培养对手
Training Your Rivals
StartReading
Why helping your competitors might be the best business strategy.
37 new words
培养péiyǎngto foster, to train
他的回答是，商业生态像一片需要培养的土地。
He replied that a business ecosystem is like land that needs cultivation.
对手duìshǒuopponent, rival
后来，对手遇到资金困难，已经濒临倒闭。
Later the other owner faced financial difficulty and was close to closing.
公寓gōngyùapartment, flat
一座新公寓附近有两家小店，都卖文具、各类电池和日用品。
Near a new apartment complex stood two small shops, both selling stationery, different batteries, and daily necessities.
文具wénjùstationery
一座新公寓附近有两家小店，都卖文具、各类电池和日用品。
Near a new apartment complex stood two small shops, both selling stationery, different batteries, and daily necessities.
电池diànchíbattery, cell
一座新公寓附近有两家小店，都卖文具、各类电池和日用品。
Near a new apartment complex stood two small shops, both selling stationery, different batteries, and daily necessities.
日用品rìyòngpǐnarticles of everyday use, daily necessities
一座新公寓附近有两家小店，都卖文具、各类电池和日用品。
Near a new apartment complex stood two small shops, both selling stationery, different batteries, and daily necessities.
利润lìrùnprofit
店主建伟起初把另一家看成唯一的竞争对象，认为对方多营业一天，自己的利润就会少一些，算下来每月营业额也不好看。
At first Jianwei saw the other shop as his only competitor and believed every extra day of business for it reduced his own profit, leaving his monthly takings looking worse as well.
诚信chéngxìnhonest, in good faith
他们希望有不同店家可以比较，也愿意在服务诚信用心的店里消费。
They wanted different shops to compare and were willing to spend in shops with good service and integrity.
媒体méitǐmedia, mass media
媒体采访时，他甚至说，不如干脆把对方挤出去，省得每天为价格操心。
In a media interview, he even said it would be better simply to squeeze the other shop out.
对象duìxiàngtarget, object
店主建伟起初把另一家看成唯一的竞争对象，认为对方多营业一天，自己的利润就会少一些，算下来每月营业额也不好看。
At first Jianwei saw the other shop as his only competitor and believed every extra day of business for it reduced his own profit, leaving his monthly takings looking worse as well.
建伟JiànwěiJianwei, name of a person
店主建伟起初把另一家看成唯一的竞争对象，认为对方多营业一天，自己的利润就会少一些，算下来每月营业额也不好看。
At first Jianwei saw the other shop as his only competitor and believed every extra day of business for it reduced his own profit, leaving his monthly takings looking worse as well.
营业yíngyèto do business, to operate
店主建伟起初把另一家看成唯一的竞争对象，认为对方多营业一天，自己的利润就会少一些，算下来每月营业额也不好看。
At first Jianwei saw the other shop as his only competitor and believed every extra day of business for it reduced his own profit, leaving his monthly takings looking worse as well.
额éspecified number, sum, volume or amount
店主建伟起初把另一家看成唯一的竞争对象，认为对方多营业一天，自己的利润就会少一些，算下来每月营业额也不好看。
At first Jianwei saw the other shop as his only competitor and believed every extra day of business for it reduced his own profit, leaving his monthly takings looking worse as well.
不如bùrúto be not as good as, to be inferior to
媒体采访时，他甚至说，不如干脆把对方挤出去，省得每天为价格操心。
In a media interview, he even said it would be better simply to squeeze the other shop out.
干脆gāncuìsimply, just
媒体采访时，他甚至说，不如干脆把对方挤出去，省得每天为价格操心。
In a media interview, he even said it would be better simply to squeeze the other shop out.
挤jǐto squeeze out, to push out
媒体采访时，他甚至说，不如干脆把对方挤出去，省得每天为价格操心。
In a media interview, he even said it would be better simply to squeeze the other shop out.
垮kuǎto collapse, to break down
建伟说，谁都会有倒霉的时候；一家店若垮了，街上看起来也许少了麻烦，实际只会让大家在需要时没有第二个选择。
Jianwei said that everyone has a run of bad luck; if one shop collapsed, the street might seem to have less trouble, but people would have no second choice when they needed one.
垄断lǒngduànto monopolize
有人笑他傻，问他为什么不趁机独自形成垄断局面。
Some people called him foolish and asked why he did not create a monopoly by himself.
倒闭dǎobìto close down, to go bankrupt
后来，对手遇到资金困难，已经濒临倒闭。
Later the other owner faced financial difficulty and was close to closing.
