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B1 verb #1,500 most common 8 min read

加班

jiaban Top 1,500

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 加班 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 加班 in your Level:

At the A1 level, learners are introduced to 加班 (jiā bān) as a simple, fixed vocabulary item meaning 'to work overtime.' It is taught alongside basic daily routines and time expressions. Beginners learn to recognize the characters 加 (add) and 班 (class/shift) and combine them to understand the concept of adding work hours. At this stage, learners are not expected to master the complex grammar of separable verbs. Instead, they learn to use 加班 as an intransitive verb at the end of simple sentences. For example, they can say '我加班' (I work overtime) or '明天我加班' (Tomorrow I work overtime). They learn to pair it with basic time words like 今天 (today), 明天 (tomorrow), and 周末 (weekend). The focus is purely on communication of a basic fact: the inability to attend a social event or the reason for being busy. Teachers often introduce it as a useful excuse phrase. A1 learners might also learn the negative form, '不加班' (not working overtime), which is highly useful for making plans. The cultural weight of the word is not deeply explored at this level; it is simply treated as a practical word for navigating daily schedules and basic workplace conversations. Pronunciation practice focuses on the two first tones (jiā bān), ensuring clear and flat delivery. By the end of A1, a student should be able to understand when a Chinese friend says 'Sorry, I cannot meet you today, I need to jiā bān.'

At the A2 level, learners begin to use 加班 with more complexity, integrating it with adverbs of frequency, modal verbs, and basic conjunctions. They move beyond simple statements and start expressing necessity and frequency. Students learn to use modal verbs like 要 (yào - to want/need), 得 (děi - have to), and 必须 (bì xū - must) before 加班. For example, '我今天得加班' (I have to work overtime today) becomes a standard phrase in their repertoire. They also learn to express how often they work overtime using adverbs like 经常 (jīng cháng - often), 总是 (zǒng shì - always), or 很少 (hěn shǎo - rarely). A2 learners start to connect sentences to provide reasons, using 因为...所以... (because... so...). For instance, '因为工作很多，所以我经常加班' (Because there is a lot of work, I often work overtime). While they might still make mistakes regarding its separable nature, they are introduced to the concept that 加班 is an action related to work. They also begin to learn related vocabulary like 下班 (xià bān - get off work) and 上班 (shàng bān - go to work), forming a complete picture of the daily work cycle. The cultural context is slightly expanded, with learners understanding that overtime is a very common occurrence in China, especially in cities. They can engage in short dialogues about their work schedules and express basic feelings about working overtime, such as '我不喜欢加班' (I don't like working overtime).

At the B1 level, 加班 becomes a critical vocabulary item, especially for learners focusing on business Chinese or preparing for exams like the IELTS General equivalent in Chinese (e.g., HSK 4/5). The most significant leap at this level is mastering the grammar of 加班 as a separable verb (离合词). Learners must unlearn the habit of treating it as a normal verb and start inserting duration and frequency modifiers between 加 and 班. They learn the structure '加 + 了 + duration + 的 + 班' (e.g., 加了两个小时的班 - worked two hours of overtime). They also learn the verb-copying structure '加班加了两个小时'. This grammatical precision is what distinguishes a B1 learner from a beginner. Furthermore, B1 learners expand their vocabulary to include common collocations like 加班费 (overtime pay) and 加班加点 (working extra hours). They can discuss the reasons for overtime in more detail, using professional vocabulary like 项目 (project), 老板 (boss), and 截止日期 (deadline). The cultural understanding deepens significantly; learners are introduced to the concept of '996' work culture and the societal pressures surrounding overtime in China. They can express nuanced opinions about work-life balance, complain about excessive overtime, and understand news articles or social media posts discussing labor conditions. They can write emails to colleagues explaining their overtime status or requesting overtime pay, demonstrating practical, real-world application of the word.

