Meaning:
“下沉” means “sinking,” and “市场” means “market.” This term, frequently seen in the Chinese media these two years, refers to “small-town and rural markets,” where the most Chinese population live. Apart from 49 first- and second-tier cities, the rest of China can be all included in this realm, where people earn less money than in big cities and prefer more cost-effective or cheaper products. The success of such companies as e-commerce platform Pinduoduo has drawn people’s attention to the vast business opportunity posed by this part of the demography.
Example:
A: 你最近忙什么呢？
Nǐ zuìjìn máng shénme ne？
What have you been working on lately?
B: 有朋友介绍了一个老家的商场铺位给我，我打算开一家美妆店。
Yǒu péngyou jièshào le yīgè lǎojiā de shāngchǎng pùwèi gěi wǒ，wǒ dǎsuàn kāi yījiā měizhuāngdiàn。
A friend helped me find a venue in a mall in my hometown, and I’m opening a shop selling cosmetics.
A: 最近大家都在讨论下沉市场，你是我周围第一个付诸实践的。
Zuìjìn dàjiā dōu zài tǎolùn xiàchén shìchǎng，nǐ shì wǒ zhōuwéi dìyīgè fùzhū shíjiàn de，zhēn yǒu pòlì。
Many people are talking about small-town and rural markets, but you are the first one I know to actually give it a try.