Chinese Word
Archive
← Today's word Archive
noun HSK 4
Traditional 職
zhí
duty · job · post · office · responsibility

Meaning

职 refers to one's position, job, duty, or official responsibility. It emphasizes the role or function someone holds rather than just employment. The character often appears in compounds related to work, career, and professional duties.

Usage

职 is rarely used alone in modern Mandarin and almost always appears in compound words like 职业 (occupation), 职位 (position), 职责 (duty/responsibility), or 在职 (on duty/in office). It's formal in tone and common in professional, administrative, and official contexts.

Examples

  1. 01
    这是我的职责所在。
    Zhè shì wǒ de zhí zé suǒ zài.
    This is where my duty lies.
  2. 02
    他在这家公司已经在职十年了。
    Tā zài zhè jiā gōng sī yǐ jīng zài zhí shí nián le.
    He has been working at this company for ten years.

Common collocations

  • 在职
    zài zhí
    on the job, currently employed
  • 离职
    lí zhí
    to leave one's position, to resign
  • 尽职
    jìn zhí
    to fulfill one's duty
  • 职工
    zhí gōng
    staff, workers

Origin

The traditional form 職 consists of 耳 (ear) and 戠 (a phonetic component). Historically, it suggested listening to commands or instructions related to one's official duties.

Related