Picture a T-square: one bar across the top, one straight line dropping down. That shape is 工. The ancient form showed a tool used to measure and square up wood, and that's how it picked up meanings of work, craft, and labor. Some scholars argue for a blade or a loom part instead, but the tool story is the one most textbooks go with.
工 can't stand alone. 我的工 sounds broken to native ears, because 工 only lives inside bigger words.
Jobs get counted with 份, not the default 个. 一个工作 sounds like you're counting bricks.
The place comes before 工作. 我工作在银行 is the classic English word-order leak.
No. 工 is a building block, not a word — you need 工作.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Saying 'my job' | 我的工作很忙 | 我的工很忙 |
| Saying 'I'm going to work' | 我去工作 | 我去工 |
| Any everyday sentence | 工作 / 工人 | 工 by itself |
打工 is wage work for someone else; 工作 is the neutral, all-purpose word.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning 'a job' (noun) | 我的工作不错 | 我的打工不错 |
| A student's part-time gig | 他放假去打工 | 他放假去工作 |
| A career position | 我在公司工作 | 我在公司打工 |
Say 我在工作. 工作 is already a verb, so 做工作 sounds off.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Happening right now | 我在工作 | 我做工作 |
| Talking about your job | 我的工作很忙 | 我的做工作很忙 |
| Where you work | 我在银行工作 | 我工作在银行 |
This heartwarming story reveals the quiet devotion of a father. As you read, notice the repeated actions and how a simple cup of tea becomes meaningful.
常大中在一个饭店里 工作 。
老先生看看大中，对大中说：“五年前，我儿子也在这家饭店 工作 。
现在，他去北京 工作 了。
Follow Dazhong, a busy worker in China, as he finds warmth and kindness at a small noodle shop. Practice everyday words for food, weather, and expressing gratitude.
大中一个人在中国 工作 。
他 工作 很忙，天天回家都很晚。
大中有太多的 工作 ，晚上十点下班。
Meet Gao Youpeng, a friendly Beijing coworker who welcomes the narrator with local dishes and a simple language-exchange plan. This warm HSK 2 story is perfect for first readings about work and friendship.
今天是我到中为公司 工作 的第五天。
他也在中为公司 工作 ，但是因为周一我来公司的时候，他去上海了，所以我没有看见他。
This playful poem turns numbers into a rhythm of daily life. As you read, practice counting, days of the week, and common time words in a fun, memorable way.
工作 两三年，休息四五天，读书一小时，吃饭五分钟。
Meet Dr. Mi, a doctor and teacher at Sichuan University. This simple HSK 1 story shows his daily routine from morning to night, helping you learn time expressions and everyday activities.
米爸爸在四川大学医学院 工作 。
Learn the fascinating story behind the Chinese idiom '东山再起' (Dongshan Zaiji), which means to make a comeback. Discover its historical roots and modern usage.
谢安出来 工作 后，表现出色，做到了很高的位置。
Why would a millionaire leave a table of lobster and wagyu untouched? This story explores the hidden rules of business dining and the true cost of staying alert.
他说，不撑怎么办，底下三百多个人等着发 工资 。
Is four years to reach HSK 5 fast or slow? Follow a conversation between two learners as they compare study hours and share realistic strategies for busy adults.
我这四年要 忙工作 ，说真话，没有很多时间学汉语。
A young man helps an old man look for his cat. But the real surprise is why the old man wanted to find the cat. Read on to learn about kindness and friendship.
老先生对白天明说：“我八十岁了，儿子和女儿都在北京 工作 ，我一个人住在这里。
Follow a day from waking at six-thirty to coming home at eight, then leap across days, months, and years. This simple story helps you practice speaking about routines and life changes with clear time words.
今年有了新 工作 。
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