In 15 Seconds
- To quit your job for a better opportunity elsewhere.
- Literally means a horse jumping to a different feeding trough.
- Commonly used in casual and professional career conversations.
Meaning
It literally means jumping from one feeding trough to another. In modern life, it is the standard way to say you are quitting your current job for a better opportunity elsewhere.
Key Examples
3 of 6Gossiping with a coworker
听说小王跳槽去了一家互联网大厂。
I heard Xiao Wang job-hopped to a big tech company.
Discussing career plans with a friend
我最近压力太大，正考虑跳槽呢。
I've been under too much pressure lately, I'm considering job-hopping.
A professional networking event
现在的年轻人跳槽比较频繁。
Young people nowadays job-hop quite frequently.
Cultural Background
Originally used in the Ming and Qing dynasties to describe unfaithful patrons in red-light districts, the phrase was reclaimed in the 1980s. It became a popular metaphor for the new 'market economy' where workers finally had the mobility to choose their employers. It reflects the shift from lifetime state-assigned jobs to a competitive, modern career landscape.
The 'Trough' Logic
Remember the image of a horse. If you say someone is 'jumping troughs,' you're implying they are moving to a place with better 'food' (salary/benefits).
Don't use it for firing
If someone was fired, use `被开除`. Using `跳槽` makes it sound like they left by choice, which might be awkward if everyone knows the truth.
In 15 Seconds
- To quit your job for a better opportunity elsewhere.
- Literally means a horse jumping to a different feeding trough.
- Commonly used in casual and professional career conversations.
What It Means
Imagine a horse or a cow. It decides the grass in the next stall looks tastier. It jumps over the partition to eat there instead. That is 跳槽. Today, the 'trough' is your company. The 'jump' is your resignation letter. It implies moving toward something better or more profitable.
How To Use It
You use it as a verb. You can say someone 跳槽 to a specific company. Use the structure: A 跳槽到 B. It sounds active and intentional. It is not for when you get fired. It is for when you choose to leave. It feels more modern than the dry word for 'resignation'.
When To Use It
Use it when chatting with friends about careers. It is perfect for office gossip during lunch. You can use it in professional networking too. It fits well in a text message. For example, 'I heard she 跳槽 to a tech giant.' It sounds like a smart career move.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use it in your official resignation letter. That requires the formal word 辞职. Avoid using it if someone was laid off. That would be insensitive. It sounds like they had a choice when they didn't. Also, do not use it for internal transfers. That is just moving desks, not jumping troughs.
Cultural Background
Centuries ago, this phrase was actually slang in the 'entertainment' industry. It meant a patron leaving one courtesan for another. It was a bit scandalous! By the 1980s, the meaning shifted completely. As China's economy opened up, people finally had job choices. The phrase became a symbol of freedom and ambition. It lost its old, shady associations.
Common Variations
You might hear 跳槽族. This refers to 'job-hoppers' who switch frequently. There is also 频繁跳槽 for someone who jumps every six months. If you are looking to jump, you are 想跳槽. It is a very flexible and common expression today.
Usage Notes
While `跳槽` is neutral, it is slightly informal. Use it in conversation and storytelling, but stick to `辞职` for legal documents or your formal resignation email.
The 'Trough' Logic
Remember the image of a horse. If you say someone is 'jumping troughs,' you're implying they are moving to a place with better 'food' (salary/benefits).
Don't use it for firing
If someone was fired, use `被开除`. Using `跳槽` makes it sound like they left by choice, which might be awkward if everyone knows the truth.
The Courtesan Origin
If you talk to a literature professor, they might mention its ancient meaning regarding unfaithful men. Don't worry—nobody thinks that in a modern office!
Examples
6听说小王跳槽去了一家互联网大厂。
I heard Xiao Wang job-hopped to a big tech company.
Standard usage to describe a career move.
我最近压力太大，正考虑跳槽呢。
I've been under too much pressure lately, I'm considering job-hopping.
Expressing a personal desire to leave.
现在的年轻人跳槽比较频繁。
Young people nowadays job-hop quite frequently.
General observation about the labor market.
恭喜你跳槽成功！新公司怎么样？
Congrats on the successful job-hop! How is the new company?
A friendly way to congratulate someone on a new role.
再不给我涨工资，我就要跳槽了！
If you don't give me a raise, I'm going to jump troughs!
A playful threat about leaving for better pay.
虽然舍不得大家，但我还是决定跳槽。
Although I'll miss everyone, I've still decided to job-hop.
Showing the emotional weight of leaving a team.
Test Yourself
Choose the correct phrase to complete the sentence about a career change.
他在那家公司干了五年，上个月终于___了。
`跳槽` means to switch jobs, while `跳水` is diving and `跳舞` is dancing.
How do you say 'to jump to a new company'?
她跳槽___了一家新公司。
The preposition `到` (to) is used after `跳槽` to indicate the destination company.
🎉 Score: /2
Visual Learning Aids
Formality Spectrum of Leaving a Job
Slang or very casual talk.
闪人 (Shǎnrén - to bolt)
The most common way to talk about switching jobs.
跳槽 (Tiàocáo)
Used in HR documents and resignation letters.
辞职 (Cízhí - to resign)
When to say 'Tiàocáo'
Lunch with friends
Talking about a better salary elsewhere.
LinkedIn message
Asking a friend if they are looking for a 'jump'.
Family dinner
Explaining why you have a new office.
HR Interview
Explaining your career history (carefully).
Practice Bank
2 exercises他在那家公司干了五年，上个月终于___了。
`跳槽` means to switch jobs, while `跳水` is diving and `跳舞` is dancing.
她跳槽___了一家新公司。
The preposition `到` (to) is used after `跳槽` to indicate the destination company.
🎉 Score: /2
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNot at all! In modern China, it is a neutral and very common way to describe career progression. Everyone uses it, from interns to CEOs.
Yes, you can use it to describe your past moves, like 我去年跳槽到了现在的公司. However, use 辞职 if you want to sound more formal.
辞职 just means you quit. 跳槽 implies you are quitting specifically to go to another, usually better, job.
No, it is an active verb. You cannot be 'jumped' by someone else. You are the one doing the jumping.
Yes, they are called 跳槽族 (tiàocáozú), which literally means the 'job-hopping tribe'.
Mostly, yes. It is used for any professional role where you move from one employer to another.
Usually, no. 跳槽 implies moving to another 'trough' (employer). If you start a business, you'd say 创业 (chuàngyè).
Only if you have a very close, friendly relationship. Otherwise, it's a bit too casual; use 辞职 for official talks.
挖脚角 (poaching) is what the other company does to you. 跳槽 is what you do when you accept their offer.
You can say 我想跳槽 (Wǒ xiǎng tiàocáo). It's a very common thing to tell a trusted friend.
Related Phrases
辞职
To resign (formal)
猎头
Headhunter (literally 'head hunter')
炒鱿鱼
To be fired (literally 'to fry squid')
找工作
To look for a job
