全职

The term 全职 (quánzhí) is a cornerstone of modern Chinese professional vocabulary. At its most basic level, it translates to 'full-time.' However, to truly understand its weight in a Chinese context, one must look at the two characters that form it. 全 (quán) means 'all,' 'complete,' or 'entire,' while 职 (zhí) refers to a 'post,' 'duty,' or 'job.' Together, they describe a state of employment where an individual dedicates their entire standard working capacity to a single employer or role. In the fast-paced urban centers of China, being '全职' often implies a commitment to the standard 40-hour work week, though in many industries, this can extend significantly further.

Employment Status

In legal and administrative contexts, 全职 refers to a contract that includes full benefits, such as the 'Five Insurances and One Fund' (五险一金), which are standard for permanent staff in China.

People use this word most frequently when discussing career transitions or social roles. For instance, a person might move from a 兼职 (jiānzhí - part-time) position to a 全职 role to gain financial stability. Beyond the corporate office, the word has seen a surge in usage within domestic contexts. The term 全职太太 (quánzhí tàitai) or 全职妈妈 (quánzhí māma) refers to stay-at-home mothers, framing their domestic labor as a full-time professional commitment. This reflects a linguistic shift toward recognizing the labor involved in household management as equivalent to a career.

In recent years, a controversial and fascinating new phrase has emerged: 全职儿女 (quánzhí érnǚ), or 'full-time children.' This describes young adults who, due to a tough job market, stay at home to 'work' for their parents—performing household chores and providing companionship in exchange for financial support. In this specific nuance, 全职 is used almost ironically to describe a lifestyle that sits between employment and unemployment, highlighting how flexible the term has become in modern social discourse.

Social Perception

Being a '全职' employee often grants higher social status in traditional circles, as it suggests the employer has vetted the individual for a long-term commitment.

Grammatically, 全职 functions as an adjective or a noun. You can say '全职工作' (full-time work) or '他是全职' (He is full-time). It is rarely used as a verb on its own; you wouldn't say 'I full-time this company.' Instead, you use verbs like '做' (to do) or '是' (to be) to link the subject to the status. This stability in usage makes it a relatively easy word for B1 learners to master, provided they understand the contrast with its antonym, 兼职 (jiānzhí).

Professional Contrast

While '全职' means full-time, '专职' (zhuānzhí) means specialized or dedicated to a specific task. Don't confuse the two when applying for niche roles.

Mastering 全职 (quánzhí) requires understanding its placement within various sentence structures. As a modifier, it typically sits right before the noun it describes. For example, in the phrase '全职员工' (full-time employee), '全职' acts as an adjective defining the nature of the '员工' (employee). This is the most straightforward usage and is common in formal documents, job advertisements, and resumes. When you are describing your current status, you will often use the 'Subject + 是 + 全职 + Noun' or 'Subject + 做 + 全职 + Job' structure. This clarifies your professional identity to others.

Structure: Status Identification

Use '是...全职' to state what you are. Example: '我是全职翻译' (I am a full-time translator). This emphasizes the 'what' rather than the 'how.'

Another common pattern involves the duration or nature of an activity. You can use 全职 to describe how you engage with a hobby or a lifestyle. For example, '全职旅游' (full-time traveling) has become a popular term among digital nomads in China. In this context, it suggests that the activity is no longer a leisure pursuit but a primary occupation. Note that while '全职' is often paired with jobs, it can also be paired with '学习' (study) to indicate a student who is not working alongside their degree. '全职学生' (full-time student) is a very standard term used on visa applications and university forms.

When discussing transitions, the verb 转为 (zhuǎn wéi - to turn into/transition to) is frequently used with 全职. This is particularly relevant in the corporate world where interns or part-time contractors are offered permanent roles. Conversely, if someone is reducing their hours, you might hear '从全职转为兼职' (moving from full-time to part-time). Understanding these directional shifts is key for B1 learners who are beginning to discuss more complex life and career changes in Chinese.

Structure: The 'Doing' Aspect

Use '做全职' (zuò quánzhí) when focusing on the action. Example: '他在那家公司做全职' (He works full-time at that company).

In summary, 全职 is a versatile word that functions as a descriptor for jobs, people, and activities. Its placement is predictable, making it a reliable tool for building sentences about daily life and work. By practicing the patterns '全职 + Noun' and '做/是 + 全职', you will be able to communicate your professional status clearly in almost any Chinese-speaking environment.

Common Collocations

Pair with: 合同 (contract), 岗位 (position), 雇佣 (employment), 薪水 (salary).

You will encounter 全职 (quánzhí) in a variety of real-world scenarios, ranging from the highly formal to the deeply personal. One of the most common places is on Chinese recruitment platforms like Boss Zhipin or Liepin. Here, job listings are explicitly categorized as either '全职' or '兼职.' In an interview setting, the HR manager might ask, '你能胜任全职工作吗？' (Are you capable of handling full-time work?), especially if you have previously been a freelancer or a student. This word sets the expectations for availability and commitment from the very first interaction.

The Workplace

In office meetings, managers might discuss '全职编制' (full-time establishment/headcount), referring to the number of permanent roles allowed in a department.

Outside of the office, 全职 is a frequent topic of conversation in social media circles, particularly on platforms like Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book). There is a significant amount of content dedicated to the '全职妈妈' (Full-time Mom) lifestyle, where women share tips on parenting, cooking, and self-care. In these digital spaces, the word is used to build community and discuss the challenges of balancing personal identity with a full-time domestic role. You might also see bloggers talking about '全职自媒体' (full-time self-media), referring to those who make their entire living through content creation rather than having a traditional job.

