To work for money, often implying a temporary, manual, or part-time job.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Refers to working for wages, often temporary or manual.
- Commonly used for part-time jobs or migrant labor.
- Informal term reflecting the struggle for livelihood.
常见语境：最常见于学生寒暑假兼职、农村劳动力进城务工（农民工），以及职场人士在主业之外寻求副业的场景。它带有一定的社会经济色彩，反映了劳动者为了改善生活条件而付出的努力。
- 1近义词辨析：“工作”是一个中性、正式的词，适用于所有职业；“上班”侧重于指代朝九晚五的固定作息；而“打工”则带有明显的非正式色彩，强调的是劳动与报酬之间的直接交换关系，有时甚至包含一种“为人雇佣”的卑微感或艰辛感。
Examples
我暑假在奶茶店打工。
everydayI worked part-time at a milk tea shop during summer vacation.
他背井离乡去大城市打工。
formalHe left his hometown to work in the big city.
打工好累啊，我想辞职。
informalWorking is so tiring, I want to quit.
许多年轻人选择通过打工积累社会经验。
academicMany young people choose to gain social experience through part-time work.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
打工人
Worker (internet slang)
打工魂
The spirit of working hard
打工度假
Working holiday
Often Confused With
Refers to going to a fixed job with a specific schedule. It is more about the routine than the act of earning money.
A neutral and formal term for any professional task. It can be used in any situation, unlike '打工'.
Grammar Patterns
How to Use It
Usage Notes
The term '打工' is highly informal and is generally used to describe manual or low-level service labor. It is rarely used in professional business settings or on formal resumes. Using it to describe a high-status job can sound self-deprecating or sarcastic.
Common Mistakes
Learners often use '打工' for any type of job, including professional careers, which sounds unnatural. Remember that it implies a sense of working for someone else for a wage, often on a temporary basis. Do not use it as a direct translation for 'profession'.
Tips
Use in casual conversations
Use this word when talking with friends about your part-time job. Avoid using it in formal job interviews or official documents.
Do not use for professional roles
Referring to a high-level corporate position as '打工' can sound self-deprecating or unprofessional. Use '工作' instead.
The 'Migrant Worker' context
In China, '打工' is deeply associated with rural-to-urban migration. It represents a massive social movement of people seeking better opportunities.
Word Origin
The term originated from Cantonese and spread across China during the rapid urbanization of the 1980s and 90s. It reflects the era of migrant workers leaving rural areas to work in factories.
Cultural Context
In modern Chinese culture, '打工' is often used in internet slang like '打工人' (worker), which creates a sense of camaraderie among young professionals facing high-pressure work environments. It is a way to express solidarity and humor regarding the hardships of daily employment.
Memory Tip
Think of '打' (hit/do) + '工' (work). It sounds like you are 'beating' the work to get paid. It's the word of the 'working class'!
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questions“工作”是一个中性词，指代任何职业活动；而“打工”语气更口语化，通常指代体力劳动、临时工或为了赚钱而进行的基层工作。
当然可以。学生在假期做兼职赚取零花钱，通常被称为“打工”。
这是对“打工者”的口语化称呼，通常指在城市里从事体力劳动或基层工作的男性青年。
不建议。在简历或正式场合，应使用“实习”、“兼职”或“工作经历”等更专业的词汇。
Test Yourself
暑假的时候，我打算去餐厅___。
暑假兼职属于临时性工作，用“打工”最贴切。
哪种描述最符合“打工”的含义？
“打工”通常指基层或临时性的体力劳动。
为了/我/赚钱/去/打工/外地
标准的中文语序是：主语+目的+动作。
Score: /3
Summary
To work for money, often implying a temporary, manual, or part-time job.
- Refers to working for wages, often temporary or manual.
- Commonly used for part-time jobs or migrant labor.
- Informal term reflecting the struggle for livelihood.
Use in casual conversations
Use this word when talking with friends about your part-time job. Avoid using it in formal job interviews or official documents.
Do not use for professional roles
Referring to a high-level corporate position as '打工' can sound self-deprecating or unprofessional. Use '工作' instead.
The 'Migrant Worker' context
In China, '打工' is deeply associated with rural-to-urban migration. It represents a massive social movement of people seeking better opportunities.
Examples
4 of 4我暑假在奶茶店打工。
I worked part-time at a milk tea shop during summer vacation.
他背井离乡去大城市打工。
He left his hometown to work in the big city.
打工好累啊，我想辞职。
Working is so tiring, I want to quit.
许多年轻人选择通过打工积累社会经验。
Many young people choose to gain social experience through part-time work.
