裁员
裁员 في 30 ثانية
- 裁员 (cáiyuán) means to lay off staff due to business or economic reasons.
- It is a neutral, formal term used in corporate and news contexts.
- The passive form '被裁员' (to be laid off) is very common for employees.
- It differs from '开除' (fired for cause) and '辞职' (resigning voluntarily).
The Chinese term 裁员 (cáiyuán) is a critical business and economic term that translates to 'layoff' or 'to reduce staff.' It is composed of two characters: 裁 (cái), which means to cut, reduce, or tailor (like cutting fabric), and 员 (yuán), which refers to staff, members, or personnel. Together, they literally mean 'to cut personnel.' In the modern professional world, this word is used specifically when a company reduces its workforce due to external factors like economic downturns, restructuring, mergers, or technological shifts, rather than a specific employee's poor performance.
- Formal Context
- In official corporate announcements or news reports, you will see phrases like '大规模裁员' (large-scale layoffs) to describe significant shifts in the labor market. It is a neutral but serious term.
这家互联网巨头宣布由于利润下滑,将全球裁员百分之十。(This internet giant announced that due to falling profits, it will lay off ten percent of its global workforce.)
Understanding 裁员 requires distinguishing it from other types of job termination. Unlike 开除 (kāichú), which means to fire someone for misconduct, or 辞职 (cízhí), which means to resign voluntarily, 裁员 implies that the decision was made by the employer based on business needs. In recent years, the term has become increasingly common in the Chinese 'tech bubble' discussions, often linked to the 'optimization' of human resources.
- Economic Indicator
- Economists use this term to track the health of an industry. High rates of 裁员 usually signal a recession or a significant pivot in market strategy.
为了降低运营成本,公司不得不进行裁员。(In order to reduce operating costs, the company had to carry out layoffs.)
In a cultural sense, 裁员 is a source of high anxiety in Chinese society, where job stability is highly valued. The 'Iron Rice Bowl' (stable state job) concept makes the threat of 裁员 particularly stressful for those in the private sector. When using this word, be mindful of the emotional weight it carries, especially in social settings.
- Social Media Slang
- In Chinese internet culture, companies sometimes use euphemisms like '毕业' (graduation) to refer to 裁员, which has led to significant online irony and criticism.
听到裁员的消息后,员工们都感到非常不安。(After hearing the news of the layoffs, the employees all felt very uneasy.)
Using 裁员 (cáiyuán) correctly involves understanding its role as a verb-object compound (离合词), though it is frequently used as a standard verb or a noun. Because 裁 is the action and 员 is the object, you can occasionally separate them, but in modern Mandarin, they are almost always used together as a single unit meaning 'to lay off.'
- As a Verb (Active)
- The subject is usually an organization or a boss. Structure: [Subject] + [裁员]. Example: '那家公司去年裁员了五百人' (That company laid off 500 people last year).
由于市场竞争激烈,很多初创企业开始裁员。(Due to intense market competition, many startups have begun laying off staff.)
One of the most common ways you will encounter this word is in the passive voice using 被 (bèi). Since layoffs happen *to* people, employees will say '我被裁了' or '他被裁员了.' Note that in casual speech, the 员 is sometimes dropped after 被.
- As a Noun
- It functions as the subject or object of a sentence. Structure: [Adjective] + [的] + [裁员]. Example: '这次大规模的裁员引起了社会的关注' (This large-scale layoff has attracted social attention).
如果经济继续恶化,裁员将不可避免。(If the economy continues to worsen, layoffs will be inevitable.)
When specifying the number of people, you place the number between 裁 and 员 or use it as an object. For example: '裁减员工' (to reduce staff) or '裁了十个员' (though the latter is rare; '裁了十个人' is much more natural).
- Conditionals and Causality
- Often paired with '因为' (because), '由于' (due to), or '不得不' (have no choice but to). Example: '因为公司倒闭,所有人都被裁员了' (Because the company went bankrupt, everyone was laid off).
老板保证今年不会裁员。(The boss guaranteed there would be no layoffs this year.)