At the B2 level, learners use 加班 fluently and naturally in a wide variety of contexts, demonstrating full control over its grammatical quirks and cultural implications. They effortlessly use it as a separable verb, even in complex sentence structures involving relative clauses or passive voice concepts. They can seamlessly integrate it into conditional sentences, such as '如果周末不加班，我们就去爬山' (If we don't work overtime this weekend, we will go hiking). B2 learners are comfortable using idiomatic expressions related to overtime, such as 熬夜加班 (staying up all night working overtime) or 疯狂加班 (crazy overtime). They can engage in extended debates or discussions about the ethics and economics of the overtime culture in modern China, comparing it with work cultures in their home countries. They understand the subtle emotional undertones when native speakers use the word—whether it's used as a humblebrag about being important to the company, a genuine cry for help due to burnout, or a resigned acceptance of the status quo. In writing, they can produce formal reports or essays discussing the impact of 加班 on employee mental health or company productivity. They also recognize and use derived terms like 加班狗 (overtime dog - a self-deprecating term for overworked employees) in informal, colloquial settings, showing a high degree of sociolinguistic competence and cultural integration.

At the C1 level, the use of 加班 is highly sophisticated, abstract, and deeply embedded in sociopolitical and economic discourse. Learners at this stage do not just talk about the act of working overtime; they analyze the systemic causes and societal consequences of the '加班文化' (overtime culture). They can read and fully comprehend academic papers, legal documents regarding labor laws (劳动法), and complex journalistic pieces detailing disputes over 加班费 (overtime compensation) or the phenomenon of '内卷' (involution). They can articulate nuanced arguments about how excessive 加班 affects national birth rates, consumer spending, and overall societal well-being. Grammatically, they can manipulate the word in highly literary or formal structures, using it as a nominalized subject or object in complex rhetorical arguments. They understand historical shifts in Chinese work culture and can discuss how the perception of 加班 has evolved from a symbol of socialist dedication in the past to a controversial aspect of modern hyper-capitalism. They can employ irony, sarcasm, and advanced metaphors when discussing overtime, perfectly mirroring the complex attitudes of native-speaking professionals. Their vocabulary includes highly specific terms like 隐性加班 (hidden overtime - e.g., answering WeChat messages at home) and 弹性工作制 (flexible working hours) as counterpoints to traditional overtime.

At the C2 level, mastery of 加班 is indistinguishable from that of a highly educated native speaker. The learner possesses an intuitive, flawless command of the word in all its grammatical, pragmatic, and cultural dimensions. They can effortlessly navigate the most subtle registers, knowing exactly when to use 加班 in a formal legal deposition regarding labor rights versus when to use it in a sarcastic, self-deprecating meme on social media. They can invent new, contextually appropriate metaphors or wordplay involving 加班. Their understanding encompasses the psychological toll of chronic overtime, the legal loopholes companies use to avoid paying 加班费, and the broader macroeconomic implications of a labor force driven by mandatory extra hours. They can deliver compelling, spontaneous public speeches or write publishable op-eds critiquing the systemic nature of '996' and advocating for labor reform, using 加班 as a central thematic anchor. They intuitively grasp the unspoken social contracts in Chinese corporate environments where leaving on time is penalized, and they can articulate these invisible dynamics with precision and eloquence. At this ultimate level of proficiency, 加班 is not just a vocabulary word; it is a lens through which the learner can deconstruct and analyze the entirety of modern Chinese socioeconomic life.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

加班 in 30 Seconds

Means 'to work overtime'.
Separable verb (离合词).
Highly frequent in workplace.
Key to '996' work culture.

