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B1 verb #3,000 most common 8 min read

聘用

pinyong
Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 聘用 in 30 Seconds
Explanation 聘用 in your Level:
At the A1 level, you might not use '聘用' (pìnyòng) very often because it is a formal word. Instead, you usually learn simple words like '工作' (gōngzuò - work) or '找' (zhǎo - to look for). However, it is helpful to know that '聘用' means 'to give someone a job.' Think of it as 'Company + 聘用 + Person.' For example, '公司聘用我' (The company hires me). At this stage, just remember it is a professional way to say someone got a job. You might see it on a big building or a sign for a shop that is looking for workers, although '招聘' is more common on signs. Just focus on the idea that it involves a boss and a worker starting a professional relationship.
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By A2, you are starting to talk more about your daily life and work. '聘用' (pìnyòng) appears when you describe your job or how you found it. You should recognize that it is more formal than '雇' (gù). In A2, you can use it in simple sentences like '他们聘用了很多新员工' (They hired many new employees). You might also see it in simple job advertisements. It is important to start distinguishing between the 'process' of looking for a job (招聘) and the 'result' of getting the job (聘用). If you are writing a simple self-introduction, you might say '我被一家公司聘用了' (I was hired by a company) to sound more professional than just saying '我有工作' (I have a job).
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At the B1 level, '聘用' (pìnyòng) becomes a key vocabulary word for professional communication. You should be able to use it to discuss employment terms, contracts, and HR processes. You will learn related terms like '聘用合同' (employment contract) and '聘用期' (employment period). At this level, you understand that '聘用' implies a formal agreement. You can use it to explain why someone was chosen for a role: '因为他很有经验，所以公司聘用他担任经理' (Because he is very experienced, the company hired him to serve as manager). You should also be comfortable using the passive voice '被聘用' to describe your own or others' employment status in a professional setting.
At the B2 level, you should master the nuances of '聘用' (pìnyòng) compared to its synonyms like '录用' (lùyòng) and '雇佣' (gùyōng). You will encounter this word in business news, legal documents, and formal speeches. You should be able to discuss '聘用制度' (employment systems) and the social implications of hiring practices. For example, you might debate '聘用外籍员工的利弊' (the pros and cons of hiring foreign employees). Your usage should be precise—using '聘用' for professional roles and '招聘' for the recruitment phase. You should also be able to use it in complex sentences involving conditions and results, such as '该企业通过公平竞争的原则聘用人才' (The enterprise hires talent through the principle of fair competition).
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At the C1 level, you use '聘用' (pìnyòng) with high precision in specialized contexts such as law, high-level management, and academic discourse. You understand the historical and cultural weight of the character '聘' (to invite with respect). You can analyze formal documents like '聘用协议' (employment agreements) and understand the legal obligations they entail. You might use the word in abstract or metaphorical ways, such as '聘用贤才' (engaging virtuous and talented people) when discussing leadership philosophy. You are also aware of the administrative distinctions in China between '在编' (permanent staff) and '聘用制' (contract-based staff) and can discuss these complexities fluently in a professional or academic environment.
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At the C2 level, '聘用' (pìnyòng) is a word you use with complete native-like mastery. You can appreciate its use in classical-style modern prose or high-level diplomatic and corporate communications. You understand the subtle shift in tone it provides compared to more modern or westernized terms. You can use it to discuss macro-economic trends, such as '劳动力市场的聘用趋势' (hiring trends in the labor market), or deep-dive into the ethics of '聘用歧视' (hiring discrimination). You can navigate the most formal bureaucratic processes involving '聘用' without hesitation, and you can use the word to express complex ideas about human capital and organizational development with nuance and sophistication.
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Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

聘用 in 30 Seconds

  • 聘用 is a formal verb meaning 'to hire' or 'to employ' in a professional context.
  • It differs from 招聘 (recruitment process) and 雇佣 (more casual or manual hiring).
  • Commonly used with roles (聘用为...) and documents (聘用合同).
  • Essential for business Chinese, HR contexts, and formal news reporting.

