noun HSK 3
colleague · co-worker
Meaning
同事 refers to people who work together in the same organization or company. The word literally combines 'same' (同) and 'work/affair' (事), indicating people who share the same work environment or professional duties.
Usage
This is a neutral, standard term used in all workplace contexts, from casual conversation to formal settings. It's commonly used when introducing people at work or discussing workplace relationships. Unlike English where you might say 'my colleague,' Chinese speakers often just say 同事 without a possessive.
Examples
- 01我的同事都很友好。.My colleagues are all very friendly.
- 02他是我以前公司的同事。.He is a colleague from my previous company.
Characters
Measure words
- 位一位同事
- 个一个同事
Common collocations
- 老同事old colleague, long-time co-worker
- 新同事new colleague
- 同事关系colleague relationship
- 和同事相处to get along with colleagues
Origin
The compound developed from classical Chinese, where 同事 originally meant 'to work together on the same matter.' Over time it shifted to refer to the people themselves who work together.