The Chinese word 加班 (jiā bān) is a highly frequent and culturally significant verb that translates to 'working overtime' or 'working extra shifts.' To fully grasp its meaning, we must break down its constituent characters and examine the cultural context in which it operates. The first character, 加 (jiā), means 'to add,' 'to increase,' or 'plus.' It is a versatile character found in words like 增加 (to increase) and 加油 (to cheer on / add oil). The second character, 班 (bān), translates to 'class,' 'team,' or 'shift/work.' When combined, 加班 literally means 'to add a shift' or 'to add work hours.' In modern Chinese society, this word has taken on immense weight due to the fast-paced nature of economic development and the notorious '996' work culture prevalent in many tech companies and corporate environments. Working overtime is not merely a contractual anomaly; in many contexts, it is an expected demonstration of dedication and loyalty to the company.

Literal Translation: 加 (add) + 班 (shift) = to add a shift / work overtime.

今天晚上我需要加班。

Beyond the literal meaning, 加班 carries emotional connotations ranging from mild annoyance to severe burnout. Employees often use it to express exhaustion, bonding over the shared struggle of long hours. The term is deeply embedded in the vocabulary of the '打工人' (dǎ gōng rén - working people), a self-deprecating internet slang term for employees.

Cultural Nuance: In some companies, leaving exactly at the end of the official work day is frowned upon, making 加班 a daily reality rather than an exception.

老板要求我们周末加班。

The concept of overtime is also tied to compensation. While labor laws stipulate 加班费 (overtime pay), many salaried employees work 'voluntary' overtime without extra financial reward, driven by the pressure of '内卷' (involution/intense competition).

如果没有加班费，谁愿意干？

Understanding 加班 is crucial for anyone engaging with Chinese professionals, reading Chinese news, or watching modern Chinese dramas, as it forms the backdrop of countless narratives about modern life, ambition, and the pursuit of success.

Emotional Context: Often associated with sighs, coffee, late-night takeout, and a sense of duty mixed with resignation.

连续加班一个月，我快崩溃了。

为了完成项目，整个团队都在加班。

In summary, 加班 is more than just a translation of 'overtime'; it is a cultural touchstone that reflects the relentless drive and the immense pressures of the contemporary Chinese workforce. It is a word you will hear in elevators, see in WeChat moments, and read in economic reports, making it an indispensable part of your B1 vocabulary arsenal.

Using 加班 (jiā bān) correctly requires understanding a fundamental grammatical concept in Chinese: the separable verb, or 离合词 (lí hé cí). A separable verb consists of a verb (加) and an object (班). Because the word already contains its own object, you cannot simply attach another object to it. For example, you cannot say '加班工作' (to overtime work) as a verb phrase; you just say '加班'. Furthermore, when you want to specify the duration of the overtime, the time phrase must be inserted *between* the two characters, or you must repeat the verb.

Grammar Rule: Duration: Insert duration between 加 and 班: 加 + duration + 的 + 班.

我昨天加了三个小时的加班。(Incorrect) -> 我昨天加了三个小时的班。(Correct)

This is the most common stumbling block for learners. You can also use the verb-copying structure: 加班加了三个小时. Both are perfectly natural.

Common Collocations: 加班费 (overtime pay), 加班加点 (work extra hours and extra shifts), 疯狂加班 (crazy overtime).

这个月公司不发加班费。

You will frequently use 加班 with modal verbs like 要 (want to / need to), 得 (děi - have to), and 不想 (don't want to). For example, '我今天得加班' (I have to work overtime today).

对不起，今晚我得加班，不能陪你吃饭了。

In professional communication, such as emails or WeChat messages to colleagues, 加班 is used straightforwardly. It is not considered slang, but rather standard vocabulary suitable for all registers.

Adverbial Usage: You can use it to describe how something is done: 加班完成 (complete by working overtime).

大家都在加班加点地赶进度。

他经常加班到深夜。

Mastering the usage of 加班, particularly its separable nature, will significantly elevate the naturalness of your spoken and written Chinese, especially in workplace contexts.

The word 加班 (jiā bān) permeates almost every aspect of adult life in Chinese-speaking regions, particularly in urban centers like Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Taipei. You will hear it most frequently in office environments, where it is a staple of daily conversation. Colleagues will greet each other on Friday afternoons with questions like '周末加班吗？' (Are you working overtime this weekend?). It is a common topic around the water cooler, in the pantry, and during lunch breaks.