In the current global economic climate, 裁员 (cáiyuán) is a word that echoes through office corridors, news broadcasts, and dinner table conversations. It is most prevalent in professional environments, specifically within the human resources (HR) and finance departments. When a company is struggling, '裁员' becomes the elephant in the room.
- In the News
- Financial news outlets like Wall Street CN or Caixin frequently use this word. You'll hear: '某企业开启裁员潮' (A certain enterprise starts a wave of layoffs). The word '潮' (tide/wave) often follows '裁员' to describe industry-wide trends.
新闻报道:由于自动化的普及,制造业正面临大规模裁员。(News report: Due to the popularity of automation, the manufacturing industry is facing large-scale layoffs.)
In the workplace, the word is often spoken in hushed tones. Employees might ask each other, '你听说公司要裁员了吗?' (Did you hear the company is going to lay people off?). It's a word that triggers immediate concern regarding job security and mortgage payments. In HR meetings, however, the tone is more clinical and detached, focusing on '优化' (optimization) or '人员调整' (personnel adjustment) as euphemisms, but everyone knows it means 裁员.
- On Social Media
- On platforms like Maimai (China's LinkedIn equivalent) or Xiaohongshu, users share their experiences of being laid off. They might use the hashtag #裁员 to find support or share tips on severance pay (补偿金).
他在社交媒体上分享了自己被裁员后的心路历程。(He shared his mental journey on social media after being laid off.)
Finally, you'll hear it in TV dramas, especially those focused on urban life or 'office politics' (职场剧). A character might be depicted cleaning out their desk after a sudden 裁员 notice, serving as a dramatic plot point to show the vulnerability of the modern middle class. It represents the harsh reality of the '996' work culture where even high performers are not immune to market shifts.
- Economic Reports
- Government reports might use more formal terms like '城镇调查失业率' (urban surveyed unemployment rate), but 裁员 remains the common term used by the public to describe the cause of that unemployment.
面对裁员危机,我们必须提升自己的竞争力。(Facing the layoff crisis, we must improve our own competitiveness.)
When learning 裁员 (cáiyuán), English speakers often stumble over the nuances of job termination in Chinese. The most frequent error is using 裁员 to mean 'getting fired' due to a mistake. This is incorrect. If you are fired for being late or performing poorly, the correct word is 开除 (kāichú) or 辞退 (cítuì).
- Mistake 1: Confusion with 'Fired'
- Incorrect: '他因为偷东西被裁员了' (He was laid off because of stealing). Correct: '他因为偷东西被开除了' (He was fired because of stealing). 裁员 is for economic reasons, not personal fault.
注意:裁员是公司的决定,通常与员工的表现无关。(Note: Layoffs are a company decision, usually unrelated to employee performance.)
Another common mistake is the word order when specifying who was laid off. In English, we say 'The company laid off 50 employees.' In Chinese, you cannot simply put the person immediately after 裁员 like an object. You should treat 裁员 as a complete action or use the BA-construction.
- Mistake 2: Incorrect Object Placement
- Incorrect: '公司裁员了他' (The company laid off him). Correct: '公司把他裁了' or '公司裁减了他' or '他被公司裁员了'.
错误用法示例:公司裁员我。(Wrong: Company layoff me.)
A third mistake is confusing 裁员 with 辞职 (cízhí). 辞职 is when you choose to leave. If you tell your friends '我裁员了,' they might think you are the boss who just fired people. If you lost your job, you MUST use the passive '被' (bèi).
- Mistake 3: Active vs. Passive Voice
- If you say '我裁员了' (Wǒ cáiyuán le), it means 'I laid off [someone].' If you mean 'I was laid off,' you must say '我被裁员了' (Wǒ bèi cáiyuán le).
正确:由于部门撤销,他被裁员了。(Correct: Due to the department being abolished, he was laid off.)
In the world of human resources and business, several words are closely related to 裁员 (cáiyuán). Choosing the right one depends on the reason for the job loss and the level of formality required.