热心rèxīnenthusiastic, earnest
建伟没有幸灾乐祸，反而热心地介绍一位可靠的供货商，还帮对方谈了一个合理的价格，并建议两家店在不同品类上各有重点。
Instead of taking pleasure in the misfortune, Jianwei warmly introduced a reliable supplier, even helped negotiate a fair price, and suggested that the two shops focus on different categories.
资金zījīncapital, fund
后来，对手遇到资金困难，已经濒临倒闭。
Later the other owner faced financial difficulty and was close to closing.
傻shǎstupid, foolish
有人笑他傻，问他为什么不趁机独自形成垄断局面。
Some people called him foolish and asked why he did not create a monopoly by himself.
倒霉dǎoméihaving bad luck, unlucky
建伟说，谁都会有倒霉的时候；一家店若垮了，街上看起来也许少了麻烦，实际只会让大家在需要时没有第二个选择。
Jianwei said that everyone has a run of bad luck; if one shop collapsed, the street might seem to have less trouble, but people would have no second choice when they needed one.
生态shēngtàiecology
他的回答是，商业生态像一片需要培养的土地。
He replied that a business ecosystem is like land that needs cultivation.
商业shāngyèbusiness, commerce
他的回答是，商业生态像一片需要培养的土地。
He replied that a business ecosystem is like land that needs cultivation.
领域lǐngyùfield, domain, realm
顾客多了，当地的商业服务领域也更有活力。
There were more customers, and local commercial services were more lively.
适当shìdàngproper, adequate
适当的竞争会促使商家改进服务，也会促进小店稳步生长、商品不断更新，不至于妨碍彼此维持体面收入。
Appropriate competition pushes businesses to improve service and helps small shops grow steadily while goods keep renewing, without preventing either from maintaining a decent income.
促使cùshǐto urge, to spur, to prompt
适当的竞争会促使商家改进服务，也会促进小店稳步生长、商品不断更新，不至于妨碍彼此维持体面收入。
Appropriate competition pushes businesses to improve service and helps small shops grow steadily while goods keep renewing, without preventing either from maintaining a decent income.
生长shēngzhǎngto grow
适当的竞争会促使商家改进服务，也会促进小店稳步生长、商品不断更新，不至于妨碍彼此维持体面收入。
Appropriate competition pushes businesses to improve service and helps small shops grow steadily while goods keep renewing, without preventing either from maintaining a decent income.
妨碍fáng'àito hinder, to impede
适当的竞争会促使商家改进服务，也会促进小店稳步生长、商品不断更新，不至于妨碍彼此维持体面收入。
Appropriate competition pushes businesses to improve service and helps small shops grow steadily while goods keep renewing, without preventing either from maintaining a decent income.
促进cùjìnto promote, to accelerate
适当的竞争会促使商家改进服务，也会促进小店稳步生长、商品不断更新，不至于妨碍彼此维持体面收入。
Appropriate competition pushes businesses to improve service and helps small shops grow steadily while goods keep renewing, without preventing either from maintaining a decent income.
利益lìyìbenefit, interest
若所有力量只追逐眼前利益，长期的信任反而会被破坏。
If all effort chases immediate profit, long-term trust is damaged instead.
合理hélǐreasonable
建伟没有幸灾乐祸，反而热心地介绍一位可靠的供货商，还帮对方谈了一个合理的价格，并建议两家店在不同品类上各有重点。
Instead of taking pleasure in the misfortune, Jianwei warmly introduced a reliable supplier, even helped negotiate a fair price, and suggested that the two shops focus on different categories.
万一wànyīin case, if by any chance
万一只剩一家店，店主也许会提高价格、减少选择；而在同类小店已经饱和的街区，反倒是服务差的那家先关门。
If only one shop remained, its owner might raise prices and reduce choice; on a street already saturated with similar shops, by contrast, it is the one with poor service that closes first.
维持wéichíto keep, to maintain
适当的竞争会促使商家改进服务，也会促进小店稳步生长、商品不断更新，不至于妨碍彼此维持体面收入。
Appropriate competition pushes businesses to improve service and helps small shops grow steadily while goods keep renewing, without preventing either from maintaining a decent income.
饱和bǎohéto be saturated, to be filled to capacity
万一只剩一家店，店主也许会提高价格、减少选择；而在同类小店已经饱和的街区，反倒是服务差的那家先关门。
If only one shop remained, its owner might raise prices and reduce choice; on a street already saturated with similar shops, by contrast, it is the one with poor service that closes first.
不见得bújiàndenot necessarily, may not
建伟明白，竞争不见得只是损失；只要规则公平、目的清楚，对手也能让一家店学会怎样走得更远。
Jianwei understood that competition is not necessarily a loss; when rules are fair and the purpose is clear, an opponent can also teach a shop how to go farther.