Tech Industry: In tech hubs, 加班 is synonymous with the 996 culture. It is a badge of honor and a source of extreme stress.

在互联网公司，加班是常态。

Beyond the office, you will hear it in social settings. When friends try to organize a dinner or a gathering, 加班 is the most frequently cited reason for absence or tardiness. It acts as a universal, unquestioned excuse because everyone understands the lack of control an employee has over their overtime schedule.

Media and Pop Culture: Modern Chinese dramas, reality shows, and stand-up comedy frequently use 加班 as a plot device or punchline.

电视剧里的主角总是在加班。

You will also encounter it extensively on social media platforms like Weibo, Xiaohongshu, and WeChat Moments. People post pictures of their office buildings lit up at midnight with captions complaining about or ironically celebrating their 加班 status.

朋友圈里又有人发了深夜加班的照片。

Family Life: Spouses and parents frequently discuss 加班 when coordinating childcare or dinner plans.

爸爸今天又要加班，我们先吃吧。

面试官问我是否愿意偶尔加班。

In essence, 加班 is the soundtrack of the modern Chinese professional's life, echoing from corporate boardrooms to family dining tables.

When learning 加班 (jiā bān), students frequently make several predictable errors, primarily stemming from direct translation from English and a misunderstanding of Chinese separable verbs (离合词). The most glaring mistake is treating 加班 as a standard transitive verb that can take a direct object. In English, you might say 'I am working overtime on this project.' Direct translation leads learners to say '我加班这个项目' (wǒ jiā bān zhè ge xiàng mù). This is grammatically incorrect. Because 班 is already the object of 加, you cannot add another object.

Mistake 1: Adding an Object: Incorrect: 加班工作. Correct: 为了工作加班 (work overtime for the job).

为了这个项目，我必须加班。

Another widespread error involves expressing duration. In English, we say 'I worked overtime for three hours.' Learners often translate this as '我加班了三个小时' (wǒ jiā bān le sān ge xiǎo shí). While native speakers will understand this, and it is sometimes used colloquially, it is grammatically flawed in standard Chinese. The correct structure requires splitting the verb and object: '我加了三个小时的班' (wǒ jiā le sān ge xiǎo shí de bān).

Mistake 2: Duration Placement: Incorrect: 加班两个小时. Correct: 加了两个小时的班.

昨天我加了两个小时的班。

A third mistake is using 加班 when referring to studying late. 加班 is strictly for professional work or shifts. If a student stays up late to study, they are 熬夜 (áo yè - staying up late) or 开夜车 (kāi yè chē - burning the midnight oil), not 加班.

学生不能说自己为了考试加班。

Mistake 3: Wrong Context: Using 加班 for homework or personal chores. It must be official employment work.

只有工作的人才会加班。

别把熬夜学习说成加班。

By avoiding these common pitfalls—respecting its separable nature, placing duration correctly, and restricting its use to professional contexts—you will sound much more like a native speaker.

While 加班 (jiā bān) is the standard term for working overtime, there are several related words and expressions in Chinese that convey similar ideas but with distinct nuances. Understanding these distinctions is key to expanding your vocabulary and expressing yourself precisely. One of the most common related terms is 熬夜 (áo yè), which means 'to stay up late' or 'to stay up all night.' While 加班 often causes you to 熬夜, they are not synonymous. 熬夜 can be for any reason—playing video games, studying, or partying—whereas 加班 is strictly for work.

熬夜 (áo yè): To stay up late. Broader than 加班. You can 熬夜 to watch a movie, but you only 加班 for work.