- 裁员 (cáiyuán) vs. 开除 (kāichú)
- 裁员: Neutral, economic reasons, company-wide. 开除: Negative, disciplinary reasons, individual-specific. You 'lay off' a good worker during a crisis; you 'fire' a bad worker for misconduct.
- 裁员 (cáiyuán) vs. 辞退 (cítuì)
- 辞退: A broader term for dismissing an employee. It can be for performance reasons or because the contract ended. It's slightly more formal than 'fire' but less specific than 'layoff.'
- 裁员 (cáiyuán) vs. 减员 (jiǎnyuán)
- 减员: Literally 'reducing personnel.' This is a more formal, statistical term often used in government or large-scale industrial planning (e.g., 减员增效 - reducing staff to increase efficiency).
比较:公司裁员是因为没钱,而开除是因为员工犯错。(Comparison: Company layoffs are because of no money, while firing is because the employee made a mistake.)
If you want to sound more professional or academic, you might use 裁减 (cáijiǎn), which means to cut down or reduce. It is often used with '人员' (rényuán) to form '裁减人员'. In casual speech, people might just say '被裁了' (bèi cái le), dropping the '员'.
这家公司正在裁员,但那家公司却在招聘。(This company is laying off staff, but that company is recruiting.)
How Formal Is It?
حقيقة ممتعة
In ancient times, '裁' was used for tailoring. Today, it's used for 'tailoring' the company's size!
دليل النطق
- Pronouncing 'cai' as 'kai'. It is a 'ts' sound.
- Pronouncing 'yuan' like 'yoo-an'. It should be more like 'yü-en'.
- Using the wrong tone (e.g., 4th tone 'cài'), which changes the meaning.
- Muffling the 'n' sound at the end of 'yuan'.
- Mixing up the 'c' in 'cai' with the 'ch' in 'chai'.
مستوى الصعوبة
Characters are moderately complex but common in news.
Writing '裁' requires attention to stroke order.
Tones are rising-rising, which can be tricky for beginners.
Easily confused with other 'yuan' or 'cai' words.
ماذا تتعلّم بعد ذلك
المتطلبات الأساسية
تعلّم لاحقاً
متقدم
قواعد يجب معرفتها
Passive voice with 被 (bèi)
他被裁员了。
Causal conjunctions (由于/因为)
由于利润下降,公司裁员了。
Verb-Object compounds (离合词)
裁了一百名员 (rare but possible).
Resultative complements (掉)
把他裁掉了。
Expressing purpose with 为了
为了生存,公司不得不裁员。
أمثلة حسب المستوى
公司裁员了。
The company laid off staff.
Simple Subject + Verb structure.
他不开心,因为裁员了。
He is unhappy because of layoffs.
Using 'because' (因为) to show reason.
很多公司在裁员。
Many companies are laying off staff.
Using '在' for ongoing action.
我也裁员吗?
Am I being laid off too?
Simple question with '吗'.
他们裁员一百人。
They laid off one hundred people.
Number + measure word (人) following the verb.
不要裁员。
Don't lay off staff.
Negative command with '不要'.
裁员是真的吗?
Is the layoff real?
Asking about the truth of a noun phrase.
公司去年裁员了。
The company laid off staff last year.
Time expression (去年) before the verb.
由于没钱,老板决定裁员。
Due to lack of money, the boss decided to lay off staff.
Using '由于' (due to) for reasons.
我听说那家工厂要裁员。
I heard that factory is going to lay off staff.
Using '听说' (heard that) for rumors.
裁员的消息让大家很紧张。
The news of layoffs made everyone very nervous.
Noun phrase '裁员的消息' as the subject.
他因为裁员失去了工作。
He lost his job because of layoffs.
Showing consequence with '失去了工作'.
这家公司不经常裁员。
This company doesn't often lay off staff.
Using '不经常' (not often) as an adverb.
如果你被裁员了,你会做什么?
If you were laid off, what would you do?
Conditional '如果...的话' structure.
裁员并不总是坏事。
Layoffs are not always a bad thing.
Using '并不' for emphasis on negation.
他们正在讨论裁员的计划。
They are discussing the layoff plan.