The term 聘用 (pìnyòng) is a formal Chinese verb that translates primarily to 'to employ,' 'to hire,' or 'to engage the services of.' At its core, it represents a professional agreement where an organization or individual invites another person to fill a specific role or perform a set of duties in exchange for compensation. Unlike more casual terms for working, 聘用 carries a weight of officiality and mutual respect, often implying a contractual or formal relationship between the employer and the employee.

Formal Context
Used in business, government, and academic settings to describe the official act of hiring.
Contractual Nature
Usually implies the signing of a '聘用合同' (employment contract).
Professional Respect
The character '聘' historically relates to 'inviting with gifts,' suggesting the employee's skills are highly valued.

“公司决定正式聘用他为技术总监。” (The company decided to formally hire him as the Technical Director.)

In the modern Chinese corporate landscape, 聘用 is the standard term used in HR documents. It differs from 雇佣 (gùyōng), which can sometimes feel more transactional or related to manual labor. When a university hires a professor, or a tech giant hires a developer, 聘用 is the word of choice. It signifies that the person is not just a 'hand' to be used, but a 'talent' to be engaged.

“经过三轮面试，他终于被这家跨国公司聘用了。” (After three rounds of interviews, he was finally hired by this multinational company.)

Usage Scope
Applies to full-time staff, part-time consultants, and specialized experts.
Grammatical Role
Acts as a transitive verb, often followed by the person being hired and their role.

To understand 聘用 deeply, one must look at the character 聘 (pìn). In ancient times, it referred to the rituals of sending envoys to visit other states or the traditional betrothal gifts. This 'invitational' origin remains in the word today, making it a very polite and professional way to say 'hire.' When you are '聘用'-ed, you are being 'invited' to use your skills for the benefit of the organization.

“学校聘用了一位著名的外籍教授。” (The school hired a famous foreign professor.)

“政府部门正在改革聘用制度。” (Government departments are reforming the employment system.)

Collocation
Often paired with '合同' (contract), '期' (period), or '条件' (conditions).

In summary, 聘用 is the bridge between a candidate and an employee. It marks the successful conclusion of a job search and the beginning of a professional journey. It is a word that carries the dignity of work and the formality of modern business life.

Using 聘用 correctly requires understanding its formal register and its grammatical patterns. As a transitive verb, it typically follows the structure: [Employer] + 聘用 + [Employee] + [Role/Position]. This section will guide you through the various ways to integrate this word into your professional Chinese vocabulary.

1. Basic Active Voice Construction

The most straightforward way to use 聘用 is to state who is hiring whom. This is common in news reports and corporate announcements.

“该机构聘用了五十名新员工。” (The agency hired fifty new employees.)

2. Specifying the Role

Often, you want to mention the specific job title. You can do this by adding the title directly after the person, or by using '为' (wéi - as) or '担任' (dānrèn - to serve as).

“我们决定聘用张先生为我们的法律顾问。” (We decided to hire Mr. Zhang as our legal consultant.)

3. Passive Voice (被字句)

In the context of an individual's career history, the passive voice is frequently used to describe being hired by a prestigious organization.

“他非常荣幸能被这家知名律所聘用。” (He is very honored to be hired by this well-known law firm.)

4. Using '聘用' as a Noun/Modifier

聘用 can also function as a noun or a modifier for other nouns, such as 'contract' or 'standard'.

聘用合同 (pìnyòng hétóng)
Employment contract.
聘用期 (pìnyòng qī)
Employment period/term.
聘用标准 (pìnyòng biāozhǔn)
Hiring standards/criteria.

5. Professional Requirements

When discussing the conditions under which someone is hired, 聘用 is used to set the stage for qualifications.

“只有符合条件的申请人才会被聘用。” (Only qualified applicants will be hired.)

Finally, remember that 聘用 is a 'result' word. It implies the deal is done. If you are still looking for people, use 招聘. If the person has already started working and you are describing the act of the company bringing them on board, use 聘用.

You will encounter 聘用 in several key environments in China, primarily those related to professional life, legal matters, and formal news reporting. Understanding these contexts will help you recognize the word's specific connotations.

