A2 noun 2 min read

招工

The act of searching for and hiring new workers for a job.

zhāogōng

Explanation at your level:

招工 means looking for people to work. If a shop needs a helper, they do 招工. You see this on signs that say 'We are hiring!' It is a simple way to say a company needs more help.

When a factory or a store needs more workers, they start 招工. They put up posters or go online to tell people there is a job. It is the first step to getting a new job.

The term 招工 refers to the recruitment process. It is common for HR departments to manage 招工 activities to ensure the company has enough staff. It involves posting ads, checking resumes, and interviewing candidates.

In a professional context, 招工 is synonymous with talent acquisition. Companies often face challenges in 招工 when the labor market is tight, meaning they have to offer better benefits to attract skilled workers.

Beyond simple hiring, 招工 represents the strategic alignment of human capital. Organizations utilize 招工 to scale their operations and maintain a competitive edge, often integrating advanced analytics to optimize the selection process.

The etymological depth of 招工 reflects the historical necessity of labor organization. From ancient trade guilds to modern multinational conglomerates, the fundamental need to identify and integrate labor remains a cornerstone of societal development and economic stability.

Word in 30 Seconds

  • Means hiring workers
  • Common in business
  • Neutral tone
  • VO structure

When we talk about 招工, we are talking about the heartbeat of a growing business. It is the essential process of finding new talent to help a company reach its goals.

Think of it as an invitation to join a team. Companies use 招工 to fill gaps, expand their operations, or bring in fresh ideas from new employees. It is a vital part of the labor market that keeps our economy moving forward every single day.

The term 招工 comes from Chinese roots where '招' (zhāo) means to beckon, summon, or recruit, and '工' (gōng) refers to labor or work.

Historically, this concept dates back to when guilds or early factories needed to signal to the community that they had work available. Over time, it evolved from simple word-of-mouth announcements to the complex digital recruitment systems we see today. It is a fascinating look at how human cooperation has always required a way to connect workers with tasks.

You will often hear 招工 in business settings or when reading job boards. It is a very functional term used by employers and HR departments.

Common phrases include 招工启事 (recruitment notice) or 招工难 (difficulty in recruiting). While it sounds professional, it is also used in everyday conversation when someone asks, 'Is your company currently hiring?' It sits comfortably in both formal business reports and casual chats between friends looking for work.

1. 广招贤才: Recruiting talent from all walks of life. 2. 虚位以待: Leaving a position open for the right person. 3. 招兵买马: Literally 'recruiting soldiers and buying horses,' often used for growing a team. 4. 筑巢引凤: Creating a good environment to attract talent. 5. 求贤若渴: Being as thirsty for talent as one is for water.

In Chinese, 招工 acts as a verb-object compound that can function as a noun or a verb depending on the sentence structure. The pronunciation is 'zhāo' (first tone) and 'gōng' (first tone).

It is a non-countable concept in the sense that it describes a process. You don't usually say 'a recruitment,' but rather 'the recruitment process.' It rhymes loosely with other 'gōng' words like '成功' (success) or '竣工' (completion), making it easy to remember through sound association.

Fun Fact

The character 招 contains the hand radical, showing the action of waving someone over.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ˈdʒaʊ ɡɒŋ/

Approximation using English sounds.

US /ˈdʒaʊ ɡɔːŋ/

Approximation using English sounds.

Common Errors

  • Mispronouncing tone 1
  • Mixing up zh/z
  • Dropping the ng sound

Rhymes With

成功 竣工 工工 通工 中工

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to read

Writing 2/5

Easy to write

Speaking 2/5

Easy to say

Listening 2/5

Easy to hear

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

工作

Learn Next

面试 简历 录用

Advanced

人才引进 人力资源

Grammar to Know

VO Compound

招 + 工

Noun usage

招工开始

Verb usage

进行招工

Examples by Level

1

The shop is doing 招工.

The shop is hiring.

Used as a verb phrase.

2

招工 is good.

Hiring is good.

Used as a noun.

3

They need 招工.

They need to hire.

Object of need.

4

I saw a 招工 sign.

I saw a hiring sign.

Attributive use.

5

招工 starts today.

Hiring starts today.

Subject of sentence.

6

Help with 招工.

Help with hiring.

Noun phrase.

7

Is there 招工?

Is there hiring?

Question form.

8

We finished 招工.

We finished hiring.

Verb-object completion.

1

The factory started 招工 last week.

2

We need to speed up our 招工 process.

3

Many people applied during the 招工.

4

The 招工 notice is on the door.

5

He is in charge of 招工.

6

They are planning a big 招工 event.

7

The 招工 was very successful.

8

Does this company do 招工?

1

The company's 招工 strategy has changed recently.

2

Due to expansion, they have increased 招工 efforts.

3

The 招工 season usually happens in the spring.

4

He was hired during the latest 招工 round.

5

They are facing a 招工 shortage this year.

6

The 招工 criteria are quite strict.

7

We need to streamline our 招工 procedures.

8

Is 招工 currently open for new applicants?

1

The firm is currently undergoing a massive 招工 drive.

2

Effective 招工 is critical for long-term growth.

3

They are struggling with 招工 in the tech sector.

4

The 招工 process involves multiple interview stages.

5

Management is reviewing the 招工 budget.

6

We need to diversify our 招工 channels.

7

The 招工 policy has been updated.

8

They are prioritizing 招工 for senior roles.

1

The organization's 招工 methodology is highly data-driven.

2

Strategic 招工 is essential for maintaining operational agility.

3

They are mitigating 招工 risks through better branding.

4

The 招工 landscape is shifting toward remote work.