Noun '计划' (plan) modified by '裁员的'.
为了节省开支,很多科技公司开始裁员。
In order to save expenses, many tech companies began laying off staff.
Using '为了' to indicate purpose.
他上个月不幸被公司裁员了。
He was unfortunately laid off by the company last month.
Passive voice with '被'.
裁员补偿金是根据工作年限计算的。
Layoff severance pay is calculated based on years of service.
Using '根据' (according to).
虽然公司在裁员,但核心部门不受影响。
Although the company is laying off staff, core departments are not affected.
Concessive '虽然...但' structure.
这次裁员涉及到全球范围内的员工。
This layoff involves employees on a global scale.
Using '涉及到' (involves/relates to).
面对裁员,保持积极的心态很重要。
Facing layoffs, it is important to maintain a positive attitude.
Using '面对' (facing) as a prepositional phrase.
公司宣布将裁员百分之二十。
The company announced it will lay off twenty percent.
Using percentages (百分之...).
裁员并不是解决问题的唯一办法。
Layoffs are not the only way to solve the problem.
Using '唯一' (only) to modify '办法'.
大规模裁员往往会导致社会不安定。
Large-scale layoffs often lead to social instability.
Using '往往' (often/tend to) for general trends.
一些企业通过变相裁员来逃避支付补偿金。
Some enterprises use disguised layoffs to avoid paying severance.
Using '通过' (through/by means of).
裁员风暴席卷了整个房地产行业。
A storm of layoffs swept through the entire real estate industry.
Metaphorical use of '风暴' (storm) and '席卷' (sweep).
员工们担心裁员会影响他们的生计。
Employees worry that layoffs will affect their livelihoods.
Using '担心' (worry) followed by a clause.
在经济下行压力下,裁员成了企业的无奈之举。
Under downward economic pressure, layoffs have become a helpless move for enterprises.
Idiomatic '无奈之举' (helpless move).
公司高层正在秘密讨论第二轮裁员。
Company executives are secretly discussing a second round of layoffs.
Using '秘密' (secretly) as an adverb.
裁员之后,剩下的员工工作压力更大了。
After the layoffs, the remaining employees have even more work pressure.
Using '剩下' (remaining) to modify '员工'.
政府出台了政策来减少裁员的影响。
The government introduced policies to reduce the impact of layoffs.
Using '出台' (to introduce/publish) for policies.
经济性裁员必须符合法律规定的程序。
Economic layoffs must comply with the procedures prescribed by law.
Formal term '经济性裁员' (economic layoff).
企业在裁员时应充分考虑员工的合法权益。
Enterprises should fully consider the legal rights and interests of employees when laying them off.
Using '应' (should) and '充分' (fully).
通过裁员来优化人才结构是常见的管理手段。
Optimizing the talent structure through layoffs is a common management tool.
Using '优化' (optimize) and '结构' (structure).
频繁的裁员会严重损害企业的品牌形象。
Frequent layoffs will seriously damage the brand image of the enterprise.
Using '频繁' (frequent) and '损害' (damage).
裁员不仅是财务决策,更是社会责任问题。
Layoffs are not only financial decisions, but also issues of social responsibility.
Correlative '不仅...更是' (not only... but even more).
在人工智能时代,低端岗位的裁员不可避免。
In the era of AI, layoffs in low-end positions are inevitable.
Using '不可避免' (inevitable).
这次裁员反映了行业内部的结构性矛盾。
This layoff reflects the structural contradictions within the industry.
Using '反映' (reflect) and '结构性矛盾' (structural contradiction).
尽管利润增长,该公司依然选择了裁员以维持竞争力。
Despite profit growth, the company still chose to lay off staff to maintain competitiveness.
Using '尽管...依然' (despite... still).
裁员潮往往是资本市场对行业前景预期转淡的信号。
A wave of layoffs is often a signal of the capital market's cooling expectations for industry prospects.
Complex abstract subject and predicate.
大规模裁员所引发的连锁反应不容小觑。
The chain reaction triggered by large-scale layoffs should not be underestimated.
