1. a Chinese agent or intermediary who facilitated business between foreign companies and local Chinese merchants, especially during the colonial period
Usage: historical; primarily used in East Asian commercial contexts
2. a native business agent or manager who serves foreign commercial interests in their own country
Usage: often used in postcolonial studies

Examples

• The British trading company relied on a local compradore to navigate Chinese business customs.
• Historical records show that compradores played crucial roles in 19th-century Hong Kong commerce.
• The compradore system allowed foreign merchants to conduct business without learning local languages.
• Many compradores became wealthy by facilitating trade between Western firms and Chinese suppliers.
• Scholars debate whether compradores were essential intermediaries or colonial collaborators.
• The compradore’s knowledge of both cultures made him invaluable to the trading house.