我昨晚熬夜了，因为一直在加班。

Another related term is 值班 (zhí bān), which means 'to be on duty' or 'to work a shift.' This is often used in professions that require 24/7 coverage, such as doctors, nurses, security guards, or customer service representatives. 值班 is part of your regular schedule, even if it falls on a weekend or a holiday, whereas 加班 implies hours worked *in addition* to your regular schedule.

值班 (zhí bān): To be on duty. Scheduled work, not extra work.

今天轮到我值班，不是加班。

You might also hear 倒班 (dǎo bān), which means 'to work in shifts' (e.g., rotating between day and night shifts). For extreme, continuous overtime, people use the idiom 开夜车 (kāi yè chē), literally 'driving a night car,' which means burning the midnight oil.

为了赶报告，他连续三天开夜车加班。

加点 (jiā diǎn): Often used together as 加班加点, meaning to work extra hours to rush a job.

工人们正在加班加点地修建医院。

不要把值班和加班混淆了。

Differentiating between 加班, 熬夜, and 值班 will make your Chinese much more precise and demonstrate a clear understanding of workplace vocabulary.

How Formal Is It?

Difficulty Rating

Grammar to Know

Separable Verbs (离合词)

Expressing Duration (Time Complements)

Using 得 for necessity

Verb-copying structure

Passive voice with 被 (for forced overtime)

Examples by Level

我今天加班。

I work overtime today.

Simple subject + time + verb structure.

明天我不加班。

I don't work overtime tomorrow.

Negative form using 不 (bù).

你周末加班吗？

Do you work overtime on the weekend?

Yes/no question using 吗 (ma).

爸爸在加班。

Dad is working overtime.

Using 在 (zài) to indicate an ongoing action.

我们经常加班。

We often work overtime.

Using the adverb 经常 (often).

他不想加班。

He doesn't want to work overtime.

Using the modal verb 想 (want).

晚上要加班。

Need to work overtime at night.

Using 要 (need to/will).

加班很累。

Working overtime is very tiring.

Using 加班 as a subject.

因为工作太多，所以我得加班。

Because there is too much work, I have to work overtime.

Using 因为...所以... (because... so...).

他每个星期六都加班。

He works overtime every Saturday.

Using 每...都... (every... all...).

你昨天加班到几点？

Until what time did you work overtime yesterday?

Asking about time with 到几点 (until what time).

虽然很累，但是必须加班。

Although very tired, I must work overtime.

Using 虽然...但是... (although... but...).

我们公司很少加班。

Our company rarely works overtime.

Using 很少 (rarely).

老板让我们今天加班。

The boss asked us to work overtime today.

Using 让 (to let/ask someone to do something).

加班以后，我去吃晚饭。

After working overtime, I went to eat dinner.

Using 以后 (after).

如果明天加班，我就不去了。

If I work overtime tomorrow, I won't go.

Using 如果...就... (if... then...).

我昨天加了三个小时的班。

I worked three hours of overtime yesterday.

Separable verb structure: 加 + 了 + duration + 的 + 班.

为了完成这个项目，大家都在加班加点。

In order to finish this project, everyone is working extra hours.

Using 为了 (in order to) and the idiom 加班加点.

这个月公司会发加班费吗？

Will the company pay overtime pay this month?

Vocabulary collocation: 加班费 (overtime pay).

连续加班让我觉得压力很大。

Continuous overtime makes me feel very stressed.

Using 连续 (continuous) and 让 (to make/cause).

他宁可辞职也不愿意天天加班。

He would rather resign than work overtime every day.

Using 宁可...也不... (would rather... than...).

按照劳动法，周末加班应该有双倍工资。

According to labor laws, weekend overtime should have double pay.

Using 按照 (according to) and professional vocabulary.

我加班加得头都疼了。

I worked overtime so much that my head hurts.

Verb-copying with degree complement: 加班加得...

不好意思，今晚临时要加班，聚餐我去不了了。

Sorry, I have to work overtime temporarily tonight, I can't go to the dinner.

Using 临时 (temporarily/last minute) and potential complement 去不了.