Using '所引发的' (triggered by) and '不容小觑' (not to be underestimated).
企业应当在裁员与社会稳定之间寻求微妙的平衡。
Enterprises should seek a delicate balance between layoffs and social stability.
Using '微妙的平衡' (delicate balance).
裁员被视为企业在激烈的全球竞争中进行“瘦身”的一种策略。
Layoffs are seen as a strategy for enterprises to 'slim down' in intense global competition.
Metaphorical use of '瘦身' (slimming down).
后疫情时代的裁员现象揭示了劳动力市场的深刻变革。
The layoff phenomenon in the post-pandemic era reveals profound changes in the labor market.
Using '揭示' (reveal) and '深刻变革' (profound change).
政府通过宏观调控,试图遏制盲目裁员的势头。
The government, through macro-control, tries to curb the momentum of blind layoffs.
Using '宏观调控' and '遏制...势头'.
裁员背后的伦理考量在现代管理学中占据重要地位。
The ethical considerations behind layoffs occupy an important position in modern management studies.
Using '伦理考量' (ethical considerations).
对于很多员工而言,裁员不仅是失去生计,更是职业身份的崩塌。
For many employees, layoffs are not just the loss of livelihood, but also the collapse of professional identity.
Using '崩塌' (collapse) metaphorically.
تلازمات شائعة
العبارات الشائعة
— Shortened, informal way to say 'was laid off'.
听说他上周被裁了。
— A cynical pun on '财源广进' (may wealth flow in).
网友用'裁员广进'来讽刺大公司的裁员行为。
— Refers to layoffs done in a harsh or illegal manner.
那家公司的暴力裁员事件引发了舆论关注。
— Rumors or 'the sound of' impending layoffs.
公司最近裁员风声很大。
— Laying off the lowest-performing employees.
有些公司实行末位裁员制度。
— When a company proactively cuts staff before a crisis.
公司决定主动裁员以应对未来的风险。
— A quota or target for the number of layoffs.
每个部门都有裁员指标。
— The formal notice given to a laid-off employee.
他收到了裁员通知书。
— The criteria used to decide who gets laid off.
公司的裁员标准不透明。
— To avoid being laid off.
他努力工作以避开裁员。
يُخلط عادةً مع
Same pronunciation, different tones (usually). '财源' means 'source of wealth.' Context is key!
Voluntary (you quit) vs. Involuntary (layoff).
Fired for a mistake vs. Laid off for economic reasons.
تعبيرات اصطلاحية
— To cut from the long to supplement the short; to balance things out.
我们在资源分配上要裁长补短。
Literary— Better troops and simpler administration; streamlining.
政府正在推行精兵简政的政策。
Formal— Reduce staff to increase efficiency.
很多企业把裁员美化为减员增效。
Business— To kill the hound once the rabbit is caught; to discard someone after they are no longer useful.
公司上市后就开始裁员,真是兔死狗烹。
Literary/Cynical— To remove the bridge after crossing the river; to abandon a benefactor.
他帮公司度过了难关却被裁员,公司真是过河拆桥。
Common— Similar to '兔死狗烹'; discarding tools after the task is done.
项目结束就裁员,难免让人有鸟尽弓藏之感。
Literary— To cast away like a pair of old shoes.
老员工被裁员时感到自己被公司弃若敝屣。
Literary— To sit and eat until the mountain is hollow; to consume resources without producing.
为了不坐吃山空,公司只能选择裁员。
Common— To open new sources and restrict the flow; to increase income and reduce expenditure.
裁员是企业节流的一种手段。
Formal— Survival of the fittest.
裁员体现了市场竞争中的优胜劣汰。
Formalسهل الخلط
Both involve losing a job.
开除 is for misconduct; 裁员 is for business reasons.
他因为迟到被开除,不是被裁员。
Both are employer-initiated.
辞退 is broader and can include performance issues; 裁员 is specifically about headcount reduction.
公司辞退了表现不好的员工。
Both mean losing a job in a large-scale way.
下岗 is specifically for state-owned enterprises in a historical context.
