Work meanings in Chinese

工作

Example:

I have a lot of work to do today.

我今天有很多工作要做。

She works at a tech company.

她在一家科技公司工作。

Usage: formal/informalContext: Used in professional and casual settings to refer to tasks or employment.

Note: This is the most common meaning of 'work,' referring to the tasks or duties one performs for an employer.

作品

Example:

This painting is one of his best works.

这幅画是他最好的作品之一。

The artist's work is displayed in the gallery.

艺术家的作品在画廊展出。

Usage: formal/informalContext: Used in artistic or creative contexts to refer to creations or products.

Note: This meaning highlights artistic or creative outputs, such as paintings, music, and literature.

运作

Example:

The machine is not working properly.

这台机器运作不正常。

How does this system work?

这个系统是如何运作的？

Usage: formal/informalContext: Used in technical or mechanical contexts to describe the functioning of devices or systems.

Note: This meaning refers to the operation or function of machines, systems, or processes.

努力

Example:

She works hard to achieve her goals.

她努力工作以实现她的目标。

You need to work on your skills.

你需要努力提升你的技能。

Usage: informalContext: Used in motivational or self-improvement contexts.

Note: This meaning emphasizes effort and dedication towards improvement or achieving objectives.

职务

Example:

He is looking for work in marketing.

他在寻找市场营销方面的职务。

She applied for a new job at the company.

她申请了公司的新职务。

Usage: formalContext: Used in job search and employment contexts.

Note: This meaning refers to a position or role within an organization.

Job

A job refers to a specific position or task that one is paid to do.

Example: She has a full-time job at a marketing agency.

Note: While work is a broader term encompassing various activities, a job specifically implies a formal position with responsibilities and often remuneration.

Employment

Employment refers to the state of having paid work.

Example: He found employment at a local restaurant.

Note: Work can refer to any type of activity, while employment specifically relates to being hired and paid for work.

Occupation

An occupation is a person's job or profession.

Example: Teaching is a noble occupation.

Note: Occupation emphasizes the type of work a person does, often implying a career or vocation.

Task

A task is a piece of work to be done or undertaken.

Example: Completing this task will require teamwork.

Note: While work is a general term, a task is a specific assignment or duty that needs to be accomplished.

Duty

Duty refers to a moral or legal obligation to perform a task or responsibility.

Example: It's my duty to ensure the project is completed on time.

Note: Duty often implies a sense of obligation or responsibility, whereas work can be any type of activity, whether obligatory or not.

Burn the midnight oil

This phrase means to work late into the night, especially doing intellectual or creative work.

Example: I have to burn the midnight oil to finish this project on time.

Note: The phrase 'burn the midnight oil' specifically refers to working late at night, while 'work' is a general term for any activity involving effort or exertion.

Put in the hours

To put in the hours means to spend a lot of time and effort working on something.

Example: She put in the hours to become proficient in her craft.

Note: While 'work' is a broad term for any form of effort, 'put in the hours' emphasizes the amount of time and effort put into a specific task or activity.

Labor of love

A labor of love is work that is done for the sake of enjoyment or interest rather than for financial gain.

Example: Building this garden has been a labor of love for him.

Note: Unlike the general term 'work', a labor of love implies that the work is done out of passion or personal satisfaction rather than obligation or necessity.

Work like a dog

To work like a dog means to work extremely hard or diligently.

Example: She works like a dog to provide for her family.

Note: This phrase emphasizes the intensity and dedication of the work being done, compared to the more neutral term 'work'.

Nine-to-five job

A nine-to-five job refers to a regular job with typical daytime working hours.

Example: I used to have a nine-to-five job, but now I work freelance.

Note: While 'work' is a general term for any form of labor, 'nine-to-five job' specifically refers to a traditional full-time job with set hours.

In the trenches

Being in the trenches means actively engaged in the hard work or labor of a particular job or task.

Example: During the project, we were all in the trenches together.

Note: This phrase conveys a sense of being deeply involved in the difficult or challenging aspects of work, in contrast to the more general term 'work'.

Work your fingers to the bone

To work your fingers to the bone means to work extremely hard, often to the point of exhaustion.

Example: She worked her fingers to the bone to meet the deadline.

Note: This phrase emphasizes the physical toll and effort involved in the work, beyond the neutral term 'work'.

Back-breaking work

Back-breaking work refers to physically demanding and strenuous labor.

Example: The farmers were engaged in back-breaking work to harvest the crops.

Note: Unlike the general term 'work', 'back-breaking work' specifically highlights the physically arduous nature of the task.

Desk job

A desk job is a type of job that primarily involves working at a desk in an office.

Example: I prefer a desk job where I can work on my computer all day.

Note: While 'work' is a broad term for any form of labor, 'desk job' specifies a type of occupation that is office-based and typically involves administrative or clerical tasks.

Grind

To work hard, often in a tedious or repetitive manner.

Example: I've been on the grind all week trying to finish this project.

Note: It emphasizes the continuous, relentless nature of the work.

Hustle

To work energetically and creatively to achieve a goal, especially to make money.

Example: She's always hustling to make extra money on the side.

Note: It implies a proactive and entrepreneurial approach to work.

Chores

Routine tasks or duties that need to be done, often at home.

Example: I have a long list of chores to do around the house this weekend.

Note: It typically refers to domestic tasks rather than professional work.

Grunt work

Menial or tedious tasks that are necessary but not highly valued.

Example: I'm tired of doing all the grunt work while others get the credit.

Note: It highlights the low-status nature of the work being done.

Slog

To work hard and steadily, especially on something difficult or with little reward.

Example: It's been a real slog trying to meet the project deadline.

Note: It conveys a sense of difficulty and persistence in the work.

Rat race

A competitive and exhausting struggle for success and material gain.

Example: I feel trapped in the corporate rat race and long for a simpler life.

Note: It highlights the intense and sometimes mindless pursuit of success in a competitive environment.

Side hustle

A secondary job or income source in addition to one's main employment.

Example: I started a side hustle selling handmade jewelry online.

Note: It implies a supplementary and often more flexible form of work outside of one's primary job.

I have to go to work tomorrow.

我明天必须去工作。

She works as a teacher.

她是一名教师。

He doesn't like to work on weekends.

他不喜欢在周末工作。

They are looking for someone to work part-time.

他们正在寻找一个兼职工作的人。

Work - Noun (Noun) / Noun, singular or mass (Noun, singular or mass)

Lemma: work

Conjugations

Noun, plural (Noun, plural): works, work

Noun, singular or mass (Noun, singular or mass): work

Verb, past tense (Verb, past tense): worked

Verb, gerund or present participle (Verb, gerund or present participle): working

Verb, 3rd person singular present (Verb, 3rd person singular present): works

Verb, base form (Verb, base form): work

Verb, non-3rd person singular present (Verb, non-3rd person singular present): work

Syllables, Separation and Stress

Work Contains 1 syllables: work

Phonetic transcription: ˈwərk

work , ˈwərk (The red syllable is stressed)

The word frequency and importance index indicates how often a word appears in a given language. The smaller the number, the more frequently the word is used. The most frequently used words typically range from about 1 to 4000.

Work: 100 - 200 (Extremely common).

This importance index helps you focus on the most useful words during your language learning process.

Work