In family gatherings, 全职 can sometimes be a point of friction or pride. Parents often worry if their children don't have a '全职工作,' as it implies a lack of stability and social security. Conversely, being '全职' in a prestigious company is a source of '面子' (miànzi - face) for the family. You might hear an auntie ask, '你现在是在哪家公司做全职呀？' (Which company are you working for full-time now?). In this context, the word acts as a marker of adulthood and responsibility.

News and Media

Economic reports often use '全职就业率' (full-time employment rate) to discuss the health of the labor market.

Lastly, in educational settings, you'll hear '全职读博' (full-time PhD study) versus '在职读博' (part-time PhD while working). This distinction is vital in China, as it affects the type of degree received and the funding available. Whether in the classroom, the boardroom, or the living room, 全职 is a word that defines how people allocate their most precious resource: time.

Daily Life

When meeting new people, '你是全职在做这个吗？' (Are you doing this full-time?) is a polite way to gauge someone's level of professional involvement.

While 全职 (quánzhí) seems straightforward, learners often stumble over its specific nuances and grammatical restrictions. One of the most frequent errors is confusing it with 专职 (zhuānzhí). While both involve a dedicated commitment, '专职' specifically means 'specialized' or 'solely responsible for a particular task.' For example, a '专职司机' is a chauffeur whose only job is to drive. A '全职司机' might drive for 40 hours a week, but the emphasis is on the time, not just the exclusivity of the task. Using '全职' when you mean 'specialized' can sound slightly awkward in professional settings.

Mistake: Confusing 全职 and 专职

Incorrect: 他是公司的全职会计。(He is the company's full-time accountant - this is okay, but...) Correct: 他是公司的专职会计。(He is the company's dedicated/specialized accountant - better if you want to emphasize his specific role).

Another common pitfall is using 全职 as a verb directly. In English, we can say 'I full-time as a writer,' but in Chinese, you must use a linking verb. Saying '我全职写作' (I full-time write) is grammatically acceptable because '写作' acts as the object/activity, but simply saying '我全职' (I full-time) without context or a verb like '是' or '做' is incomplete. Always remember to anchor the status to an action or a state of being.

Learners also sometimes misuse the '的' (de) particle. While '全职的工作' is correct, many fixed expressions like '全职太太' or '全职员工' have evolved to drop the '的.' Adding it back in ('全职的太太') isn't strictly wrong, but it sounds less natural and more like a translated phrase rather than native speech. Paying attention to these collocations will help you sound more like a local. Furthermore, don't confuse 全职 with '长久' (chángjiǔ - long-term). A job can be full-time but only last for a month (like a full-time temporary contract).

Mistake: Overusing '的'

Natural: 全职妈妈 (Stay-at-home mom). Less Natural: 全职的妈妈 (The mom who is full-time).

Finally, be careful with the word '职业' (zhíyè - profession). While '职' is a common character, '职业' refers to the career path (e.g., 'teacher'), while 全职 refers to the schedule. You can have a '职业' without currently being '全职' in it. Distinguishing between schedule, role, and profession is the mark of an advanced student.

Vocabulary Check

全职 (Full-time) vs. 兼职 (Part-time) vs. 职业 (Profession) vs. 职位 (Position).

To expand your professional Chinese vocabulary, it is essential to compare 全职 (quánzhí) with its synonyms and related terms. The most obvious counterpart is 兼职 (jiānzhí), meaning 'part-time' or 'side job.' Interestingly, '兼' means 'simultaneous' or 'double,' reflecting the idea of doing something in addition to another commitment. For many B1 learners, the choice between '全职' and '兼职' is the most frequent decision they will make when describing their work life.

全职 vs. 兼职

全职 (Full-time) implies 100% commitment to one role. 兼职 (Part-time) implies a secondary or partial commitment. Example: '我有一份全职工作，周末还做一份兼职。' (I have a full-time job and do a part-time job on weekends.)

Another similar word is 专职 (zhuānzhí), which we touched on earlier. While '全职' focuses on the time, '专职' focuses on the specialization. For example, a '专职老师' (dedicated teacher) is someone whose sole professional identity is teaching, whereas a '全职老师' is simply someone who teaches full-time hours. In many cases, these terms are interchangeable, but '专职' carries a slightly more professional, 'expert' tone. There is also 在职 (zàizhí), which means 'currently in office' or 'on the job.' This is used to describe people who are currently employed, regardless of whether they are full-time or part-time.

For those in the gig economy, you might hear 自由职业 (zìyóu zhíyè), meaning 'freelance.' A '自由职业者' (freelancer) might work '全职' hours, but they do not have a '全职' contract with a single company. This is an important distinction in modern China, where many young people are moving away from traditional '全职' roles toward the flexibility of '自由职业.' Additionally, 临时工 (línshígōng) refers to 'temporary workers' or 'casual laborers.' This term is often contrasted with '全职' to highlight the lack of long-term security and benefits.

全职 vs. 自由职业

全职 implies an employer-employee relationship. 自由职业 implies self-employment. Both can be full-time in terms of hours.

In formal administrative language, you might also see 常设 (chángshè), meaning 'standing' or 'permanent,' as in '常设机构' (permanent institution). While not a direct synonym for '全职,' it conveys a similar sense of permanence and 'all-the-time' status. Understanding these distinctions allows you to choose the precise word for the context, whether you are writing a formal report or chatting with a friend about their new side hustle.

Summary Table

全职: Full-time hours. | 兼职: Part-time hours. | 专职: Specialized role. | 在职: Currently employed. | 自由职业: Freelance.