下岗是九十年代的词。
Both end employment.
辞职 is the employee's choice.
我不是被裁员,我是自己辞职的。
Both relate to labor issues.
罢工 is a strike (workers stop working); 裁员 is the company stopping the employment.
工人为了抗议裁员而罢工。
أنماط الجُمل
公司 + 裁员 + 了
公司裁员了。
由于 + [Reason] + 公司 + 裁员
由于不赚钱,公司裁员。
某人 + 被 + 裁员 + 了
他被裁员了。
[Quantity] + 的 + 裁员
大规模的裁员。
通过 + [Method] + 避免 + 裁员
通过降薪避免裁员。
裁员 + 旨在 + [Purpose]
裁员旨在优化结构。
面临 + 裁员 + 的 + 风险
面临裁员的风险。
裁员 + 与 + [Factor] + 息息相关
裁员与经济环境息息相关。
عائلة الكلمة
الأسماء
الأفعال
الصفات
مرتبط
كيفية الاستخدام
Very common in business news and workplace discussions.
-
Using 裁员 for firing a thief.
→
开除
Layoffs are for economic reasons; firing is for personal faults.
-
Saying '我裁员了' to mean 'I was laid off'.
→
我被裁员了
Without '被', it sounds like you did the laying off.
-
Saying '公司裁员他'.
→
公司把他裁了 / 公司裁员
裁员 is a verb-object compound and doesn't take a direct personal object easily.
-
Confusing 裁员 with 辞职.
→
裁员 (involuntary) vs. 辞职 (voluntary)
One is the company's choice, the other is yours.
-
Pronouncing 'cai' as 'kai'.
→
tsai
The 'c' in Pinyin is always a 'ts' sound.
نصائح
Using '被'
Always remember the '被' (bèi) construction for layoffs. It's the most common way individuals talk about this experience.
Euphemisms
Be aware that companies use words like '毕业' (graduation) or '优化' (optimization) to soften the blow of layoffs.
Compound Words
Learn '裁员潮' (layoff wave). It's a very common phrase in Chinese media right now.
Stroke Order
Pay special attention to the '衣' (clothing) radical at the bottom of '裁'. It's the key to the character.
Tone Accuracy
Both characters are 2nd tone. If you say them with 4th tones, you might sound like you're saying 'vegetable garden' (菜园 - càiyuán)!
Context Clues
If you hear '经济' (economy) and 'cáiyuán,' it's 100% layoffs, not 'source of wealth' (财源).
Labor Law
The term '经济性裁员' is the legal term you'll see in contracts and law blogs.
Empathy
If someone tells you they were laid off, say '真遗憾' (That's a pity) or '加油' (Keep going).
Resume Writing
On a resume, don't say you were '裁员'. Say the company '进行结构调整' (underwent structural adjustment).
The Tailor Connection
Remember '裁' as 'tailoring' to remember it means cutting the staff to fit the budget.
احفظها
وسيلة تذكّر
Think of a 'Cai' (Tailor) cutting 'Yuan' (Personnel) like he cuts cloth to make the company fit into a smaller suit.
ربط بصري
Imagine a giant pair of scissors cutting a long line of stick figures in an office.
Word Web
تحدٍّ
Try to use '裁员' and '招聘' in the same sentence to describe a changing industry.
أصل الكلمة
The character '裁' (cái) originally meant to cut cloth for making clothes. It combines '衣' (clothing) with a phonetic component. '员' (yuán) originally referred to a round object or a person counted as a unit.
المعنى الأصلي: To cut or tailor personnel; reducing the number of people in a group.
Sino-Tibetan (Mandarin Chinese).السياق الثقافي
Be careful when asking friends about their jobs if you know their industry is struggling. Use '被裁员' with empathy.
In the West, 'layoff' is often seen as a standard economic event. In China, it is increasingly seen this way, but with more focus on the 'N+1' legal compensation.
