Chinese Vocabulary for School, Work and the Office

If you study or work in a Chinese-speaking environment, or with Chinese colleagues, this vocabulary covers the everyday essentials.

School and university

• 学校 (xuéxiào) — school
• 大学 (dàxué) — university
• 老师 (lǎoshī) — teacher
• 学生 (xuésheng) — student
• 教室 (jiàoshì) — classroom
• 课 (kè) — class, lesson
• 作业 (zuòyè) — homework
• 考试 (kǎoshì) — exam
• 成绩 (chéngjì) — grades, results
• 毕业 (bìyè) — graduate
• 专业 (zhuānyè) — major
• 奖学金 (jiǎngxuéjīn) — scholarship

Jobs and workplace

• 公司 (gōngsī) — company
• 工作 (gōngzuò) — work, job
• 老板 (lǎobǎn) — boss
• 经理 (jīnglǐ) — manager
• 同事 (tóngshì) — colleague
• 客户 (kèhù) — client
• 员工 (yuángōng) — employee
• 办公室 (bàngōngshì) — office

Hiring and contracts

• 面试 (miànshì) — interview
• 简历 (jiǎnlì) — CV, résumé
• 合同 (hétong) — contract
• 工资 (gōngzī) — salary
• 奖金 (jiǎngjīn) — bonus
• 请假 (qǐngjià) — ask for leave
• 加班 (jiābān) — work overtime
• 辞职 (cízhí) — resign

Meetings and communication

• 会议 (huìyì) — meeting
• 开会 (kāihuì) — hold a meeting
• 报告 (bàogào) — report
• 邮件 (yóujiàn) — email
• 项目 (xiàngmù) — project
• 计划 (jìhuà) — plan
• 截止日期 (jiézhǐ rìqī) — deadline

Useful phrases

• 我在一家公司工作。 (Wǒ zài yì jiā gōngsī gōngzuò.) — I work at a company.
• 你做什么工作？ (Nǐ zuò shénme gōngzuò?) — What do you do?
• 下午两点开会。 (Xiàwǔ liǎng diǎn kāihuì.) — The meeting is at 2 p.m.
• 请把报告发给我。 (Qǐng bǎ bàogào fā gěi wǒ.) — Please send me the report.
• 我需要请假。 (Wǒ xūyào qǐngjià.) — I need to take leave.

Workplace etiquette

• Use titles with surnames: 王经理 (Manager Wang).
• Business cards are usually offered and received with both hands.
• Meals and tea play a role in building relationships.
• Hierarchy is respected, and decisions may involve consultation with senior people.

Chat culture

Many workplaces use WeChat groups for communication. Replying promptly and politely is valued, and voice messages are common.

Practice

1. Describe your job or studies in Chinese.
2. Write a short email requesting a meeting.
3. Learn the vocabulary for your industry.
4. Look up specialised terms in a dictionary.

Look up work and study words with English Chinese Dictionary →