Listen to the text
一座新公寓附近有两家小店，都卖文具、各类电池和日用品。店主建伟起初把另一家看成唯一的竞争对象，认为对方多营业一天，自己的利润就会少一些，算下来每月营业额也不好看。他每天记下进货和售卖情况，担心连一件小事都会影响生意。媒体采访时，他甚至说，不如干脆把对方挤出去，省得每天为价格操心。
yī zuò xīn gōngyù fù jìn yǒu liǎng jiā xiǎo diàn， dōu mài wénjù、 gè lèi diànchí hé rìyòngpǐn。 diàn zhǔ Jiànwěi qǐ chū bǎ lìng yī jiā kàn chéng wéi yī de jìng zhēng duìxiàng， rèn wèi duì fāng duō yíngyè yī tiān， zì jǐ de lìrùn jiù huì shǎo yī xiē， suàn xià lái měi yuè yíngyè é yě bù hǎo kàn。 tā měi tiān jì xià jìn huò hé shòu mài qíng kuàng， dān xīn lián yī jiàn xiǎo shì dōu huì yǐng xiǎng shēng yì。 méitǐ cǎi fǎng shí， tā shèn zhì shuō， bùrú gāncuì bǎ duì fāng jǐ chū qù， shěng dé měi tiān wèi jià gé cāo xīn。
Near a new apartment complex stood two small shops, both selling stationery, different batteries, and daily necessities. At first Jianwei saw the other shop as his only competitor and believed every extra day of business for it reduced his own profit, leaving his monthly takings looking worse as well. He recorded purchases and sales every day, worrying that even one small matter would affect business. In a media interview, he even said it would be better simply to squeeze the other shop out.
可是附近的居民并不这样想。他们希望有不同店家可以比较，也愿意在服务诚信用心的店里消费。万一只剩一家店，店主也许会提高价格、减少选择；而在同类小店已经饱和的街区，反倒是服务差的那家先关门。选择多并不表示谁都能随便赚钱，却能让服务有明确标准。
kě shì fù jìn de jū mín bìng bù zhè yàng xiǎng。 tā men xī wàng yǒu bù tóng diàn jiā kě yǐ bǐ jiào， yě yuàn yì zài fú wù chéngxìn yòng xīn de diàn lǐ xiāo fèi。 wànyī zhǐ shèng yī jiā diàn， diàn zhǔ yě xǔ huì tí gāo jià gé、 jiǎn shǎo xuǎn zé； ér zài tóng lèi xiǎo diàn yǐ jīng bǎohé de jiē qū， fǎn dào shì fú wù chà de nà jiā xiān guān mén。 xuǎn zé duō bìng bù biǎo shì shuí dōu néng suí biàn zhuàn qián， què néng ràng fú wù yǒu míng què biāo zhǔn。
The nearby residents did not see it that way. They wanted different shops to compare and were willing to spend in shops with good service and integrity. If only one shop remained, its owner might raise prices and reduce choice; on a street already saturated with similar shops, by contrast, it is the one with poor service that closes first. More choice does not mean anyone can make money carelessly, but it sets clear standards for service.
后来，对手遇到资金困难，已经濒临倒闭。建伟没有幸灾乐祸，反而热心地介绍一位可靠的供货商，还帮对方谈了一个合理的价格，并建议两家店在不同品类上各有重点。有人笑他傻，问他为什么不趁机独自形成垄断局面。建伟说，谁都会有倒霉的时候；一家店若垮了，街上看起来也许少了麻烦，实际只会让大家在需要时没有第二个选择。
hòu lái， duìshǒu yù dào zījīn kùn nán， yǐ jīng bīn lín dǎobì。 Jiànwěi méi yǒu xìng zāi lè huò， fǎn ér rèxīn dì jiè shào yī wèi kě kào de gōng huò shāng， hái bāng duì fāng tán le yī gè hélǐ de jià gé， bìng jiàn yì liǎng jiā diàn zài bù tóng pǐn lèi shàng gè yǒu zhòng diǎn。 yǒu rén xiào tā shǎ， wèn tā wèi shén me bù chèn jī dú zì xíng chéng lǒngduàn jú miàn。 Jiànwěi shuō， shuí dōu huì yǒu dǎoméi de shí hòu； yī jiā diàn ruò kuǎ le， jiē shàng kàn qǐ lái yě xǔ shǎo le má fán， shí jì zhǐ huì ràng dà jiā zài xū yào shí méi yǒu dì èr gè xuǎn zé。
Later the other owner faced financial difficulty and was close to closing. Instead of taking pleasure in the misfortune, Jianwei warmly introduced a reliable supplier, even helped negotiate a fair price, and suggested that the two shops focus on different categories. Some people called him foolish and asked why he did not create a monopoly by himself. Jianwei said that everyone has a run of bad luck; if one shop collapsed, the street might seem to have less trouble, but people would have no second choice when they needed one.