تدرّب في الحياة الواقعية
سياقات واقعية
Financial News
- 裁员潮
- 股价下跌
- 缩减开支
- 季度报告
Job Hunting
- 被裁经历
- 寻找新机会
- 面试技巧
- 离职证明
Legal/HR
- 劳动合同
- 经济补偿
- 合法权益
- 裁员程序
Office Gossip
- 听说了吗
- 裁员名单
- 人人自危
- 找后路
Macroeconomics
- 失业率
- 就业压力
- 行业衰退
- 劳动力市场
بدايات محادثة
"你对最近科技行业的裁员潮怎么看?"
"如果公司突然裁员,你准备好了吗?"
"你觉得裁员是解决公司财务问题的最好办法吗?"
"在你的国家,公司裁员通常会给多少补偿?"
"你有没有朋友最近被裁员了?"
مواضيع للكتابة اليومية
写一写如果你被裁员了,你第一天会做什么。
讨论一下大规模裁员对一个城市经济的影响。
你认为公司在裁员时应该优先保留哪些员工?为什么?
描述一次你在新闻中看到的裁员事件及其后果。
如果你是老板,你会用什么方法来避免裁员?
الأسئلة الشائعة
10 أسئلة裁员 (cáiyuán) is a layoff due to company reasons like a bad economy. 开除 (kāichú) is being fired because you did something wrong. If you are laid off, you usually get money (severance); if you are fired for cause, you might not.
No! That sounds like you are the boss who fired people. You must say '我被裁员了' (Wǒ bèi cáiyuán le).
It refers to the standard severance package: N months of salary (one for each year worked) plus one extra month of notice pay.
It's not a 'curse word,' but it is a word for a very negative event. It's formal and professional.
It has 12 strokes. Top left is '土', top right is '戈', and the bottom is '衣'. It's quite complex, so practice slowly!
Rarely. Government jobs are 'Iron Rice Bowls.' They might use '精简' (jīngjiǎn - streamline) instead.
It's when a company makes work so miserable (like moving the office to a remote city) that employees feel forced to quit, so the company doesn't have to pay severance.
No, small companies (初创企业) do it even more often when they run out of investment money.
The most direct opposite is 招聘 (zhāopìn - recruiting) or 扩招 (kuòzhāo - expanding recruitment).
It can be both. Verb: 公司裁员了. Noun: 这是一次大规模裁员.
اختبر نفسك 200 أسئلة
Write a sentence using '被裁员' to explain that you lost your job last month.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'The company decided to lay off staff due to the economic crisis.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Write a short paragraph (3 sentences) about why a tech company might lay off people.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'Is there a layoff quota for each department?'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Write a sentence using '大规模裁员' and '社会影响'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'He is looking for a new job because he was laid off.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Write a sentence using the word '补偿金'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'A wave of layoffs swept through the industry.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Write a sentence using '不得不' and '裁员'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'The boss promised there would be no layoffs this year.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Write a formal announcement sentence for a company layoff.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'I am worried about being laid off.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Write a sentence comparing '裁员' and '开除'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'Disguised layoffs are common in some industries.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Write a sentence using '面临裁员'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'How many people were laid off?'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Write a sentence using '裁员名单'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'The layoff notice was sent via email.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Write a sentence using '避免裁员' and '降薪'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'The social impact of layoffs should not be ignored.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Pronounce '裁员' (cáiyuán) correctly with the 2nd tone for both characters.
Read this aloud:
قلت:
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Tell a friend 'I was laid off' in Chinese.
Read this aloud:
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Ask a colleague: 'Did you hear the news about the company laying off people?'
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Explain the difference between 裁员 and 开除 in Chinese.
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Discuss your opinion on 'N+1' compensation in Chinese.
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Describe a '裁员潮' (layoff wave) you've seen in the news.
Read this aloud:
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Ask: 'How much is the severance pay?'
Read this aloud:
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Roleplay: You are an HR manager announcing a layoff politely.
Read this aloud:
قلت:
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Express concern: 'I'm afraid I might be on the layoff list.'
Read this aloud:
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Say: 'Layoffs are inevitable in a recession.'
Read this aloud:
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Ask: 'Is this a large-scale layoff?'
