A1 Collocation Neutral

工作

gongzuo

Do work

Phrase in 30 Seconds

{工作|gōngzuò} is the essential term for performing professional tasks or having a job in Chinese.

  • Means: To work or a job/task.
  • Used in: Describing your profession or daily office tasks.
  • Don't confuse: {工作|gōngzuò} (job/task) with {做|zuò} (to do/make).
Laptop + Coffee + 9-to-5 = {工作|gōngzuò}

Explanation at your level:

{工作|gōngzuò} means 'job' or 'to work'. You use it to talk about your company or your daily tasks. It is a very basic word for everyone.
At this level, you learn that {工作|gōngzuò} functions as both a verb and a noun. It is essential for describing your career path and daily professional routine in simple sentences.
Intermediate learners use {工作|gōngzuò} to discuss workplace dynamics, job satisfaction, and career transitions. It is often paired with auxiliary verbs like {想|xiǎng} or {需要|xūyào} to express professional intentions.
At the B2 level, you analyze the nuances between {工作|gōngzuò} and synonyms like {职业|zhíyè} or {岗位|gǎngwèi}. You can discuss complex topics like corporate culture and labor laws using this foundational term.
Advanced users employ {工作|gōngzuò} in professional contexts, including formal reports and negotiations. You understand the socio-economic implications of the term within the Chinese labor market and can use it in idiomatic expressions.
Near-native speakers utilize {工作|gōngzuò} to navigate subtle registers, distinguishing between formal professional discourse and casual workplace banter. You grasp the etymological roots and the evolving cultural weight of the term in contemporary Chinese society.

Meaning

To perform tasks for a job or purpose.

🌍

Cultural Background

Work is often the first question asked in social settings.

💡

Verb vs Noun

It is both!

Meaning

To perform tasks for a job or purpose.

💡

Verb vs Noun

It is both!

Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

我在一家公司______。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 工作

{工作|gōngzuò} is the verb.

🎉 Score: /1

Frequently Asked Questions

1 questions

No, it is redundant.

Related Phrases

🔄

上班

synonym

Go to work

Where to Use It

💼

Job Interview

Interviewer: 请介绍一下你的{工作|gōngzuò}经验。

Candidate: 我有三年的市场{工作|gōngzuò}经验。

formal
☕

Meeting a friend

Friend: 最近{工作|gōngzuò}忙吗？

You: 很忙，有很多{工作|gōngzuò}要做。

informal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine a 'Gong' (gōng) being hit to start the 'work' (zuò) shift.

Visual Association

A busy office with people typing on laptops, with the word 'GONG' ringing like a bell at 9 AM.

Rhyme

Work is {工作|gōngzuò}, don't be a slacker, be a go-getter.

Story

Xiao Wang wakes up early. He puts on his suit. He goes to his {工作|gōngzuò}. He works hard all day. He is happy with his {工作|gōngzuò}.

Word Web

上班职业公司任务工资老板

Challenge

Describe your job or a dream job in 3 sentences using {工作|gōngzuò}.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Trabajar

Spanish uses different verbs for 'job' (trabajo) and 'to work' (trabajar), whereas Chinese uses the same word.

French high

Travailler

French has more specific nouns for different types of jobs.

German high

Arbeiten

German distinguishes between 'Arbeit' (noun) and 'arbeiten' (verb) more strictly.

Japanese high

仕事 (shigoto)

Japanese has a distinct verb 'hataraku' for the action of working.

Arabic high

عمل (amal)

Arabic has different roots for manual vs intellectual labor.

Chinese self

工作

N/A

Korean high

일 (il)

Korean uses 'hada' (to do) with 'il' to form the verb.

Portuguese high

Trabalhar

Similar to Spanish, it distinguishes between noun and verb forms.

Easily Confused

工作 vs 做

Learners use it with work.

Don't say 做工作.

FAQ (1)

No, it is redundant.

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