Catch Phrase | 拼团(pīntuán)

Writer: Debra Li  |  Editor: Stephanie Yang  |  From: Shenzhen Daily  |  Updated: 2020-10-27

Meaning:

“拼” here means to “put together,” as in “put together a jigsaw puzzle,” and “团” is short for “团购” (tuángòu), which means “group buying.” Therefore, this term, coined by Chinese netizens, refers to the scenario where people join a group buying effort so that each can enjoy a lower price than when they buy individually. Such group buying activities often occur online, via social media and shopping sites.

Example:

A: 来尝尝我买的苹果。

Lái chángchang wǒ mǎi de píngguǒ。

Come over and try the apples I bought.

B: 真新鲜,哪里买的?

Zhēn xīnxiān,nǎlǐ mǎi de?

They look so fresh. Where did you buy them?

A: 我们公司有同事组织的团购,从云南直接运过来的。

Wǒmen gōngsī yǒu tóngshì zǔzhī de tuángòu,cóng yúnnán zhíjiē yùn guòlái de。

Someone in my company put together a group buying effort, and the apples were sent directly from Yunnan Province.

B: 下次拼团也叫上我。

Xiàcì pīntuán yě jiào shàng wǒ。

Count me in the next time you have a group-buy.