工作 meaning in English

gōngzuò

to work; (of a machine) to operate

HSK 1verbnoun10 strokes

Meaning of 工作

Definitions from CC-CEDICT.

gōngzuò

to work
(of a machine) to operate
job
work
task

Measure word: 個|个,份,項|项

How to use 工作

工作 works as a verb (to work) and as a noun (a job). It can also describe a machine that is running. Example: 我在北京工作。(Wǒ zài Běijīng gōngzuò.) I work in Beijing.

工 (gōng) looks like a carpenter's tool or an I-beam, and 作 (zuò) means to do or make. Put them together: using your tools to make something is work.

Common mistake: Learners often say 做工作 when they just mean "to work." Simply say 我工作 (wǒ gōngzuò). Also keep 作 (zuò, fourth tone) distinct from 做 (zuò): 工作 always uses 作, never 做.

工作 in example sentences

Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.

我wǒ已yǐ经jīng在zài这zhè里lǐ工gōng作zuò十shí年nián了le。

I've worked here for ten years.

我wǒ觉jué得de你nǐ的de工gōng作zuò可kě以yǐ。

I think your work is all right.

他tā可kě能néng喜xǐ欢huān他tā的de工gōng作zuò。

It may be that he likes his job.

你nǐ为wèi什shén么me在zài这zhè儿ér工gōng作zuò？

Why do you work here?

让ràng我wǒ帮bāng你nǐ做zuò你nǐ的de工gōng作zuò。

Let me help you with your work.

Stroke order for each character

Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.

工 gōng · labor · 3 strokes

作 zuò · to do · 7 strokes

Related words

Words that share a character with 工作.

动作	dòngzuò	movement; motion; action; to act; to move
工人	gōngrén	worker
作用	zuòyòng	to act on; to affect; action; function; activity
作家	zuòjiā	author
作业	zuòyè	school assignment; homework
打工	dǎgōng	to work a temporary or casual job; (of students) to have a job outside of class time, or d
叫作	jiàozuò	to call; to be called
作文	zuòwén	to write an essay; composition (student essay)
合作	hézuò	to cooperate; to collaborate; to work together
作品	zuòpǐn	work (of art); opus
制作	zhìzuò	to make; to manufacture
工厂	gōngchǎng	factory

Questions about 工作

What does 工作 mean?

工作 (gōngzuò) means "to work; (of a machine) to operate" and is used as a verb and noun.

How do you write 工作?

工作 is made of 2 characters: 工 (3 strokes), 作 (7 strokes). That is 10 strokes in total.

Is 工作 an HSK word?

Yes. 工作 is on the HSK 1 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.

What is the difference between 工作 and 打工?

工作 is the general word for work or a regular job. 打工 (dǎgōng) usually means a temporary, part-time or casual job, like students working outside class.

How do I ask someone what their job is using 工作?

You can ask 你做什么工作？(Nǐ zuò shénme gōngzuò?) meaning "What work do you do?" Here 工作 is a noun, so 做 is correct as the verb before it.