5

We are optimizing our 招工 funnel for better conversion.

6

The 招工 initiative was met with high interest.

7

They are leveraging AI to refine their 招工 approach.

8

The 招工 pipeline is currently at capacity.

1

The systemic 招工 challenges reflect broader labor market trends.

2

Their 招工 philosophy emphasizes cultural fit over raw skill.

3

The 招工 paradigm has shifted significantly in the digital age.

4

They are re-evaluating their 招工 infrastructure for scalability.

5

The 招工 narrative is central to their corporate identity.

6

Addressing 招工 inefficiencies is a top priority.

7

The 招工 ecosystem requires constant adaptation.

8

They are pioneering new methods in 招工.

Common Collocations

进行招工
招工启事
招工难
招工计划
停止招工
大规模招工
招工流程
负责招工
招工条件
招工季节

Idioms & Expressions

"求贤若渴"

eagerly seeking talent

老板求贤若渴,到处招工。

formal

"招兵买马"

building up a team

公司最近在招兵买马。

casual

"虚位以待"

keeping a spot open

我们虚位以待,欢迎人才。

formal

"广招贤才"

widely recruiting talent

我们要广招贤才。

formal

"筑巢引凤"

creating conditions to attract talent

只有筑巢引凤才能招工顺利。

formal

"千金买马骨"

showing sincerity to attract talent

这是一种千金买马骨的招工方式。

literary

Easily Confused

招工 vs 找工作

Sounds similar

找工作 is 'finding a job', 招工 is 'hiring'.

I am 找工作, they are 招工.

招工 vs 招聘

Same meaning

招聘 is more professional/office-oriented.

Office 招聘, Factory 招工.

招工 vs 招人

Casual synonym

招人 is very informal.

Small shop 招人.

招工 vs 雇佣

General hiring

雇佣 is the act of employing.

The company 雇佣了很多人.

Sentence Patterns

A2

Subject + 进行 + 招工

工厂正在进行招工。

B1

Subject + 负责 + 招工

他是负责招工的。

B1

招工 + 的 + 需求

我们有招工的需求。

A2

因为 + 招工 + ...

因为招工,很多人来了。

B2

招工 + 流程 + 是...

招工流程是很长的。

Word Family

Nouns

招聘 recruitment

Verbs

to beckon/recruit

Related

员工 the result of recruitment

How to Use It

frequency

8

Formality Scale

招聘 (Formal) 招工 (Neutral) 招人 (Casual)

Common Mistakes

Using '招工' for buying goods 采购
招工 is for people, 采购 is for goods.
Confusing with '打工' 打工 (working)
招工 is hiring, 打工 is working.
Using as an adjective 招工的
It is a noun, needs '的' to modify.
Pluralizing it 招工
Chinese nouns don't have plurals.
Using for robots 采购设备
People are hired, machines are bought.

Tips

💡

Memory Palace

Visualize a factory gate with a sign.

💡

Context

Use it when talking about business hiring.

🌍

Cultural Insight

Very common in manufacturing hubs.

💡

Grammar Shortcut

It is a VO structure.

💡

Say It Right

Focus on the first tones.

💡

Mistake

Don't confuse with '找工作'.

💡

Fact

It contains the hand radical.

💡

Hack

Use it in a sentence about a company.

💡

Tip

Use '招聘' for office jobs.

💡

Hack

Write a fake job ad.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine waving your hand (招) to a worker (工).

Visual Association

A 'Help Wanted' sign.

Word Web

Job Work Hiring Company Employee

Challenge

Try to spot a 招工 sign in your neighborhood.

Word Origin

Chinese

Original meaning: Beckoning for labor

Cultural Context

None, standard business term.

The English equivalent is 'hiring' or 'recruitment'.

Often seen in business news and job portals.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

At a factory

  • 招工启事
  • 招工条件
  • 招工报名

In HR

  • 优化招工
  • 招工计划
  • 招工渠道

Daily life

  • 你们招工吗
  • 哪里有招工
  • 招工广告

News

  • 招工难
  • 大规模招工
  • 招工政策

Conversation Starters

"Do you know where they are hiring?"

"Is the recruitment process difficult?"

"What are the requirements for the job?"

"Have you seen the hiring sign?"

"Why is it so hard to find workers?"

Journal Prompts

Describe a time you saw a hiring sign.

Why is it important for companies to hire well?

What makes a good job advertisement?

How has hiring changed over time?

Frequently Asked Questions

8 questions

They are very similar, but 招聘 is more common in office settings.

No, it's for companies hiring others.

It is neutral and standard.

No, it is the opposite.

On job boards or factory gates.

It functions as both a noun and a verb-object phrase.

No, you should say 'I am looking for a job' (找工作).

Think of 'beckoning workers'.

Test Yourself

fill blank A1

The company is ___ workers.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: hiring

招工 means hiring.

multiple choice A2

What does 招工 mean?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: Hiring

招工 is the process of hiring.

true false B1

招工 is only for managers.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: False

It applies to all types of workers.

match pairs B1

Word

Meaning

All matched!

Matching terms to meanings.

sentence order B2

Tap words below to build the sentence
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

The recruitment process is difficult.

fill blank A2

We need to ___ a new 招工 plan.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: make

We make a plan.

multiple choice B1

Which is a synonym?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 招聘

招聘 is a synonym for 招工.

true false B2

招工 can be used for buying supplies.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: False

It is only for people.

match pairs C1

Word

Meaning

All matched!

Advanced business terms.

sentence order C2

Tap words below to build the sentence
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

The recruitment strategy is robust.

Score: /10

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