited-time promotion, '八折' means 20% off.

listening

Listen to the audio: '我昨天去商场,本来没想买衣服,但是促销力度太大了,没忍住。' Why did the speaker buy clothes?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

'促销力度太大了,没忍住' means the promotion was so strong they couldn't hold back.

listening

Listen to the audio: '这份促销方案还需要修改,预算超出了我们的预期。' What is wrong with the promotional plan?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

'预算超出了我们的预期' means the budget exceeded expectations.

listening

Listen to the audio: '你好,我是这个品牌的促销员,可以耽误您一分钟介绍一下我们的新产品吗?' Who is speaking?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

The speaker identifies as '这个品牌的促销员'.

listening

Listen to the audio: '这种先提价再打折的虚假促销,严重损害了消费者的信任。' What kind of promotion is being criticized?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

'先提价再打折的虚假促销' is the deceptive practice mentioned.

listening

Listen to the audio: '双十一不仅是打折,更是一场全民参与的促销狂欢。' How is Double 11 described?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

'全民参与的促销狂欢' means a promotional carnival everyone participates in.

listening

Listen to the audio: '这个手机恢复原价了,昨天的促销已经结束了。' What is the current price status of the phone?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

'恢复原价了' means it returned to the original price.

listening

Listen to the audio: '为了应对竞争对手的降价,我们不得不提前开始节日促销。' Why did they start the holiday promotion early?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

'为了应对竞争对手的降价' means to cope with the competitor's price reduction.

listening

Listen to the audio: '买电脑送鼠标,这是一种典型的捆绑促销。' What is given as an example of a bundled promotion?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

'买电脑送鼠标' means buy a computer, get a mouse free.

listening

Listen to the audio: '不要相信那些跳楼价的广告,很多都是劣质产品的推销,不是真正的促销。' What is the speaker warning against?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Warning against '跳楼价的广告' which are peddling '劣质产品' (inferior goods).

listening

Listen to the audio: '促销期只有三天,错过就要等明年了。' How long is the promotional period?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

'只有三天' means only three days.

listening

Listen to the audio: '比起打折,满减促销更容易让顾客买更多东西。' What does the spend-and-save promotion encourage customers to do?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

'更容易让顾客买更多东西' means makes it easier for customers to buy more things.

listening

Listen to the audio: '我们的营销策略需要从单纯的价格促销转向品牌建设。' What shift in strategy is needed?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

'从单纯的价格促销转向品牌建设' means shifting from pure price promotions to brand building.

listening

Listen to the audio: '直播间里的秒杀促销太快了,我根本抢不到。' Why couldn't the speaker buy the item?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

'秒杀促销太快了' means the flash sale promotion was too fast.

listening

Listen to the audio: '这家店常年搞促销,大家都知道它的原价是虚高的。' What do people know about this store's original prices?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

'原价是虚高的' means the original price is artificially high.

/ 200 correct

Perfect score!

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