Audio Lesson: Logistics Vocabulary and Phrases in Chinese

If you are working in logistics involving China, this is a useful vocabulary list. I will be expanding on this with some example documentation relating to logistics in the future. As usual I use Pinyin for the Chinese pronunciation.

If you require a list of country names in Chinese, please refer to my other post.

If you need information on using a post office, please check our my Chinese Post Office post here.

Chinese Logistics Vocabulary

English Pinyin Chinese
20 foot container 20 yīngchǐ de jízhuāngxiāng/ 20 chǐ guì 2200英yīng尺chǐ的de集jí装zhuāng箱xiāng / 2200尺chǐ柜guì
40 foot container 40 yīngchǐ de jízhuāngxiāng/ 40 chǐ guì 4400英yīng尺chǐ的de集jí装zhuāng箱xiāng / 4400尺chǐ柜guì
actual time of departure shíjì chūfā shíjiān 实shí际jì出chū发fā时shí间jiān
address dìzhǐ 地dì址zhǐ
advance freight yùfù yùnfèi 预yù付fù运yùn费fèi
air consignment note hángkōng tuōyùndān 航háng空kōng托tuō运yùn单dān
air waybill (awb) hángkōng yùn dān (AWB) 航háng空kōng运yùn单dān((AA WWBB))
allowed/permitted tolerances yǔnxǔ/yǔnxǔ de gōngchāi 允yǔn许xǔ//允yǔn许xǔ的de公gōng差chā
and jí 及jí
at the border zài biānjìng 在zài边biān境jìng
barrels of oil tǒng yuányóu 桶tǒng原yuán油yóu
batch number pīhào 批pī号hào
bearer bill of lading bù jìmíng tídān 不bù记jì名míng提tí单dān
below deck jiǎbǎn xià 甲jiǎ板bǎn下xià
berth bówèi 泊bó位wèi
bill of entry rùjìng dān 入rù境jìng单dān
bill of lading tíhuò dān 提tí货huò单dān
billing address zhàngdān dìzhǐ 账zhàng单dān地dì址zhǐ
boarding card dēng jī kǎ 登dēng机jī卡kǎ
bonded warehouse bǎoshuì cāngkù 保bǎo税shuì仓cāng库kù
border biānjiè 边biān界jiè
bulk load sǎnzhuāng 散sǎn装zhuāng
calculated tare / weight jìsuàn pí zhòng/zhòngliàng 计jì算suàn皮pí重zhòng//重zhòng量liàng
cardboard box zhǐbǎn xiāng 纸zhǐ板bǎn箱xiāng
cargo insurance huòwù bǎoxiǎn 货huò物wù保bǎo险xiǎn
cargo loading huòwù zhuāngzǎi 货huò物wù装zhuāng载zài
carriage by sea – sea transport hǎishàng yùnshū/ hǎiyáng yùnshū 海hǎi上shàng运yùn输shū / 海hǎi洋yáng运yùn输shū
carriage paid yǐ fù yùnfèi 已yǐ付fù运yùn费fèi
carrier chéngyùn rén 承chéng运yùn人rén
carton zhǐxiāng 纸zhǐ箱xiāng
certificate zhèngmíng shū, zhízhào 证zhèng明míng书shū,,执zhí照zhào
certificate (licence) fā zhèng 发fā证zhèng
certificate (licence) issue date fā zhèng rìqí 发fā证zhèng日rì期qī
certificate by competent authority zhǔguǎn jīgòu zhèngmíng 主zhǔ管guǎn机jī构gòu证zhèng明míng
certificate of conformity shāngpǐn fúhé hétóng zhèngmíng shū 商shāng品pǐn符fú合hé合hé同tong证zhèng明míng书shū
certificate of delivery (c/d) jiāo huò zhèngmíng shū 交jiāo货huò证zhèng明míng书shū
certificate of guarantee bǎozhèngshū 保bǎo证zhèng书shū
certificate of import licence tèxǔ jìnkǒu zhèngmíng shū 特tè许xǔ进jìn口kǒu证zhèng明míng书shū
certificate of inspection jiǎnyàn zhèngshū 检jiǎn验yàn证zhèng书shū
certificate of insurance (abbr. c/i) bǎoxiǎn zhèngmíng shū 保bǎo险xiǎn证zhèng明míng书shū
certificate of manufacturer zhìzào chǎng zhèngmíng shū 制zhì造zào厂chǎng证zhèng明míng书shū
certificate of origin chǎndì zhèngmíng shū 产chǎn地dì证zhèng明míng书shū
