经理 (jīng lǐ) is a noun meaning 'manager'—a person who oversees operations, staff, or projects in a business, department, or organization. The character 经 (jīng) means 'to manage', 'to handle', or 'to operate', often implying systematic administration; 理 (lǐ) means 'to manage', 'to govern', or 'to organize'. Together, they form a compound emphasizing professional oversight and coordination rather than mere supervision.

This term is widely used across formal and semi-formal workplace contexts in China and other Chinese-speaking regions. It can refer to managers at various levels—e.g., department manager, store manager, or project manager—and is gender-neutral. Unlike English, where 'manager' may imply authority without specifying scope, 经理 usually implies official appointment and responsibility within an organizational hierarchy, not just functional duties.