v., n.
to work; job; task
工作
Professional labor: both the action of working and the job itself.
Unlike English which splits into 'work', 'job', and 'employment', Chinese uses 工作 as an all-in-one powerhouse. It serves effortlessly as the action verb (在公司工作, work at a company) and as the noun (一份工作, a job; 工作很忙, the work is busy).
Common Usage & Traps
- 在公司工作 — work at a company
- 工作很忙 — work is very busy
- 找工作 — look for a job
- 一份工作 — a job (with measure word 份)
- 工作时间 — working hours
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做一个工作工作 / 有一份工作English says 'do a job', but Chinese already uses 工作 as a verb itself.
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一个工作一份工作Jobs take the measure word 份 (a portion/share), not the generic 个.
What is the difference between 工作 and 上班?
工作 is your general job or career; 上班 is the physical shift of clocking in for duty.
Learners often mix these up because both translate to 'work'. 1. 工作 is your broad vocation or profession: 他在中为公司工作 (He works at Zhongwei Company), 我喜欢我的工作 (I like my job). 2. 上班 is the concrete, daily act of going on duty or clocking in at the office: 我八点上班 (I start my shift at 8:00). Its opposite is 下班 (clock out / finish work). You don't '下工作', you 下班.
| Dimension | 工作 (Career / Broad Work) | 上班 (The Shift / Clocking In) |
|---|---|---|
| Where you are employed | 他在公司工作 (He works at the firm) | 他在公司上班 (He is on shift at the firm) |
| Clocking in / starting time | 几点工作？(Vague / formal) | 几点上班？(When does your shift start?) |
| Asking about career | 你做什么工作？(What is your job?) | 你做什么上班？(Completely broken) |
| Clocking out | 下工作 (Broken / illegal) | 下班 (Leave work / clock out) |
How do you tell whether 工作 is acting as a noun or a verb?
Position decides: after '在 + Place' it is a verb; modified by '很 / 太 / 份' it is a noun.
Chinese words do not change their physical spelling, so their position in the sentence does all the talking: 1. If it sits right after a location (在中国工作, 在公司工作), it functions as the action verb 'to work'. 2. If it sits at the start with descriptive words attached (工作很忙, 很多工作, 一份新工作), it functions as the noun 'workload' or 'job'.
| Role | Slot Clue | Natural Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Action Verb | After 在 + Location | 他在中为公司工作。 | He works at Zhongwei Company. |
| Subject Noun | Sentence subject + 很/太 | 我的工作很忙。 | My job/workload is very busy. |
| Object Noun | After 找 (look for) or 有 | 我想找一份好工作。 | I want to find a good job. |
Can you translate 'I do a job' directly as 做一个工作?
No. Say 有一份工作 (have a job) or 我在工作 (I am working).
In English, people commonly say 'I do that kind of job'. But in Chinese, 工作 already carries the meaning of doing labor. Saying 做一个工作 sounds redundant and clumsy, like 'I do a do-work'. If you want to say you have a job, use 有一份工作. If you are describing an action, just use 工作 as the verb.
| English Intention | Natural Chinese | Clumsy Translation |
|---|---|---|
| I have a job | 我有一份工作。 | 我做一个工作。 |
| I am working | 我在工作。 | 我在做工作。(acceptable but redundant) |
| Looking for a job | 我在找工作。 | 我在找一个做。 |
Appears in Stories 8 stories
Real context sentences across different daily scenarios and graded readings.
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.
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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.
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谢安出来 工作 后，表现出色，做到了很高的位置。
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.
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常大中在一个饭店里 工作 。
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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 。
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.
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大中一个人在中国 工作 。
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他 工作 很忙，天天回家都很晚。
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.
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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.
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今年有了新 工作 。
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.
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工作 两三年，休息四五天，读书一小时，吃饭五分钟。
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.
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今天是我到中为公司 工作 的第五天。
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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。
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