certificate of origin (c/o) chǎndì zhèngmíng shū 产chǎn地dì证zhèng明míng书shū
certificate of quanlity zhìliàng zhèngmíng shū/ pǐnzhí zhèngmíng shū 质zhì量liàng证zhèng明míng书shū / 品pǐn质zhì证zhèng明míng书shū
certificate of quantity/weight shùliàng/ zhòngliàng zhèngmíng shū 数shù量liàng / 重zhòng量liàng证zhèng明míng书shū
certificate of shipment chūkǒu xǔkě zhèng 出chū口kǒu许xǔ可kě证zhèng
certificate of shipment chūkǒu xǔkě zhèng 出chū口kǒu许xǔ可kě证zhèng
certified invoice qiānzhèng fāpiào 签qiān证zhèng发fā票piào
certified invoice qiānzhèng fāpiào 签qiān证zhèng发fā票piào
charter party zū chuán hétóng 租zū船chuán合hé同tong
cif value CIF zhí CCIIFF值zhí
clearance jiànxì 间jiàn隙xì
clearance agent qīngsuàn dàilǐ 清qīng算suàn代dài理lǐ
clearance certificate tōngguān zhèngshū 通tōng关guān证zhèng书shū
commodity shāngpǐn 商shāng品pǐn
company seal / stamp gài zhāng 盖gài章zhāng
consignee shōu huò rén 收shōu货huò人rén
consignor fā huárén 发fā华Huá人rén
contract number hétóng hào 合hé同tong号hào
country guójiā 国guó家jiā
country of final destination zuìzhōng mùdì dì guó 最zuì终zhōng目mù的dì地dì国guó
country of origin huòwù yuán chǎn guó 货huò物wù原yuán产chǎn国guó
customs clearance bàoguān 报bào关guān
customs port (port of clearance) bàoguān kǒu’àn 报bào关guān口kǒu岸'àn
customs warehouse hǎiguān cāngkù 海hǎi关guān仓cāng库kù
date rìqí 日rì期qī
declaration of exporter chūkǒu shāng shēngmíng 出chū口kǒu商shāng声shēng明míng
delivery address sòng huò dìzhǐ 送sòng货huò地dì址zhǐ
departure airport chūfā jīchǎng 出chū发fā机jī场chǎng
departure date qǐyùn rìqí 启qǐ运yùn日rì期qī
description miáoshù 描miáo述shù
export chūkǒu 出chū口kǒu
export licence expiry date chūkǒu xǔkě zhèng yǒuxiào zài zhèng rìqí 出chū口kǒu许xǔ可kě证zhèng有yǒu效xiào载zài正zhèng日rì期qī
export licence number chūkǒu xǔkě zhèng hào 出chū口kǒu许xǔ可kě证zhèng号hào
exporter chūkǒu shāng 出chū口kǒu商shāng
express (delivery) kuàidì 快kuài递dì
flight number fēijī hángbān hàomǎ 飞fēi机jī航háng班bān号hào码mǎ
foreign exchange wàihuì 外wài汇huì
freight plane huòyùn fēijī 货huò运yùn飞fēi机jī
frontier biānjìng 边biān境jìng
goods huòwù 货huò物wù
goods code (commodity code) shāngpǐn biānmǎ 商shāng品pǐn编biān码mǎ
grade děngjí 等děng级jí
handling costs shǒuxù fèi 手shǒu续xù费fèi
harbor dues – harbor fees gǎngkǒu fèi-gǎngkǒu fèi 港gǎng口kǒu费fèi--港gǎng口kǒu费fèi
harbor office gǎngkǒu bàngōngshì 港gǎng口kǒu办bàn公gōng室shì
heavy traffic jiāotōng fánmáng 交jiāo通tōng繁fán忙máng
hold bǎochí 保bǎo持chí
home delivery sòng huò shàngmén 送sòng货huò上shàng门mén
house air waybill (hawb) hángkōng huòyùn dān (HAWB) 航háng空kōng货huò运yùn单dān((HHAA WWBB))
import jìnkǒu 进jìn口kǒu
import duties jìnkǒu guānshuì 进jìn口kǒu关guān税shuì
import license jìnkǒu xǔkě zhèng 进jìn口kǒu许xǔ可kě证zhèng
in bond – waiting for clearance bǎozhèngjīn-děngdài tōngguān 保bǎo证zhèng金jīn--等děng待dài通tōng关guān
in bulk sǎnzhuāng 散sǎn装zhuāng
in stock xiànhuò 现xiàn货huò
in transit zài túzhōng 在zài途tú中zhōng
inch yīngcùn 英yīng寸cùn
inspection certificate jiǎnyàn zhèngshū 检jiǎn验yàn证zhèng书shū
insurance bǎoxiǎn 保bǎo险xiǎn
interest rate lìlǜ 利lì率lǜ