1. In the Corporate Office (HR & Management)

The Human Resources department is the 'home' of this word. You will see it in offer letters, internal announcements, and during performance reviews when discussing contract renewals.

“人力资源部正在准备新员工的聘用文件。” (The HR department is preparing the hiring documents for new employees.)

2. Academic and Educational Institutions

Universities and schools use 聘用 to describe the engagement of faculty members. In China, there is a distinction between 'permanent' staff and 'contracted' staff (聘用制教师).

3. Legal and Government Contexts

When the government hires experts for advisory roles or when a court appoints a legal representative, 聘用 is the standard term. It emphasizes the legality and the specific mandate given to the individual.

“政府聘用了一批环保专家来评估该项目。” (The government hired a group of environmental experts to evaluate the project.)

4. News and Media Reports

Financial news often reports on high-level executive changes using this word. When a new CEO is appointed, the headline might read: '[Company] 聘用 [Name] 为首席执行官'.

Business Headlines
Reports on '聘用潮' (hiring waves) or '聘用规模' (hiring scale).
Sports News
When a team hires a new coach (聘用新教练).

5. Job Advertisements (The Fine Print)

While the big title of a job ad is usually '招聘' (Recruitment), the body of the ad will discuss the '聘用条件' (conditions of employment) and '聘用待遇' (compensation and benefits).

“本职位聘用期为三年，期满可续约。” (The employment term for this position is three years, renewable upon expiration.)

In all these places, 聘用 signals a transition from 'searching' to 'securing' talent. It is the language of professional commitment.

Even intermediate learners often confuse 聘用 with other similar words related to work and hiring. Avoiding these common pitfalls will make your Chinese sound more natural and professional.

1. Confusing 聘用 (pìnyòng) with 招聘 (zhāopìn)

This is the most frequent error. 招聘 is the process of looking for employees (Recruitment/Job Posting). 聘用 is the act of actually hiring them (Employment/Engagement).

Incorrect
“我们在聘用新员工，请投简历。” (We are 'hiring' new employees, please send resumes.) - Here, 招聘 is better.
Correct
“我们正在招聘新员工。” (We are recruiting new employees.)

2. Confusing 聘用 with 雇佣 (gùyōng)

While both mean 'to hire,' 雇佣 is often used for shorter-term, manual, or less formal labor. Using 雇佣 for a CEO or a professor might sound slightly disrespectful or overly transactional.

3. Incorrect Object Placement

Some learners forget that 聘用 is a transitive verb and try to use it with '与' (with) like a preposition. It should directly take an object.

“公司聘用了他。” (The company hired him.) - Correct.

4. Overusing it in Casual Contexts

If you are asking a friend to help you move and you'll pay them, don't use 聘用. It's too formal. You might say '请你帮忙' (ask you for help) or '雇你帮个忙' (hire you for a favor - though still a bit odd).

5. Mixing up 聘用 and 录用 (lùyòng)

录用 specifically means 'to accept' or 'to admit' an applicant after an exam or interview. 聘用 is the broader term for the employment relationship. 录用 is the 'acceptance' phase, 聘用 is the 'hiring' phase.

“他被公司录用了。” (He was accepted/admitted by the company.) vs. “公司决定聘用他。” (The company decided to employ him.)

By keeping these distinctions in mind, you will ensure that your use of 聘用 aligns with the expectations of a professional Chinese environment.

To master 聘用, it is helpful to compare it with its synonyms and related terms. Each has a specific nuance that dictates when it should be used.

1. 招聘 (zhāopìn) - To Recruit

Focuses on the process of seeking and inviting applications. It is the 'search' phase.

“我们在招聘有经验的设计师。” (We are recruiting experienced designers.)

2. 雇佣 (gùyōng) - To Hire/Employ

A more general term, often used for labor-intensive jobs or short-term tasks. It can sound more 'transactional' than 聘用.

“他雇佣了几个工人来修房子。” (He hired a few workers to fix the house.)