在当前的就业环境下，无偿加班似乎成了一种潜规则。

In the current employment environment, unpaid overtime seems to have become an unspoken rule.

Advanced vocabulary: 无偿 (unpaid), 潜规则 (unspoken rule).

与其抱怨加班，不如提高工作效率。

Rather than complaining about overtime, it's better to improve work efficiency.

Using 与其...不如... (rather than... it's better to...).

这种长期的高强度加班，对员工的身心健康极为不利。

This kind of long-term, high-intensity overtime is extremely detrimental to employees' physical and mental health.

Formal structure: 对...极为不利 (extremely detrimental to...).

即使给再多的加班费，我也无法接受牺牲所有的个人时间。

Even if given more overtime pay, I cannot accept sacrificing all my personal time.

Using 即使...也... (even if... still...).

他因为拒绝周末加班而被主管批评了。

He was criticized by the supervisor for refusing to work overtime on the weekend.

Passive voice using 被 (bèi) and 因为...而... structure.

互联网大厂的加班文化一直备受争议。

The overtime culture of major tech companies has always been highly controversial.

Vocabulary: 大厂 (major tech company), 备受争议 (highly controversial).

我昨天加班到凌晨两点，今天整个人都是懵的。

I worked overtime until 2 AM yesterday, today I am completely dazed.

Colloquial expression: 懵的 (dazed/confused).

合理安排时间可以有效避免不必要的加班。

Reasonably arranging time can effectively avoid unnecessary overtime.

Formal phrasing: 有效避免 (effectively avoid).

隐性加班模糊了工作与生活的边界，使得员工随时处于待命状态。

Hidden overtime blurs the boundary between work and life, leaving employees constantly on standby.

Advanced concepts: 隐性加班 (hidden overtime), 待命状态 (standby status).

企业不应将员工的无偿加班视为理所当然，而应建立科学的绩效评估体系。

Enterprises should not take employees' unpaid overtime for granted, but should establish a scientific performance evaluation system.

Formal argumentative structure: 不应...而应... (should not... but should...).

在内卷日益严重的今天，准时下班反而成了一种奢侈，加班则沦为常态。

Today, with involution becoming increasingly severe, getting off work on time has instead become a luxury, while overtime has degenerated into the norm.

Societal vocabulary: 内卷 (involution), 沦为常态 (degenerate into the norm).

劳动法对于加班时长的限制，在实际执行中往往大打折扣。

The labor law's restrictions on overtime hours are often greatly compromised in actual implementation.

Idiom: 大打折扣 (greatly compromised/discounted).

过度推崇加班文化，本质上是对员工合法权益的漠视与剥削。

Excessively praising overtime culture is essentially a disregard for and exploitation of employees' legitimate rights and interests.

Academic/analytical vocabulary: 漠视 (disregard), 剥削 (exploitation).

面对无休止的加班，越来越多的年轻人开始选择‘躺平’以示抗议。

Faced with endless overtime, more and more young people are choosing to 'lie flat' as a form of protest.

Cultural slang: 躺平 (lying flat).

只有打破以加班时长论英雄的畸形评价机制，才能真正激发团队的创造力。

Only by breaking the distorted evaluation mechanism that judges heroes by overtime hours can the team's creativity be truly stimulated.

Complex condition: 只有...才能... (only if... can...).

他试图通过法律途径讨回被拖欠的巨额加班费，但维权之路异常艰难。

He attempted to recover the huge amount of unpaid overtime pay through legal channels, but the path to defending his rights was exceptionally difficult.

Legal vocabulary: 维权 (defend rights), 拖欠 (in arrears).

将加班异化为企业忠诚度的试金石，实则是管理层无能与战略匮乏的遮羞布。

Alienating overtime into a touchstone for corporate loyalty is, in reality, a fig leaf for management's incompetence and lack of strategy.

