En 15 segundos
- Used for official termination from a job or school.
- Implies the person committed a fault or broke rules.
- More formal and serious than the slang 'fried squid'.
- Can be used actively (fire someone) or passively (get fired).
Significado
This phrase is used when someone is officially kicked out of a group, usually a job or a school. It's the standard way to say someone got fired or expelled.
Ejemplos clave
3 de 6Discussing a workplace scandal
因为偷钱，他被公司开除了。
He was fired by the company for stealing money.
Talking about a strict school
那个学生因为作弊被开除了。
That student was expelled for cheating.
A boss making a tough decision
我不得不开除他。
I had no choice but to fire him.
Contexto cultural
Historically, 'firing' someone in China was rare due to the socialist 'Iron Rice Bowl' system where employment was guaranteed. The term carries a weight of disciplinary action rather than just business restructuring. Today, it remains the standard legal term used in Chinese labor law for termination due to employee misconduct.
The Passive 'Bei'
You will hear `被开除了` (bèi kāichú le) much more often than the active form. It focuses on the person who lost their job.
Don't confuse with Layoffs
If a company closes and everyone loses their job, don't use `开除`. That implies they were bad employees. Use `裁员` (cáiyuán) instead.
En 15 segundos
- Used for official termination from a job or school.
- Implies the person committed a fault or broke rules.
- More formal and serious than the slang 'fried squid'.
- Can be used actively (fire someone) or passively (get fired).
What It Means
开除 (kāichú) is a strong, official verb. It means to permanently remove someone from an organization. Think of it as the 'nuclear option' for HR or school principals. It isn't just a gentle 'goodbye.' It implies a formal break. You use it when someone breaks the rules or fails big time.
How To Use It
Using it is quite simple. You usually put the person being fired after the verb. For example, 老板开除了他 (The boss fired him). You can also use it in the passive voice with 被 (bèi). Saying 他被开除了 means 'He was fired.' It’s a direct action word. No fluff, just the facts. Just remember, it’s for schools and jobs, not for breaking up with a boyfriend!
When To Use It
Use this in professional or academic settings. If you are gossiping about a coworker who never showed up, 开除 is your word. If a student gets caught cheating on a final exam, they might get 开除. It’s perfect for serious news or office drama. It sounds authoritative and final. Use it when the bridge is officially burnt.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use 开除 for a casual breakup. If you stop seeing someone, don't say you 'fired' them unless you're being very sarcastic. Also, don't use it for a temporary suspension. 开除 is forever. If someone is just laid off because the company is poor, use 裁员 (cáiyuán) instead. 开除 implies the person did something wrong. Using it for a layoff might accidentally insult them!
Cultural Background
In China, being 'fired' used to be a massive social stigma. During the 'Iron Rice Bowl' era, jobs were for life. Being 开除 meant you were a social outcast. Today, things are more flexible, but it’s still a heavy word. It suggests a loss of 'face' or a serious moral failing. People often use softer terms in person to be polite.
Common Variations
In casual talk, you’ll hear 炒鱿鱼 (chǎo yóuyú). This literally means 'fried squid.' It’s the slang version of being fired. While 开除 is what you see in a contract, 炒鱿鱼 is what you tell your friends at the bar. Another variation is 辞退 (cítuì), which is a bit more polite and professional than the blunt 开除.
Notas de uso
This is a high-level formal term. While common in daily speech when discussing news, it is the 'official' word found in legal documents and news reports.
The Passive 'Bei'
You will hear `被开除了` (bèi kāichú le) much more often than the active form. It focuses on the person who lost their job.
Don't confuse with Layoffs
If a company closes and everyone loses their job, don't use `开除`. That implies they were bad employees. Use `裁员` (cáiyuán) instead.
The Squid Secret
If you want to sound like a local, use `炒鱿鱼` (fried squid). It comes from old Hong Kong where workers carried their own bedrolls; when fired, they rolled them up like a cooked squid!
Ejemplos
6因为偷钱，他被公司开除了。
He was fired by the company for stealing money.
Uses the passive 'bei' structure for a clear result.
那个学生因为作弊被开除了。
That student was expelled for cheating.
Shows the academic use of the word.
我不得不开除他。
I had no choice but to fire him.
Shows the active use by an authority figure.
听说小王被开除了？太惊讶了！
I heard Xiao Wang was fired? So surprised!
Common way to share office news via text.
如果你再迟到，我就开除你的‘朋友’资格！
If you're late again, I'm firing you from being my friend!
A humorous, non-literal way to use the word.
我真怕被老板开除。
I'm really afraid of being fired by the boss.
Expresses personal anxiety about job security.
Ponte a prueba
Choose the correct word to complete the sentence about a student breaking rules.
他违反了校规，校长决定___他。
The context of a principal (校长) dealing with a rule-breaker (违反校规) requires the word for 'expel'.
Complete the sentence: 'I was fired.'
我___开除了。
'被' is the passive marker used to show that the action of firing happened to the speaker.
🎉 Puntuación: /2
Ayudas visuales
Ways to say 'You're Fired'
Slang/Casual
我被炒了。
Professional/Neutral
公司辞退了他。
Formal/Disciplinary
他被开除了。
Where to use 开除
Corporate HR
Official termination
University
Student expulsion
Military
Dishonorable discharge
Sarcastic Jokes
Firing a friend
Banco de ejercicios
2 ejercicios他违反了校规，校长决定___他。
The context of a principal (校长) dealing with a rule-breaker (违反校规) requires the word for 'expel'.
我___开除了。
'被' is the passive marker used to show that the action of firing happened to the speaker.
🎉 Puntuación: /2
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasIt is direct and serious. If you are talking to the person who lost their job, it might feel a bit harsh. In that case, use softer words like 离开 (left) or 辞退 (dismissed).
Yes! If a player is kicked off the team for breaking rules, you can say 被球队开除了.
开除 is when the boss kicks you out. 辞职 (cízhí) is when you choose to quit. Don't mix them up or you'll change the whole story!
Usually, yes. It implies a violation of rules or a major failure. For neutral job loss, 裁员 is better.
You would say 我被学校开除了 (Wǒ bèi xuéxiào kāichú le).
Yes, 开除 is standard across mainland China, Taiwan, and Singapore for formal termination.
Yes, if you are removed from a membership, 开除会籍 (expelled from membership) is the formal term.
Usually an angry boss shouting 你被开除了！ (You're fired!).
It is primarily a verb, but it can act as a noun in formal documents, like 'an expulsion' (一项开除决定).
It sounds a bit too formal for that. For individuals you hire personally, 辞退 or just 不用了 (don't need anymore) is more natural.
Frases relacionadas
炒鱿鱼
To be fired (slang)
辞职
To resign/quit
裁员
To lay off employees
辞退
To dismiss/let go (professional)