3. 录用 (lùyòng) - To Accept/Enroll

Commonly used in the context of passing an entrance exam or a competitive interview process. It means 'to be admitted into the ranks'.

“经过考核，她被正式录用了。” (After the assessment, she was formally accepted.)

4. 委任 (wěirèn) - To Appoint

Used for high-level positions or official appointments, often by a superior authority or government body.

“董事会委任他为新任主席。” (The board appointed him as the new chairman.)

5. 任用 (rènyòng) - To Appoint/Assign

Similar to 委任, but focuses more on the 'use' of someone's talents in a specific role within an organization.

Understanding these subtle differences allows you to choose the word that best fits the level of formality and the specific nature of the employment relationship you are describing.

How Formal Is It?

Difficulty Rating

Grammar to Know

Passive voice with '被'

Resultative complements (e.g., 聘用到)

Using '为' to indicate roles

Formal vs. Informal register

Compound verbs in business Chinese

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Examples by Level

1

公司聘用他。

The company hires him.

Subject + Verb + Object.

2

他们聘用我。

They hire me.

Simple active voice.

3

你想聘用谁？

Who do you want to hire?

Question form with '谁'.

4

我不聘用他。

I do not hire him.

Negative form with '不'.

5

学校聘用老师。

The school hires teachers.

General statement.

6

爸爸被聘用了。

Dad was hired.

Simple passive voice with '被'.

7

我们要聘用人。

We want to hire people.

Using '要' to indicate intention.

8

经理聘用你吗？

Does the manager hire you?

Yes/No question with '吗'.

1

这家公司聘用了十个新员工。

This company hired ten new employees.

Using '了' for completed action.

2

他被一家大公司聘用了。

He was hired by a large company.

Passive voice '被' + Agent + Verb.

3

我想被这家医院聘用。

I want to be hired by this hospital.

Expressing a wish with '想被'.

4

公司为什么不聘用他？

Why didn't the company hire him?

Question with '为什么'.

5

他们聘用他当司机。

They hired him as a driver.

Verb + Object + Role (当).

6

这家饭店聘用了很多服务员。

This restaurant hired many waiters.

Using '很多' to quantify the object.

7

你什么时候被聘用的？

When were you hired?

Time question with '什么时候'.

8

公司正式聘用了他。

The company formally hired him.

Adverb '正式' modifying the verb.

1

公司决定聘用他担任市场部经理。

The company decided to hire him to serve as the marketing manager.

Using '担任' to specify a professional role.

2

我们需要签一份聘用合同。

We need to sign an employment contract.

Noun phrase '聘用合同'.

3

他的聘用期是三年。

His employment term is three years.

Noun phrase '聘用期'.

4

如果你表现好，公司会继续聘用你。

If you perform well, the company will continue to employ you.

Conditional sentence with '如果...就/会'.

5

这家企业专门聘用残疾人。

This enterprise specializes in hiring people with disabilities.

Adverb '专门' (specially/specifically).

6

被知名企业聘用是他的梦想。

Being hired by a well-known enterprise is his dream.

Passive phrase used as a subject.

7

由于经济原因，公司停止了聘用新员工。

Due to economic reasons, the company stopped hiring new employees.

Cause and effect with '由于'.

8

学校聘用了一位非常有名的教授。

The school hired a very famous professor.

Using '一位' as a formal classifier for people.

1

该公司的聘用标准非常严格。

The company's hiring standards are very strict.

Noun phrase '聘用标准'.

2

双方已经达成了聘用协议。

Both parties have reached an employment agreement.

Formal term '聘用协议'.

3

政府部门正在推行聘用制改革。

Government departments are implementing employment system reforms.

Specific term '聘用制' (contract-based system).

4

他因为违反规定而被解除聘用。

He was terminated from employment because he violated regulations.

Formal phrase '解除聘用' (terminate employment).

5

公司通过猎头公司聘用了一位高管。

The company hired an executive through a headhunting firm.

Prepositional phrase '通过...' (through/via).

6

聘用外籍专家有助于提升科研水平。

Hiring foreign experts helps to improve the level of scientific research.

