加班 from HSK Level 4 Vocabulary List

The Chinese word 加班 (jiābān) is composed of two characters: 加 (jiā), meaning "to add" or "to increase", and 班 (bān), meaning "shift" or "work period". Together, they literally mean "to add a shift" or "to work overtime".The term 加班 is believed to have originated during the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1912), when foreign powers began to exert influence on China and introduce new concepts and practices. At that time, many Chinese workers were employed in factories and other industrial settings, where they were often required to work long hours, including overtime. The term 加班 was used to describe this practice, and it has since become a common part of the Chinese language.In modern Chinese, 加班 is used to refer to any situation in which someone works beyond their regular working hours. It can be used as a noun, a verb, or an adjective. For example, someone might say 我今天要加班 (wǒ jīntiān yào jiābān), meaning "I have to work overtime today", or 加班费 (jiābānfèi), meaning "overtime pay".The term 加班 is also used in a more general sense to refer to any situation in which someone puts in extra effort or goes beyond what is expected of them. For example, someone might say 他很加班 (tā hěn jiābān), meaning "he works very hard" or "he goes the extra mile".In conclusion, the Chinese word 加班 is a versatile term that can be used to describe a variety of situations in which someone works beyond their regular working hours or puts in extra effort. It is a common part of the Chinese language and is used in both formal and informal settings.