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Say: 'He found a better job after being laid off.'
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Explain '变相裁员' to a learner.
Read this aloud:
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Say: 'We should improve ourselves to avoid being laid off.'
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Ask: 'Who will be affected by the layoffs?'
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Say: 'The layoff plan was approved yesterday.'
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Discuss: 'Why do companies use euphemisms for layoffs?'
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Say: 'Severance pay is calculated by work years.'
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Ask: 'Is there any way to stop the layoffs?'
Read this aloud:
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Say: 'The atmosphere in the office is tense due to layoffs.'
Read this aloud:
قلت:
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Listen and identify the word: 'Gōngsī cáiyuán le.'
Listen to the sentence: 'Wǒ bèi cáiyuán le.' Who lost the job?
Listen: 'Dà guīmó cáiyuán kěshì dà xīnwén.' What is 'large-scale layoffs' called here?
Listen: 'Tāmen gěile N jiā yī de bǔcháng.' What was the compensation?
Listen: 'Cáiyuán cháo hái méiyǒu jiéshù.' Is the layoff wave over?
Listen: 'Bùdébù cáiyuán shì wèile jiéshěng kāizhī.' What is the purpose of the layoff?
Listen: 'Zhè shì biànxiàng cáiyuán.' What kind of layoff is it?
Listen: 'Tā zài cáiyuán míngdān shàng.' Where is his name?
Listen: 'Miànlín cáiyuán, dàjiā dōu hěn dānxīn.' How does everyone feel?
Listen: 'Jīngjì xìng cáiyuán xūyào héfǎ.' What must be legal?
Listen: 'Lǎobǎn xuānbù bù cáiyuán.' What did the boss announce?
Listen: 'Cáiyuán f風shēng hěn jǐn.' What is tight/strong?
Listen: 'Tā bèi cáiyuán hòu qù lǚyóu le.' What did he do after being laid off?
Listen: 'Zhè cì cáiyuán shèjí dào jishù bù.' Which department is affected?
Listen: 'Yōuhuà réncái jiégòu.' This is a euphemism for what?
/ 200 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
裁员 (cáiyuán) is the standard Chinese word for 'layoff.' Use it when a company cuts jobs for financial or structural reasons. Remember to use '被' (bèi) if you are the one who lost the job: '我被裁员了' (I was laid off).
- 裁员 (cáiyuán) means to lay off staff due to business or economic reasons.
- It is a neutral, formal term used in corporate and news contexts.
- The passive form '被裁员' (to be laid off) is very common for employees.
- It differs from '开除' (fired for cause) and '辞职' (resigning voluntarily).
Using '被'
Always remember the '被' (bèi) construction for layoffs. It's the most common way individuals talk about this experience.
Euphemisms
Be aware that companies use words like '毕业' (graduation) or '优化' (optimization) to soften the blow of layoffs.
Compound Words
Learn '裁员潮' (layoff wave). It's a very common phrase in Chinese media right now.
Stroke Order
Pay special attention to the '衣' (clothing) radical at the bottom of '裁'. It's the key to the character.
محتوى ذو صلة
قواعد ذات صلة
مزيد من كلمات business
本事
A2Skill; ability; capability.
相应地
B1بناءً على ذلك / بشكل متوافق. يستخدم للإشارة إلى أن الإجراء يتناسب مع تغيير سابق.
账号
A2رقم حساب أو معرف مستخدم يستخدم للوصول إلى الخدمات المصرفية أو عبر الإنترنت.
客户经理
A2مدير حسابات مسؤول عن إدارة العلاقات مع العملاء.
账户
B1A record of financial transactions for an individual or business, usually at a bank; or a user profile for a digital service.
会计
A2المحاسب هو الشخص المسؤول عن السجلات المالية.
收购
B1الاستحواذ على شركة أو شرائها.
商业活动
A2Business activity.
广告费
A2مصاريف الإعلان. الأموال التي يتم إنفاقها للترويج لمنتج أو خدمة.
调整
B1نحتاج إلى تعديل استراتيجيتنا التسويقية للربع القادم.