Highly literary and critical vocabulary: 异化 (alienate), 试金石 (touchstone), 遮羞布 (fig leaf).

在资本逐利的逻辑下，劳动者的剩余价值被通过制度化的强制加班榨取殆尽。

Under the logic of capital's pursuit of profit, the surplus value of laborers is squeezed dry through institutionalized mandatory overtime.

Marxist economic terminology: 剩余价值 (surplus value), 榨取殆尽 (squeezed dry).

那种鼓吹‘福报论’以粉饰剥削本质的加班话语体系，正遭到新一代职场人的强烈唾弃。

That overtime discourse system which preaches the 'blessing theory' to whitewash the essence of exploitation is being strongly spurned by the new generation of professionals.

Cultural reference: 福报论 (blessing theory - Jack Ma's comment on 996).

亟待构建一种新型的劳资博弈机制，以遏制资方在加班问题上的肆意妄为。

There is an urgent need to construct a new type of labor-management bargaining mechanism to curb the reckless behavior of employers regarding the overtime issue.

Formal policy language: 亟待 (urgent need), 劳资博弈 (labor-management bargaining).

当加班从一种应急手段蜕变为一种结构性暴力时，整个社会的创新活力便会被彻底扼杀。

When overtime degenerates from an emergency measure into a form of structural violence, the innovative vitality of the entire society will be completely stifled.

Sociological concepts: 结构性暴力 (structural violence), 蜕变 (degenerate/transform).

破除加班迷信，不仅关乎劳动者尊严的捍卫，更是经济向高质量发展转型的必由之路。

Eradicating the superstition of overtime is not only about defending the dignity of laborers, but also the necessary path for the economy to transition towards high-quality development.

Macroeconomic rhetoric: 必由之路 (necessary path), 高质量发展 (high-quality development).

他那篇针砭时弊、痛批畸形加班文化的檄文，在网络上引发了现象级的共鸣。

His polemic that critiqued current social ills and harshly criticized the distorted overtime culture triggered a phenomenal resonance on the internet.

Literary terms: 针砭时弊 (critique social ills), 檄文 (polemic/call to arms).

在探讨人口负增长的深层诱因时，无休止的加班所导致的生育意愿断崖式下跌是不容忽视的变量。

When exploring the deep-seated causes of negative population growth, the cliff-like drop in willingness to have children caused by endless overtime is an unignorable variable.

Demographic and statistical terminology: 断崖式下跌 (cliff-like drop), 变量 (variable).

Synonyms

加点熬夜延时工作

Antonyms

休假准时下班

Common Collocations

加班费

加班加点

疯狂加班

无偿加班

周末加班

连续加班

隐性加班

拒绝加班

强制加班

加班狗

Common Phrases

今天得加班

周末加班吗

加了三个小时的班

加班到深夜

没有加班费

不想加班

天天加班

为了项目加班

经常加班

又加班了

Often Confused With

加班 vs 熬夜 (staying up late)

加班 vs 值班 (being on duty)

加班 vs 下班 (getting off work)

Idioms & Expressions

"加班加点"

"废寝忘食"

"夜以继日"

"通宵达旦"

"披星戴月"

"日理万机"

"起早贪黑"

"焚膏继晷"

"宵衣旰食"

"夙兴夜寐"

Easily Confused

加班 vs

Sentence Patterns

Word Family

增加

加入

加油

上班

下班

班级

航班

How to Use It

note

Do not use 加班 for studying or doing homework. It is strictly for employment or official duties.

Common Mistakes

Saying '我加班三个小时' instead of '我加了三个小时的班'.
Saying '我加班工作' instead of '为了工作加班'.
Using '加班' to mean studying late for an exam.
Pronouncing 'ban' with a falling tone instead of a high flat tone.
Confusing '加班' (extra work) with '值班' (scheduled duty shift).

Tips

Split the Verb

Always remember that 加班 is a separable verb. When adding time, split it: 加 + time + 的 + 班.

