降低运营成本
Reduce operating costs
Literally: Lowering operation costs
Use this phrase to sound professional when discussing efficiency and saving money in business contexts.
In 15 Seconds
- Used to describe reducing business or project expenses efficiently.
- Common in professional meetings, reports, and strategic planning.
- Focuses on long-term operational savings rather than one-time discounts.
Meaning
It's all about finding ways to spend less money while keeping your business or project running smoothly. Think of it as 'trimming the fat' to make your daily operations more efficient and profitable.
Key Examples
3 of 6In a formal business meeting
通过自动化流程，我们可以有效降低运营成本。
By automating processes, we can effectively reduce operating costs.
Texting a colleague about a new tool
这个新软件能帮我们降低不少运营成本呢。
This new software can help us reduce a lot of operating costs.
A humorous take on personal life
为了降低运营成本，我决定以后每天走路上班。
To reduce my operating costs, I've decided to walk to work every day.
Cultural Background
This phrase gained massive popularity during the rise of Chinese internet giants like Alibaba and Tencent. In a culture that values hard work and frugality, 'optimizing operations' is seen as a core virtue of a successful leader. It reflects the transition from a manufacturing-heavy economy to a high-tech, efficiency-driven one.
Pair it with Efficiency
In Chinese business, you rarely just 'reduce costs.' Always mention 'increasing efficiency' (`提高效率`) to sound like a real pro.
Don't use it for people
If you are firing people to save money, don't use this phrase directly for the act. Use `裁员` (layoffs). `降低运营成本` is the *reason*, not the *action*.
In 15 Seconds
- Used to describe reducing business or project expenses efficiently.
- Common in professional meetings, reports, and strategic planning.
- Focuses on long-term operational savings rather than one-time discounts.
What It Means
降低运营成本 is a powerhouse phrase in the professional world. It literally means to lower the expenses required to keep a business alive. Imagine you are running a lemonade stand. If you find a cheaper sugar supplier, you are 降低运营成本. It is not just about being cheap. It is about being smart with your resources. You want the same output for less input.
How To Use It
You usually see this phrase in business meetings or reports. It often follows verbs like 努力 (strive to) or 旨在 (aim to). You can say: 我们要努力降低运营成本 (We need to strive to reduce operating costs). It sounds sophisticated and shows you have a strategic mindset. You can also use it when discussing a new software or a change in workflow. If a new app saves you three hours a day, it is helping you 降低运营成本.
When To Use It
Use this when you are in a professional setting. It is perfect for job interviews when explaining your achievements. If you are talking to your boss about a new project, use it to justify the budget. It also works well in news articles about the economy or tech startups. Even in a semi-formal chat with a fellow freelancer, it fits perfectly. It shows you understand the 'bottom line'.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid using this in purely social or romantic settings. If you tell your date you chose a cheaper restaurant to 降低运营成本, you probably won't get a second date! It sounds too robotic for personal life. Also, do not use it for one-time purchases. If you bought a cheap shirt, that is just 省钱 (saving money), not reducing 'operating' costs. Keep it for ongoing processes and systems.
Cultural Background
In China's hyper-competitive '996' work culture, efficiency is everything. The phrase became a mantra during the tech boom of the 2010s. Every startup wanted to prove they could scale fast while keeping costs low. It reflects a cultural shift toward 'lean' management styles. You will often hear it paired with the idea of 'innovation'—using tech to replace expensive manual labor.
Common Variations
A very popular four-character version is 降本增效 (jiàng běn zēng xiào). This means 'reduce costs and increase efficiency'. It is the ultimate corporate buzzword in China today. If you want to sound like a high-level executive, use that one. Another variation is 削减开支 (xuē jiǎn kāi zhī), which is more about 'slashing expenses' during a crisis.
Usage Notes
This phrase is firmly in the 'formal/neutral' category. It is highly effective in professional writing and speech. Avoid using it in intimate or casual social settings unless you are making a joke about being overly business-minded.
Pair it with Efficiency
In Chinese business, you rarely just 'reduce costs.' Always mention 'increasing efficiency' (`提高效率`) to sound like a real pro.
Don't use it for people
If you are firing people to save money, don't use this phrase directly for the act. Use `裁员` (layoffs). `降低运营成本` is the *reason*, not the *action*.
The 'Internet' Flavor
This phrase is very 'Internet-y' (互联网大厂风格). Using it makes you sound like you work for a big tech firm in Beijing or Hangzhou.
Examples
6通过自动化流程，我们可以有效降低运营成本。
By automating processes, we can effectively reduce operating costs.
This is the most standard way to use the phrase in a professional setting.
这个新软件能帮我们降低不少运营成本呢。
This new software can help us reduce a lot of operating costs.
Adding '呢' at the end makes it sound more natural for a text.
为了降低运营成本，我决定以后每天走路上班。
To reduce my operating costs, I've decided to walk to work every day.
Using a business term for a personal habit creates a funny, mock-serious tone.
为了公司的长远发展，我们必须降低运营成本。
For the long-term development of the company, we must reduce operating costs.
This uses the phrase to justify necessary but perhaps unpopular changes.
我正在想办法降低我网店的运营成本。
I'm looking for ways to reduce the operating costs of my online store.
Shows the phrase is applicable to small businesses and personal projects.
我感觉我需要降低生活的运营成本，太累了。
I feel like I need to reduce the 'operating costs' of my life; I'm too tired.
Metaphorical use implying the person is spending too much energy to keep going.
Test Yourself
Choose the correct phrase to complete the business goal.
我们的目标是通过优化管理来 ___ 。
Optimizing management (优化管理) is a logical way to reduce operating costs (降低运营成本) in a business context.
Which verb best precedes the phrase in a formal report?
公司计划在明年 ___ 20% 的运营成本。
Companies usually plan to 'lower' (降低) costs, not increase (增加) or play (玩) with them.
🎉 Score: /2
Visual Learning Aids
Formality Spectrum
Using '省钱' for buying cheap groceries.
我要省钱。
Discussing a small project or side hustle.
我们要降低成本。
Official company reports or high-level meetings.
致力于降低运营成本。
Where to use 降低运营成本
Boardroom Meeting
Presenting a budget plan.
Tech Startup
Discussing cloud server fees.
Job Interview
Explaining how you saved the company money.
Economic News
Reporting on industry trends.
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions成本 (chéngběn) usually refers to the direct cost of producing something, while 费用 (fèiyòng) is a broader term for general expenses.
Technically yes, but it sounds very formal. It's like saying 'I am optimizing my personal financial infrastructure' instead of 'I'm saving money'.
No, you can also use 减少 (jiǎnshǎo - reduce) or 控制 (kòngzhì - control), but 降低 is the most common partner for 运营成本.
You can use 削减 (xuējiǎn), which implies a more drastic or forceful cutting of the budget.
Yes, it is universally understood in the Chinese-speaking business world, though local business jargon might vary slightly.
The opposite would be 增加运营成本 (zēngjiā yùnyíng chéngběn), which means increasing operating costs.
Not necessarily. In a Chinese business context, it usually implies 'optimization' rather than 'cutting corners'.
Yes, if you are discussing work. It shows you are thinking about the company's health.
There isn't really a slang version, but people might say 抠 (kōu) to describe a company being extremely stingy with costs.
Absolutely. It is a very appropriate academic and professional term for economics or business papers.
Related Phrases
降本增效 (Reduce costs and increase efficiency)
开源节流 (Increase income and reduce expenditure)
优化流程 (Optimize processes)
收支平衡 (Break even / Balance income and expenses)
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