工作

Etymology & Components

The Chinese word 工作 (gōngzuò) for "work" is composed of two characters: 工 (gōng) and 作 (zuò). The character 工 originally meant "artisan" or "craftsman," and it is often used in words related to work or labor. The character 作 originally meant "to do" or "to make," and it is often used in words related to action or creation. When combined, the two characters 工 and 作 form the word 工作, which literally means "artisan's work" or "craftsman's work." Over time, the meaning of 工作 has expanded to include any type of work or labor, whether it is physical or mental. Today, 工作 is one of the most common words in the Chinese language, and it is used in a wide variety of contexts.