The 996 Culture

Understand that 加班 is a sensitive and prevalent topic in China. It's not just a word; it's a lifestyle for many.

Overtime Pay

Learn the word 加班费 (jiā bān fèi). It's crucial if you ever work in China and want to ask about compensation.

Not for Studying

Never use 加班 to describe doing homework. Use 熬夜 (áo yè) instead.

Tone Practice

Both characters are first tone: jiā bān. Keep your voice high and flat for both syllables.

Working Extra Hard

Use the phrase 加班加点 (jiā bān jiā diǎn) to emphasize that you are working extra hours and extra shifts to get something done.

The Ultimate Excuse

If you want to cancel plans politely in China, saying '我要加班' is almost never questioned.

Saying Xinkule

Always reply with '辛苦了' when someone complains to you about 加班.

Verb Copying

If splitting the verb feels unnatural, use the verb-copying method: 我加班加了三个小时. It's perfectly correct.

Hidden Overtime

Learn the term 隐性加班 (yǐn xìng jiā bān) for when you have to answer work messages at home but aren't officially at work.

Memorize It

Word Origin

加 (jiā) originally meant 'to add' or 'to apply force'. 班 (bān) originally referred to dividing jade, later evolving to mean a group, class, or a scheduled shift. Combined, it literally means 'to add a shift'.

Cultural Context

A work schedule common in tech companies: 9am to 9pm, 6 days a week.

Involution; the rat race that forces everyone to work harder for the same reward, leading to endless overtime.

Working people; a self-deprecating term used by office workers who suffer through constant overtime.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Conversation Starters

"你这周加班多吗？"

"你们公司有加班费吗？"

"如果老板让你周末加班，你会怎么做？"

"你觉得加班文化合理吗？"

"你最晚加班到几点？"

Journal Prompts

Describe a time you had to work overtime. How did you feel?

Write about the pros and cons of the '996' work culture.

If you were a boss, how would you handle overtime in your company?

Write a polite email in Chinese refusing to work overtime on a weekend.

Compare the overtime culture in your country with that in China.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, this is grammatically incorrect. '加班' already contains the object '班' (shift/work). You cannot add another object like '工作' directly after it. If you want to specify what you are working on, say '为了这个工作加班' (work overtime for this job).

You must split the verb. Say '我加了两个小时的班'. Do not say '我加班了两个小时'. Alternatively, you can use the verb-copying structure: '我加班加了两个小时'.

No. In fact, in modern Chinese contexts, '加班' very frequently refers to unpaid, mandatory extra hours. If you want to specify paid overtime, you would discuss '加班费' (overtime pay).

Generally, no. If a student stays up late to study or do homework, they should use '熬夜' (stay up late) or '开夜车' (burn the midnight oil). '加班' implies an official job or shift.

'加班' means working extra hours beyond your normal schedule. '值班' means being on duty during a scheduled shift, often used for doctors, guards, or 24/7 services. '值班' is part of your normal hours, even if it's at night.

The most common and natural way is to ask '你今天加班吗？' (Are you working overtime today?) or '周末要加班吗？' (Do you need to work overtime this weekend?).

No, '加班' is standard Chinese vocabulary. It is used in formal legal documents, news reports, and casual conversation alike. However, terms derived from it, like '加班狗' (overtime dog), are slang.

'996' is a notorious work schedule in China (9 AM to 9 PM, 6 days a week). It is the ultimate embodiment of extreme '加班' culture, particularly in the tech industry. Discussing '加班' often leads to discussions about '996'.

You can say '不好意思，我今晚有点私事，不能加班' (Sorry, I have some personal matters tonight, I can't work overtime). It's polite but firm. However, in some corporate cultures, declining is difficult.

The most culturally appropriate and empathetic response is '辛苦了' (xīn kǔ le), which means 'You've worked hard' or 'Thanks for your hard work'. It shows sympathy for their situation.