进口 (jìnkǒu) — import; to import
HSK 5 | noun/verb | goods or the act of bringing goods into a country
进口 (jìnkǒu)
进口 refers to the importation of goods or services from another country, or the imported goods themselves, and is a fundamental term in trade, economics, and commerce.
Meanings
- [verb] to import (goods or services)
- [noun] imports; imported goods
Example Sentences
这批进口设备大大提升了工厂的生产效率。 Zhè pī jìnkǒu shèbèi dàdà tíshēngle gōngchǎng de shēngchǎn xiàolǜ. This batch of imported equipment greatly improved the factory's production efficiency.
该国的石油主要依赖进口，国内储量有限。 Gāi guó de shíyóu zhǔyào yīlài jìnkǒu, guónèi chǔliàng yǒuxiàn. The country relies mainly on imports for oil as domestic reserves are limited.
政府决定降低部分消费品的进口关税。 Zhèngfǔ juédìng jiàngdī bùfèn xiāofèipǐn de jìnkǒu guānshuì. The government decided to reduce import tariffs on some consumer goods.
进口汽车在高端市场上仍然占据重要地位。 Jìnkǒu qìchē zài gāoduān shìchǎng shàng réngrán zhànjù zhòngyào dìwèi. Imported cars still occupy an important position in the high-end market.
贸易逆差意味着一个国家的进口超过了出口。 Màoyì nìchā yìwèizhe yī gè guójiā de jìnkǒu chāoguòle chūkǒu. A trade deficit means that a country's imports exceed its exports.
严格的进口检疫措施有助于防止外来病虫害入侵。 Yángé de jìnkǒu jiǎnyì cuòshī yǒuzhù yú fángzhǐ wàilái bìng chóng hài rùqīn. Strict import quarantine measures help prevent the invasion of foreign pests and diseases.
Collocations
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 进口关税 (jìnkǒu guānshuì) | import tariff |
| 进口商品 (jìnkǒu shāngpǐn) | imported goods |
| 限制进口 (xiànzhì jìnkǒu) | restrict imports |
| 进口额 (jìnkǒu é) | import value |
| 进口替代 (jìnkǒu tìdài) | import substitution |
| 出口与进口 (chūkǒu yǔ jìnkǒu) | exports and imports |
Usage Notes
进口 is the antonym of 出口 (chūkǒu, export). Together they form the core vocabulary of international trade. Note that 进口 also has a literal spatial meaning of "entrance" (the mouth or opening you enter through), which is its older, non-trade usage.
In trade contexts, 进口 is always used as a verb or attributive noun (进口商品, imported goods), not as a standalone predicate without an object. Learners should practise the pair 进口/出口 together with trade-related collocations.
Memory Hook
进 (to enter) + 口 (mouth/opening) = goods that enter through the country's mouth -- imports.