他的回答是，商业生态像一片需要培养的土地。适当的竞争会促使商家改进服务，也会促进小店稳步生长、商品不断更新，不至于妨碍彼此维持体面收入。它还会提醒店主听取顾客意见，学习管理资金和库存。若所有力量只追逐眼前利益，长期的信任反而会被破坏。
tā de huí dá shì， shāngyè shēngtài xiàng yī piàn xū yào péiyǎng de tǔ dì。 shìdàng de jìng zhēng huì cùshǐ shāng jiā gǎi jìn fú wù， yě huì cùjìn xiǎo diàn wěn bù shēngzhǎng、 shāng pǐn bù duàn gèng xīn， bù zhì yú fáng'ài bǐ cǐ wéichí tǐ miàn shōu rù。 tā hái huì tí xǐng diàn zhǔ tīng qǔ gù kè yì jiàn， xué xí guǎn lǐ zījīn hé kù cún。 ruò suǒ yǒu lì liàng zhǐ zhuī zhú yǎn qián lìyì， zhǎng qī de xìn rèn fǎn ér huì bèi pò huài。
He replied that a business ecosystem is like land that needs cultivation. Appropriate competition pushes businesses to improve service and helps small shops grow steadily while goods keep renewing, without preventing either from maintaining a decent income. It also reminds owners to hear customers' opinions and manage money and stock well. If all effort chases immediate profit, long-term trust is damaged instead.
几个月后，两家店都保留下来。顾客多了，当地的商业服务领域也更有活力。建伟明白，竞争不见得只是损失；只要规则公平、目的清楚，对手也能让一家店学会怎样走得更远。
jǐ gè yuè hòu， liǎng jiā diàn dōu bǎo liú xià lái。 gù kè duō le， dāng dì de shāngyè fú wù lǐngyù yě gèng yǒu huó lì。 Jiànwěi míng bái， jìng zhēng bújiànde zhǐ shì sǔn shī； zhǐ yào guī zé gōng píng、 mù de qīng chǔ， duìshǒu yě néng ràng yī jiā diàn xué huì zěn yàng zǒu dé gèng yuǎn。
Months later, both shops remained. There were more customers, and local commercial services were more lively. Jianwei understood that competition is not necessarily a loss; when rules are fair and the purpose is clear, an opponent can also teach a shop how to go farther.
Tap a marked word for its meaning. Tap a line to see the English.
Grammar
媒体采访时，他甚至说，不如干脆把对方挤出去，省得每天为价格操心。In a media interview, he even said it would be better simply to squeeze the other shop out.
Subject +干脆+ Verb Phrase
干脆. Simply, just, straightforwardly (adverb indicating a decisive action)
许多亲朋好友便建议他干脆把另三家书店挤垮。
Xǔduō qīnpéng hǎoyǒu biàn jiànyì tā gāncuì bǎ lìng sān jiā shūdiàn jǐkuǎ.
Many relatives and friends suggested that he simply squeeze out the other three bookstores.
万一只剩一家店，店主也许会提高价格、减少选择；而在同类小店已经饱和的街区，反倒是服务差的那家先关门。If only one shop remained, its owner might raise prices and reduce choice; on a street already saturated with similar shops, by contrast, it is the one with poor service that closes first.
万一+ Hypothesis,也+ Result
万一. In case, if by any chance (conjunction indicating an unlikely hypothesis)
万一即使失败了，也不后悔。
Wànyī jíshǐ shībài le, yě bù hòuhuǐ.
Even if by any chance I fail, I won't regret it.
媒体采访时，他甚至说，不如干脆把对方挤出去，省得每天为价格操心。In a media interview, he even said it would be better simply to squeeze the other shop out.
Noun A +不如+ Noun B
不如. To be not as good as (verb indicating comparison)
三家的营业额加起来还不如他一家高。
Sān jiā de yíngyè'é jiā qǐlái hái bùrú tā yì jiā gāo.
The turnover of the three combined was not as high as his alone.
Which word means “to close down, to go bankrupt”?
Culture
中国大学校园书店 - University Campus Bookstores
A campus bookstore does not only sell books; it can also be a space where students pause to think and exchange ideas. It can provide textbooks, literature, academic works, and items connected with campus life. Online shopping is convenient, but physical bookstores still have value because people can leaf through books, ask staff questions, and discover books they would not otherwise search for in a quiet setting. Such a space can make learning warmer.
Write the new characters
0 of 14 written
池 from 电池 · battery, cell
Practice
8 questions · about 4 minutes
Pick the meaningListenFill the gapMatchWord order
Finish
Finish the practice to complete this lesson.