issuing authority fā zhèng jīguān 发fā证zhèng机jī关guān
issuing authority stamp fā zhèng jīguān gài zhāng 发fā证zhèng机jī关guān盖gài章zhāng
kilogram – kilo gōngjīn-gōngjīn 公gōng斤jīn--公gōng斤jīn
landed cost dào àn chéngběn 到dào岸àn成chéng本běn
landed terms dēnglù tiáokuǎn 登dēng陆lù条tiáo款kuǎn
landing jiàngluò 降jiàng落luò
landing card rùjìng kǎ 入rù境jìng卡kǎ
landing order – discharging permit zhuólù lìng-xièhuò xǔkě zhèng 着zhuó陆lù令lìng--卸xiè货huò许xǔ可kě证zhèng
letter of credit xìnyòng zhèng 信xìn用yòng证zhèng
litre (gb) – liter (us) shēng (GB)-shēng (měiguó) 升shēng((GGBB))--升shēng((美Měi国guó))
loading and unloading charges zhuāngxiè fèiyòng 装zhuāng卸xiè费fèi用yòng
loading area zhuāng huò qū 装zhuāng货huò区qū
loading unit zhuāngzǎi dānyuán 装zhuāng载zài单dān元yuán
logistics wùliú 物wù流liú
lorry (gb) – truck (us) huòchē (GB)-kǎchē (měiguó) 货huò车chē((GGBB))--卡kǎ车chē((美Měi国guó))
lot hěnduō 很hěn多duō
luggage (gb) – baggage (us) xínglǐ (GB)-xínglǐ (měiguó) 行xíng李li((GGBB))--行xíng李li((美Měi国guó))
mail / post yóujiàn/yóujì 邮yóu件jiàn//邮yóu寄jì
metre (gb) – meter (us) mǐ (GB)-mǐ (měiguó) 米mǐ((GGBB))--米mǐ((美Měi国guó))
mile yīnglǐ 英Yīng里lǐ
millimeter háomǐ 毫háo米mǐ
moorage tíngbó 停tíng泊bó
name míngchēng, 名míng称chēng、、
name and address míngchēng jí dìzhǐ 名míng称chēng及jí地dì址zhǐ
name of ship chuánbó míngchēng 船chuán舶bó名míng称chēng
net tonnage jìng dùnwèi 净jìng吨dūn位wèi
net weight jìngzhòng 净jìng重zhòng
no & kinds of packages huòwù bāozhuāng hàomǎ jí zhǒnglèi; 货huò物wù包bāo装zhuāng号hào码mǎ及jí种zhǒng类lèi;;
non-stop flight zhídá hángbān 直zhí达dá航háng班bān
numbers màtóu jí biānhào 唛mài头tóu及jí编biān号hào
numbers hàomǎ 号hào码mǎ
on arrival dàodá shí 到dào达dá时shí
on board zài chuánshàng 在zài船chuán上shàng
on deck zài jiǎbǎn shàng 在zài甲jiǎ板bǎn上shàng
ounce àngsī 盎àng司sī
out of stock quē huò 缺quē货huò
outward journey wàichū lǚxíng 外wài出chū旅lǚ行xíng
overland forwarding lùyùn 陆lù运yùn
overload chāozài 超chāo载zài
owner’s risk rate suǒyǒu zhě de fēngxiǎn lǜ 所suǒ有yǒu者zhě的de风fēng险xiǎn率lǜ
package bāozhuāng 包bāo装zhuāng
payment fùkuǎn 付fù款kuǎn
payment method fùkuǎn fāngshì 付fù款kuǎn方fāng式shì
port kǒu’àn 口kǒu岸'àn
port of discharge xièhuò kǒu’àn 卸xiè货huò口kǒu岸'àn
prepaid freight yùfù yùnfèi 预yù付fù运yùn费fèi
product description shāngpǐn míngchēng 商shāng品pǐn名míng称chēng
product description shāngpǐn miáoshù 商shāng品pǐn描miáo述shù
quantity and units shùliàng jí dānwèi 数shù量liàng及jí单dān位wèi
re-export zài chūkǒu 再zài出chū口kǒu
refund tuì kuǎn 退tuì款kuǎn
region qūyù 区qū域yù
region of purchase chūkǒu zuìzhōng mùdì 出chū口kǒu最zuì终zhōng目mù的dì
return address tuìhuò dìzhǐ 退tuì货huò地dì址zhǐ
shipping advice jì sòng jiànyì 寄jì送sòng建jiàn议yì
specification guīgé 规guī格gé
supplier gōngyìng shāng 供gōng应yìng商shāng
terms of trade shāngyè xíngshì 商shāng业yè形xíng式shì
total value zǒng zhí 总zǒng值zhí
total weight zǒng zhòngliàng 总zǒng重zhòng量liàng
type / kind zhǒnglèi 种zhǒng类lèi
unit dānwèi 单dān位wèi
unit price dānjià 单dān价jià
USD měiyuán 美Měi元yuán
estimated delivery date yùjì dǐdá rì 预yù计jì抵dǐ达dá日rì

