In 15 Seconds
- Refers to full-time employment or a primary life role.
- Commonly used for jobs, students, and stay-at-home parents.
- The direct opposite of 'jiānzhí' (part-time).
Meaning
This phrase describes a full-time commitment, usually for a job, where you dedicate your entire working schedule to one specific role.
Key Examples
3 of 7Applying for a job
我想找一份全职工作。
I want to find a full-time job.
Introducing yourself at a party
我现在是一个全职学生。
I am a full-time student right now.
Discussing family life
她决定辞职做一个全职妈妈。
She decided to quit her job to be a full-time mom.
Cultural Background
While traditionally a corporate term, '全职' has recently gained new life through the 'full-time children' (全职儿女) trend, where youth stay home to support aging parents. It reflects a shift in how the younger generation views labor and family responsibility in a competitive economy.
The 'Full-time Child' Trend
If you hear '全职儿女' (Full-time child), it's a buzzword for young people staying home to help parents while being supported by them. It's a mix of a job and a lifestyle!
Don't confuse with 'Full-day'
Avoid using '全天' (quántiān) when you mean full-time employment. '全天' means 24 hours or the whole day, while '全职' refers to the job status.
In 15 Seconds
- Refers to full-time employment or a primary life role.
- Commonly used for jobs, students, and stay-at-home parents.
- The direct opposite of 'jiānzhí' (part-time).
What It Means
全职 (quánzhí) is the standard way to say 'full-time.' Think of it as your 'main character' energy in the workplace. It means you are all-in with one employer. You aren't just helping out for a few hours. You are the person they expect to see at the desk every morning. It implies a standard 40-hour week or whatever the local 'full' schedule is.
How To Use It
You usually place 全职 right before the noun it describes. For example, 全职工作 means a full-time job. You can also use it to describe yourself. If someone asks what you do, you can say you are a 全职妈妈 (full-time mom) or a 全职学生 (full-time student). It functions like an adjective or a prefix to your title. It is very versatile and easy to slot into sentences.
When To Use It
Use it during job interviews or when updating your LinkedIn profile. It is perfect for introducing your lifestyle to new friends. If you are explaining why you are so busy, 全职 is your best excuse. It works in professional emails and casual coffee chats alike. It is the 'default' setting for most adult careers in China.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use it for hobbies, even if you do them a lot. If you play video games 40 hours a week, calling it 全职 sounds like you are getting paid for it! Avoid using it for short-term gigs or freelance projects. For those, you would use 兼职 (jiānzhí) for part-time. Also, don't use it to describe a 'full' glass of water; that is a different kind of 'full'!
Cultural Background
In China, the concept of 全职 has evolved. Historically, people had 'iron rice bowls'—jobs for life. Today, being 全职 often comes with social benefits like the 'Five Insurances and One Fund.' Interestingly, the term 全职儿女 (full-time children) recently went viral. It describes young adults who move back home to care for parents instead of working a traditional job. It shows how the word is adapting to new social realities.
Common Variations
The most common opposite is 兼职 (jiānzhí), which means part-time or side-hustle. If you are looking for work, you might see 招聘全职 (hiring full-time). You will also hear 全职太太 (full-time housewife), which is a common social label. If you are working remotely but still full-time, you just add 远程 (yuǎnchéng) to get 远程全职.
Usage Notes
The term is very stable across all levels of formality. Just remember that it usually precedes the noun it modifies (e.g., 全职 + [Role]).
The 'Full-time Child' Trend
If you hear '全职儿女' (Full-time child), it's a buzzword for young people staying home to help parents while being supported by them. It's a mix of a job and a lifestyle!
Don't confuse with 'Full-day'
Avoid using '全天' (quántiān) when you mean full-time employment. '全天' means 24 hours or the whole day, while '全职' refers to the job status.
The Social Safety Net
In China, '全职' usually implies the employer pays for your social security (社保). If it's not '全职', you might have to pay it yourself!
Examples
7我想找一份全职工作。
I want to find a full-time job.
Standard way to express job preference.
我现在是一个全职学生。
I am a full-time student right now.
Used to explain your current life status.
她决定辞职做一个全职妈妈。
She decided to quit her job to be a full-time mom.
A common social expression for stay-at-home parents.
你看他在打游戏，简直像在做全职工作！
Look at him playing games, it's like he's doing a full-time job!
Using the term metaphorically for humor.
全职上班真的好累啊。
Working full-time is really exhausting.
Casual complaint about the daily grind.
公司目前只招聘全职人员。
The company is currently only hiring full-time personnel.
Formal recruitment language.
他虽然不是全职摄影师，但拍得比专业的还好。
Although he isn't a full-time photographer, his photos are better than professionals.
Contrasting a hobby with a full-time career.
Test Yourself
Choose the correct word to complete the sentence about a career choice.
我不喜欢兼职，我想要一份___工作。
‘全职’ (quánzhí) specifically refers to full-time employment status.
Identify the correct term for a stay-at-home father.
他在家照顾孩子，是一个___爸爸。
‘全职爸爸’ is the standard term for a full-time stay-at-home dad.
🎉 Score: /2
Visual Learning Aids
Formality of '全职'
Talking to friends about being busy.
我最近全职带娃。
General conversation about jobs.
你找全职还是兼职？
Legal contracts and HR documents.
全职劳动合同
Where to use '全职'
Job Hunting
Searching for '全职' on apps.
Parenthood
Being a '全职妈妈'.
Education
Studying as a '全职学生'.
Remote Work
Doing '远程全职' from home.
Practice Bank
2 exercises我不喜欢兼职，我想要一份___工作。
‘全职’ (quánzhí) specifically refers to full-time employment status.
他在家照顾孩子，是一个___爸爸。
‘全职爸爸’ is the standard term for a full-time stay-at-home dad.
🎉 Score: /2
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsNot at all! You can use it for any role that takes up your primary time, like 全职司机 (full-time driver) or 全职太太 (full-time housewife).
The opposite is 兼职 (jiānzhí). You use it exactly the same way, such as 兼职工作.
It is neutral. It is perfectly fine to use in a legal contract or while joking with your friends over a beer.
Usually, it's an adjective or noun. You don't '全职' something; you '做全职工作' (do a full-time job).
It translates to 'full-time mom,' meaning a stay-at-home mother who manages the household as her primary role.
Sort of. While 专业 (zhuānyè) means professional/expert, 全职 just means you do it full-time. You can be a 全职 worker but still be a beginner!
It's a modern slang term for adult children who stay home to care for parents in exchange for financial support, often because the job market is tough.
Only if you are being sarcastic or humorous. If you say 全职打球, people will think you are a professional athlete.
Generally yes, but in China, it might also imply the '996' schedule (9am-9pm, 6 days a week) in some tech companies, though it's still called 全职.
You can ask: 请问这是全职岗位吗？ (Is this a full-time position?)
Yes, 全职学生 (full-time student) is very common to distinguish from those taking night classes while working.
全职 is about the time commitment (full-time), while 专职 (zhuānzhí) emphasizes having a specific, dedicated responsibility or post.
Related Phrases
兼职 (Part-time)
实习 (Internship)
创业 (Start a business)
退休 (Retire)
失业 (Unemployed)
