A2 noun Informal #2,000 most common 1 min read

活儿

huo er /xuor/
Practice it

Huor is a colloquial term for a hands-on task or job, best used in informal settings.

Word in 30 Seconds

  • Refers to a specific task or manual labor.
  • Commonly used in informal, everyday conversations.
  • Often paired with the verb 'gan' (to do).

1) 概述：‘活儿’是北方方言中极其常用的词汇，现已广泛普及于全国口语中。它不同于书面语中的‘工作’或‘任务’，它更强调‘动手做’的过程，带有明显的动作属性。

2) 使用模式：‘活儿’常与动词搭配，如‘干活儿’（doing work）、‘找活儿’（looking for a job）、‘没活儿’（no work）。在句中，它通常作为宾语出现，指代某项具体的事务。

3) 常见场景：多用于家庭劳动（如家务活）、手工艺制作（如木工活、缝纫活）或蓝领工作的语境中。当你想表达某人正在忙碌或有待完成的任务时，使用‘活儿’显得非常自然且亲切。

4) 近义词辨析：与‘工作’相比，‘工作’范围更广，可指职业或抽象的事务；而‘活儿’更具体，偏向于体力或技能性的操作。与‘任务’相比，‘任务’带有指令性，而‘活儿’则更像是一种日常劳作。

Examples

1

我今天手头有很多活儿要忙。

everyday

I have a lot of work to do today.

2

这活儿做得真精细。

informal

This work is done very meticulously.

3

干完这摊活儿我们就下班。

informal

We'll finish work after this task.

4

他是个干活儿的好手。

everyday

He is very skilled at manual work.

Common Collocations

干活儿 to do work
找活儿 to look for a job
手头有活儿 to have work on hand

Common Phrases

没活儿干

have no work to do

活儿多

a lot of work

重活儿

heavy manual labor

Often Confused With

活儿 vs 工作

Gongzuo is a formal term for career or professional duties. Huor is colloquial and focuses on the physical action.

活儿 vs 任务

Renwu implies an assigned mission or objective. Huor is more casual and often self-initiated or routine.

Grammar Patterns

干 + 活儿 有 + 活儿 找 + 活儿

How to Use It

Usage Notes

This word is strictly colloquial and should be avoided in writing or formal speeches. It carries a strong northern Chinese influence but is understood everywhere. Always ensure you add the 'er' suffix for natural pronunciation.

Common Mistakes

Learners often forget to add the 'er' suffix, which makes the word sound unnatural. Another mistake is using it in formal emails, which can seem unprofessional. Ensure you use 'gan' as the primary verb.

Tips

💡

Always use the er-hua sound

The word '活儿' must be pronounced with an 'er' sound at the end. It is a hallmark of natural, native-sounding Mandarin.

⚠️

Avoid in professional settings

Never use this word in a resume or an email to your boss. Stick to professional vocabulary like '工作' or '事务'.

🌍

The essence of manual labor

This word reflects the Chinese cultural emphasis on 'getting things done'. It highlights the value of practical, hands-on contribution.

Word Origin

The word originated from northern dialects where adding 'er' is a common linguistic feature. It evolved from the general concept of 'life' (huo) to refer to the 'activities of living' or 'labor'.

Cultural Context

In Chinese culture, 'Huor' emphasizes the value of diligence and being able to 'get one's hands dirty'. It is deeply connected to the traditional working-class lifestyle.

Memory Tip

Think of 'Huor' as 'Hand-work'. Just like you use your hands to do a task, you use 'Huor' to describe the task itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

4 questions

“工作”是一个正式词汇，可以指代职业或抽象的事务。而“活儿”非常口语化，通常指具体的、需要动手完成的体力或技能性任务。

是的，这个词在书写时通常带有“儿”，在口语中必须发儿化音。如果不发儿化音，听起来会非常别扭且不地道。

不建议在正式场合使用。在商务会议、公文写作或正式学术报告中，请使用“工作”、“任务”或“项目”来代替。

“干活儿”是“活儿”最常见的动宾搭配，意思就是“工作”或“做体力活”。这是描述一个人正在进行劳动的最地道表达。

Test Yourself

fill blank

他今天在工地忙着干___，没时间接电话。

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 活儿

在工地干体力活，使用口语化的“活儿”最地道。

multiple choice

请选出正确的动宾搭配：

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 干活儿

“干”是搭配“活儿”最常用的动词，意为从事劳动。

sentence building

今天 / 很多 / 我 / 活儿 / 有

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 我今天有很多活儿。

符合中文主谓宾的基本语序。

Score: /3

Related Content

This Word in Other Languages

작업 Korean 働く Japanese
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