次品 (cì pǐn) literally combines 次 (cì), meaning 'inferior' or 'substandard', and 品 (pǐn), meaning 'item', 'product', or 'article'. Together, it refers specifically to a manufactured or processed item that fails to meet quality standards — for example, due to flaws in design, materials, or production. It is commonly used in industrial, commercial, and consumer contexts, such as factory inspections, product recalls, or customer service complaints.

Unlike general terms like 坏东西 ('broken thing') or 废品 ('waste/scrap'), 次品 implies the item was intended for use but fell short of specifications — it may still function partially or look nearly normal. It carries a neutral-to-negative connotation, depending on context: in quality control reports, it’s a technical term; in marketing, calling something a 次品 is strongly critical. The word is rarely used for natural objects or living things — it applies almost exclusively to human-made goods.