‘代购’ (dàigòu) literally combines ‘代’ (dài), meaning ‘on behalf of’ or ‘proxy,’ and ‘购’ (gòu), meaning ‘to purchase.’ Together, it refers to the practice of buying goods for someone else — most commonly used in cross-border or online contexts where a person in one country purchases items (e.g., cosmetics, electronics, or fashion) for customers abroad who cannot easily access them. It’s especially common in China for overseas brands not officially sold there.

The term implies a service arrangement: the ‘proxy buyer’ handles payment, shipping, customs, and sometimes even quality inspection. While originally informal, ‘代购’ has evolved into a recognized commercial activity — some operate full-time businesses via social media platforms like WeChat or Xiaohongshu. It differs from simple gift-buying by its systematic, often fee-based nature and frequent international scope.