运营 (yùn yíng) refers to the overall process of managing, running, and sustaining a business, organization, service, or system—especially in a professional, strategic, or commercial context. It emphasizes ongoing activities like planning, resource allocation, staff coordination, and performance monitoring, rather than one-time actions. The character 运 means 'to move, transport, or circulate', suggesting dynamic flow and movement; 营 means 'to manage, operate, or run' (as in 营业 'to do business'), implying deliberate organization and administration. Together, they convey the idea of actively guiding and maintaining operations.

This term is widely used in corporate, tech, logistics, education, and public service settings—for example, 'platform operations', 'hospital operations', or 'e-commerce operations'. While it can function as a noun ('operations'), it’s most commonly used as a verb in phrases like 运营一家公司 (to operate a company) or 运营良好 (to run smoothly). It carries a formal, professional register and is rarely used for informal or personal activities.