Taobao
/ˈtaʊ.baʊ/noun
A Chinese online marketplace operated by Alibaba Group.
Did you know?Taobao combines 淘, meaning “to sift, wash, or search through,” with 宝, meaning “treasure” or “precious object”—turning shopping into a metaphorical treasure hunt.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Chinese
Chinese
淘
“To wash, sift, or search through material”
Classical Chinese
Chinese
寶
“Treasure, precious object, or valuable possession”
Modern Mandarin
Mandarin
táo bǎo
“To search for treasure; to hunt through goods for valuable finds”
2003
Mandarin
淘宝
“Name adopted for Alibaba’s online consumer marketplace”
Modern English
English
Taobao
“A Chinese e-commerce platform and brand name”