Meaning of 出差
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to go on an official or business trip
How to use 出差
出差 is a separable verb, so words can go between the two parts, as in 出了一趟差 (chūle yí tàng chāi, went on one business trip). To say where you are going, put the place after 去: 我下周去上海出差。(Wǒ xià zhōu qù Shànghǎi chūchāi.) I'm going to Shanghai on a business trip next week.
出 (chū) means to go out, and 差 (chāi) here means an errand or assignment. Put them together: you go out on an assignment, which is a business trip.
Common mistake: In 出差, 差 is read chāi, not chà as in 差不多 (chàbuduō) or chā as in 差别 (chābié). Also, learners often say 出差上海, but natural Chinese is 去上海出差.
出差 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
出 chū · to go out · 5 strokes
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差 chà · different · 9 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 出差.
| 出来 | chūlái | to come out; to appear |
| 出去 | chūqù | to go out |
| 出现 | chūxiàn | to appear; to arise; to emerge; to show up |
| 差不多 | chàbuduō | almost; nearly |
| 出发 | chūfā | to set off; to start (on a journey); (fig.) to proceed from (a particular standpoint or ba |
| 出生 | chūshēng | to be born |
| 提出 | tíchū | to raise (an issue); to propose |
| 找出 | zhǎochū | to find; to search out |
| 出口 | chūkǒu | an exit; to speak |
| 拿出 | náchū | to take out; to put out |
| 出门 | chūmén | to go out; to leave home |
| 出租车 | chūzūchē | taxi; (Tw) rental car |
Questions about 出差
What does 出差 mean?
出差 (chūchāi) means "to go on an official or business trip".
How do you write 出差?
出差 is made of 2 characters: 出 (5 strokes), 差 (9 strokes). That is 14 strokes in total.
Is 出差 an HSK word?
Yes. 出差 is on the HSK 5 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
Can 出差 take an object directly?
No. Because it is a verb plus object structure, you cannot add a place right after it. Use 去 or 到 before the place, as in 到北京出差 (dào Běijīng chūchāi).
How do I say someone is away on a business trip right now?
Say 他在出差 (tā zài chūchāi) or 他出差了 (tā chūchāi le). Both mean he is away on business at the moment.