Gerund-like use of '聘用' as a subject.

7

该职位的聘用程序包括笔试和面试。

The hiring procedure for this position includes a written test and an interview.

Noun phrase '聘用程序'.

8

公司承诺将优先聘用本校毕业生。

The company promises to give priority to hiring graduates from this school.

Adverbial phrase '优先聘用' (priority hiring).

1

聘用贤才不仅是企业的需求，更是国家发展的基石。

Engaging virtuous and talented people is not only a need for enterprises but also a cornerstone of national development.

Sophisticated '不仅...更是' structure.

2

在聘用过程中，必须严格遵守劳动法，防止歧视。

In the hiring process, labor laws must be strictly followed to prevent discrimination.

Formal '必须' and '防止' usage.

3

该大学决定聘用他为终身荣誉教授。

The university decided to engage him as a lifelong honorary professor.

Specific academic title '终身荣誉教授'.

4

聘用制的实施打破了传统的“铁饭碗”观念。

The implementation of the contract-based system broke the traditional 'iron rice bowl' concept.

Metaphorical use of '铁饭碗'.

5

董事会就聘用新任CEO的议案进行了激烈讨论。

The board of directors had a heated discussion on the proposal to hire a new CEO.

Formal '就...进行了...' structure.

6

公司在聘用合规性方面面临着严峻的挑战。

The company faces severe challenges in terms of hiring compliance.

Abstract noun '合规性' (compliance).

7

通过灵活的聘用机制，企业可以更好地应对市场变化。

Through flexible hiring mechanisms, enterprises can better respond to market changes.

Noun phrase '聘用机制' (hiring mechanism).

8

他被聘用为该项目的首席咨询顾问。

He was engaged as the lead consultant for the project.

High-level professional title.

1

聘用之策，贵在识人，重在用人，成在留人。

The strategy of hiring lies in recognizing talent, emphasizes utilizing talent, and succeeds in retaining talent.

Parallel structure typical of classical-style prose.

2

在全球化背景下，跨国公司的聘用策略愈发多元化。

In the context of globalization, the hiring strategies of multinational companies are becoming increasingly diversified.

Advanced vocabulary like '愈发' and '多元化'.

3

法律界对于聘用合同中竞业禁止条款的合法性仍存争议。

The legal community still disputes the legality of non-compete clauses in employment contracts.

Technical legal term '竞业禁止条款' (non-compete clause).

4

该机构通过全球海选，最终聘用了这位享誉国际的建筑师。

Through a global talent search, the institution finally engaged this internationally renowned architect.

Idiomatic '享誉国际' (internationally renowned).

5

聘用制度的完善是提升公共服务效率的关键环节。

The improvement of the employment system is a key link in enhancing the efficiency of public services.

Abstract systemic discussion.

6

他在受聘期间，为公司的技术革新做出了卓越贡献。

During his tenure of employment, he made outstanding contributions to the company's technological innovation.

Formal term '受聘期间' (during the period of employment).

7

企业应建立科学的聘用评估体系，以确保人才质量。

Enterprises should establish a scientific hiring evaluation system to ensure the quality of talent.

Management terminology '评估体系'.

8

此番聘用，不仅是人事的变动，更是战略转型的信号。

This hiring is not just a personnel change, but a signal of strategic transformation.

Formal '此番' (this time/this instance).

Common Collocations

聘用合同
聘用期
聘用制
正式聘用
优先聘用
聘用标准
聘用程序
聘用条件
长期聘用
破格聘用

Common Phrases

被公司聘用
聘用为经理
签订聘用合同
终止聘用关系
续签聘用合同
聘用外籍员工
公开聘用
择优聘用
聘用协议书
聘用管理办法

Often Confused With

聘用 vs 招聘

招聘 is the process (recruiting); 聘用 is the result (hiring).

聘用 vs 雇佣

雇佣 is more general/casual; 聘用 is more professional/formal.

聘用 vs 录用

录用 is the act of accepting an applicant; 聘用 is the act of employing them.

