business
noun
ˈbɪznɪəs noun
1
BUYING OR SELLING GOODS OR SERVICES
买卖商品或提供服务
the activity of making money by producing or buying and selling goods, or providing services 商业，买卖，生意，业务; U
Students on the course learn about all aspects of business.
这门课程的学生要学习商业活动的各个方面。
We do business with a number of Italian companies.
我们和一些意大利公司做生意。
Vanessa decided to go into business as an art-dealer.
瓦妮莎决定去经商做艺术品生意。
set up/start up in business
The scheme offers free advice to people wanting to set up in business.
这一计划为想要开办企业的人提供免费的咨询。
In order to stay in business , you must do better than your competitors.
要把生意做下去，你就必须比竞争对手做得好。
the advertising/music/fashion etc business
Carl began in the music business by running a recording studio.
卡尔是从经营录音室开始干音乐这一行的。
business activities/interests etc
He has a wide range of business interests.
他的经营范围很广。
2
COMPANY
公司
an organization such as a company, shop, or factory that produces or sells goods or provides a service 公司，企业，商业机构 C
She now has her own $25 million home-shopping business.
她现在自己有一家资产为 2.5 千万美元的居家购物公司。
They don’t know how to run a business .
他们不知道如何经营一家企业。
The company began as a small family business (=owned and controlled by one family) .
这家公司从一个小小的家族企业起家。
Owners of small businesses (=that employ only a few people) will be hit hardest by these tax changes .
这些税务上的变化使小企业主受到的冲击最大。
big business (large and powerful companies in general) 大企业，大公司
Does big business have more control over our everyday lives than our elected governments?
大公司对我们日常生活的影响是不是比我们的民选政府还要大？
the business community (people who work in business generally) 商界
the international business community
国际商界
3
HOW MUCH WORK A COMPANY HAS
公司的营业额
the amount of work a company does or the amount of money it makes 营业额，贸易额 U
We’re now doing twice as much business as we did last year.
我们现在的营业额是去年的两倍。
Exports account for 72% of overall business.
出口占贸易总额的 72%。
business is good/bad/slow etc
Business is slow during the summer.
夏天生意清淡。
drum up business (try to get more work for you or your company) 拉生意，兜揽生意
Perot was in Europe, drumming up business for his new investment company.
佩罗在欧洲为他新开的投资公司拉生意。
4
FOR YOUR JOB
为了工作
work that you do as part of your job 差事 U
She’s in New York this week on business (=for her work) .
她这个星期在纽约公干。
Hi Maggie! Is this phone call business or pleasure ?
嗨，玛吉，这个电话是公事还是私事？
business trip/meeting etc
We discussed the idea over a business lunch.
我们在一次商务午餐时讨论了这个想法。
useful business contacts
有益的业务联络
5
WHAT SOMEONE SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN
某人的职责
a. if something is not your business or none of your business, you should not be involved in it or ask about it b. if it is someone’s business to do something, it is their duty or responsibility to do it 职责 U
It was not her business, she decided, to ask where the money came from.
她决定不该她去问这笔钱的来历。
It’s none of your business how much I weigh.
我体重多少跟你无关。
‘Who’s that girl you were with?’ ‘ Mind your own business (=Don’t ask questions about something that does not concern you)
!’“和你在一起的那个女孩是谁？”“少管闲事！”
‘Are you going out with Kate tonight?’ ‘ That’s my business ’ (=it doesn’t concern you, so don’t ask me questions about it) .
“你今天晚上是不是和凯特出去？”“那是我的事。”
it is the business of sb to do sth
It is the business of government to listen to the various groups within society.
倾听社会中不同团体的声音是政府的职责。
6
THINGS TO BE DEALT WITH
要处理的事情
things that need to be done or discussed 〔需要完成或讨论的〕事情 U
Okay, let’s get down to business (=start doing or discussing something) .
好吧，我们干正事吧。
‘Is there any other business ?’ the chairman asked.
“还有其他事情吗？” 主席问道。
7
MATTER
事情
a situation or activity, especially one that you have a particular opinion about or attitude towards 〔尤指你持某种看法的〕事情，事件 singular 单数
a serious/strange/funny etc business
Leon regards keeping fit as a serious business.
利昂把健身当作是一件严肃的事。
Tanya found the whole business ridiculous.
塔尼娅发现这件事从头到尾都很可笑。
8
be in business
a. to be involved in business activities b. to have all that you need to start doing something [口] 准备就绪 spoken
The company has been in business for over thirty years.
公司开业已三十多年了。
I’ve just got to buy the paint and then we’re in business.
我只要把油漆买来，我们就一切都准备好了。
9
(go) out of business
if a company goes out of business, or something puts it out of business, it stops operating, especially because of financial problems 停业，歇业，倒闭
Higher interest rates will drive small firms out of business.
调高利息将会逼得小公司倒闭。
10
be back in business
10. to be working or operating in a normal way again 恢复正常运转
The band are back in business after a long break.
这支乐队沉寂了很长一段时间后重返舞台。
11
sb was (just) minding their own business
11. used to say that someone was not doing anything unusual or wrong at the time when something unfair or bad happened to them [口] 某人正干自己的事〔指并没有做错什么却遭遇了不好的事〕 spoken
I was driving along, minding my own business, when the police stopped my car.
我一直开车前行，好端端的警察就把我拦了下来。
12
go about your business
12. to do the things that you normally do 忙自己的事，做通常做的事
The street was full of ordinary people going about their business.
大街上老百姓熙熙攘攘，各人忙着各人的事。
13
make it your business to do sth
13. to make a special effort to do something 把做某事当成自己的职责，认为是自己应做的事
Ruth made it her business to get to know the customers.
露丝把了解顾客当成了自己的职责。
14
mean business
14. to be serious about doing something even if it involves harming someone [非正式] 当真，认真 informal
The border is guarded by troops who mean business.
边境由严于职守的军队守卫着。
15
unfinished business
15. something you need to discuss further with someone or a situation that has not yet reached a satisfactory solution 未竟事宜，尚未了结的事情
The sudden death of a loved one can often leave the bereaved with an agonising sense of unfinished business.
亲人突然过世，常常会让留在世上的人有一种心愿未了的痛苦。
16
business is business
16. used to say that profit is the most important thing to consider [口] 公事就是公事，公事公办 spoken
We can’t afford to employ someone who isn’t good at the job – business is business.
我们不能找一个工作干不好的人 — 公事归公事嘛。
17
business as usual
17. when someone or something is still working or operating normally when you think they might not be 照常上班; 照常营业
Despite last night’s scare, it was business as usual in the White House today.
尽管昨晚出现了恐慌，今天白宫还是一切照常。
18
have no business doing sth/have no business to do sth
18. to do something you should not be doing 不应该做某事
He was drunk and had no business driving.
他喝醉了就不应该开车。
19
not be in the business of doing sth
19. to not be intending to do something because you think it is a bad idea 无意做某事
I’m not in the business of selling my best players.
我可不想把我最好的球员转让出去。
20
and all that business
20. and other things of the same general kind [口，非正式] …等方面的事务 spoken informal
She handles the publicity and all that business.
她负责宣传等方面的事务。
21
(it’s) the business
21. used to say that something is very good or works well [英，非正式] 很好，工作性能好 BrE informal
Have you seen David’s new car? It’s the business!
你见过戴维的新汽车吗？ 很不错啊！
22
do the business
22. a. to do what you are expected to do or what people want you to do b. to have sex 干那事〔指做爱〕 BrE informal
Come on, then, and do the business.
来，做正事吧。