gōng zuò
job; work
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我在工作。
Wǒ zài gōngzuò.
I am working.
他正在工作。
Tā zhèngzài gōngzuò.
He is working.
她喜欢她的工作。
Tā xǐhuan tā de gōngzuò.
She likes her job.
差事 (chāishi)
errand
职业 (zhíyè)
occupation
事业 (shìyè)
career
休息 (xiūxi)
rest
玩耍 (wánshuǎ)
play
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.