Idioms & Expressions

"礼贤下士 (Lǐ xián xià shì - to treat talented people with respect)"
"求贤若渴 (Qiú xián ruò kě - to be thirsty for talent)"
"三顾茅庐 (Sān gù máo lú - to repeatedly invite someone of talent)"
"唯才是举 (Wéi cái shì jǔ - to promote people based only on talent)"
"任人唯贤 (Rèn rén wéi xián - to appoint people on their merits)"
"伯乐相马 (Bó lè xiàng mǎ - a good judge of talent)"
"招兵买马 (Zhāo bīng mǎi mǎ - to recruit and expand a team)"
"广纳贤才 (Guǎng nà xián cái - to widely accept talented people)"
"吐哺握发 (Tǔ bǔ wò fā - to be eager to seek out talented people)"
"野无遗贤 (Yě wú yí xián - no talented person is left in obscurity)"

Easily Confused

聘用 vs

聘用 vs

聘用 vs

聘用 vs

聘用 vs

Sentence Patterns

Word Family

Related

招聘 (recruitment)
应聘 (to apply for a job)
解聘 (to dismiss)
受聘 (to be hired)
聘请 (to invite/engage an expert)
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How to Use It

Active vs Passive

Both are common, but '被聘用' is very frequent for the employee's perspective.

Formal vs Informal

Strictly professional.

Common Mistakes
  • Using 聘用 when you mean 'recruiting' (should be 招聘).
  • Using 聘用 for casual, non-contractual help.
  • Forgetting the '被' in passive sentences.
  • Using the wrong tone (it's 4th-4th).
  • Confusing it with '录用' (which is just the acceptance part).

Tips

Using '为'

Always remember to use '为' (wéi) when specifying the job title after 聘用.

Contract Terms

Learn '聘用合同' early; it's the most common noun pairing you will see.

Respecting Talent

Using 聘请 instead of 聘用 for an expert shows extra respect.

Job Interviews

In an interview, say '希望能被贵公司聘用' to sound professional and humble.

Formal Emails

Use 聘用 when sending a formal offer or confirmation of employment.

HR News

When you hear 聘用 in news, pay attention to the title that follows to understand the company's strategy.

Office Life

Use this word when discussing your official status or contract with colleagues.

Result vs Process

Remember: 招聘 = looking; 聘用 = hired.

Labor Law

The term '聘用关系' (employment relationship) is the legal term for your bond with an employer.

The 'P' Rule

Professional, Permanent (contract), and Position - all start with P, just like Pìnyòng.

Memorize It

Word Origin

Cultural Context

聘用制 (Pìnyòngzhì) is a specific term for contract-based employment in public institutions.

Using 聘用 shows you value the employee's expertise.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Conversation Starters

"你最近被哪家公司聘用了吗？"

"你们公司聘用员工的标准是什么？"

"你觉得聘用外籍员工有什么好处？"

"如果你是老板，你会聘用什么样的天才？"

"被这家公司聘用后，你打算怎么庆祝？"

Journal Prompts

描述一次你被聘用的经历。

如果你要聘用一个助手，你最看重什么品质？

谈谈你对中国‘聘用制’改革的看法。

写一封正式的聘用通知书。

想象你聘用了你的偶像，你们会一起做什么工作？

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Yes, as long as it is a formal arrangement. For very casual part-time work, '打工' or '雇' might be used.

No, schools, government bodies, and even individuals (hiring a lawyer or expert) can use it.

聘请 is often used for inviting experts, consultants, or speakers, emphasizing the 'invitation' aspect more than the 'employment' aspect.

It is primarily a verb, but it can function as a noun in phrases like '聘用合同'.

You can say '停止聘用' or '冻结招聘'.

Usually, '雇佣' or '请' is used for domestic help. 聘用 sounds a bit too formal for that context.

It refers to a system where staff are hired on a contract basis rather than having a permanent, lifelong position.

Yes, it is a very respectful and professional term.

No, usually a company hires a person. If you hire a company's services, you might use '雇佣' or '委托' (wěituō - entrust).

The direct opposite in terms of ending the relationship is '解聘' (jiěpìn).

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