Chinese Logistic Phrases

English Pronunciation (Pinyin) Chinese
How much will shipping cost? sòng huò fèi shì duōshǎo? 送sòng货huò费fèi是shì多duō少shǎo??
The size of this type of material is too big; it is not worthwhile to send by airfreight. zhè zhǒng cáiliào de tǐjī tài dàle, yǒu kòng yùn hěn bù huásuàn 这zhè种zhǒng材cái料liào的de体tǐ积jī太tài大dà了le,,有yǒu空kōng运yùn很hěn不bù划huá算suàn
I would be interested in pricing and delivery of a full container . wǒ jiàng zài jiàgé hé jiāofù yīgè wánzhěng de jízhuāngxiāng xìngqù 我wǒ将jiāng在zài价jià格gé和hé交jiāo付fù一yī个gè完wán整zhěng的de集jí装zhuāng箱xiāng兴xìng趣qù
What is your address? nǐ dì dìzhǐ shì shénme? 你nǐ的de地dì址zhǐ是shì什shén么me??
Please give me the delivery address? qǐng gěi wǒ shōu huò dìzhǐ 请qǐng给gěi我wǒ收shōu货huò地dì址zhǐ
I will deliver in an hour yīgè xiǎoshí hòu wǒ sòng huò gěi nǐ 一yī个gè小xiǎo时shí后hòu我wǒ送sòng货huò给gěi你nǐ
Please use capital letters to fill in the customs declaration form qǐng yòng yīngwén dàxiě zìmǔ tiánxiě shēnbào dān 请qǐng用yòng英Yīng文wén大dà写xiě字zì母mǔ填tián写xiě申shēn报bào单dān
How much does insurance cost? bǎoxiǎn fèi yào duōshǎo? 保bǎo险xiǎn费fèi要yào多duō少shǎo??
I don’t think the consignee will accept it wǒ xiǎng shōu huò rén yě bù huì jiēshòu de 我wǒ想xiǎng收shōu货huò人rén也yě不bù会huì接jiē受shòu的de
Please confirm with me qǐng quèrèn gěi wǒ 请qǐng确què认rèn给gěi我wǒ
The address of consignee of the goods had been changed zhè piào huò shōu huò rén dìzhǐ yǒu gēnggǎi 这zhè票piào货huò收shōu货huò人rén地dì址zhǐ有yǒu更gēng改gǎi
We require you to replace the damaged goods wǒmen yāoqiú gēnghuàn shòu sǔn huòwù 我wǒ们men要yāo求qiú更gēng换huàn受shòu损sǔn货huò物wù
We have had too much trouble in the past with the damaged goods. wǒmen guòqù yǒu tài duō huòwù huǐsǔn de kùnrǎo 我wǒ们men过guò去qù有yǒu太tài多duō货huò物wù毁huǐ损sǔn的de困kùn扰rǎo
Our insurance coverage is for 110%of the invoice value, up to the port of destination only. wǒmen jǐn àn fāpiào jīn’é de 110%tóubǎo dào mùdì gǎng. 我wǒ们men仅jǐn按àn发fā票piào金jīn额'é的de111100%%投tóu保bǎo到dào目mù的dì港gǎng。.
What is the price if I order one 20 Foot Container? yàoshi wǒ dìng yīgè 20 chǐ guì, jiàgé shì jǐ duō? 要yào是shi我wǒ定dìng一yī个gè2200尺chǐ柜guì,,价jià格gé是shì几jǐ多duō??
What is the price if I order one 20 Foot Container? yàoshi wǒ dìng yīgè 40 chǐ guì, jiàgé shì jǐ duō? 要yào是shi我wǒ定dìng一yī个gè4400尺chǐ柜guì,,价jià格gé是shì几jǐ多duō??