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March 24, 2026
工资(工資)gōngzī(gong1zi1)
工资 (gōng zī) refers to the wages or pay that an employee receives in exchange for their work. It is commonly used in discussions about employment, labor rights, and personal finance. Understanding this term is essential for navigating workplace conversations and salary negotiations in a Chinese-speaking environment.
Frequency#3506DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In China, the concept of '工资' is closely tied to discussions about the rapidly evolving job market and the importance of fair wages in the context of economic development. The minimum wage law and labor rights are prominent issues in contemporary society.
Memory Tip
Think of 工 (gōng) as a worker with tools, symbolizing labor, and 资 (zī) as resources or funds. Together, they form the concept of payment for labor. Imagine a worker proudly holding their paycheck, emphasizing that their 'work' earns 'pay'.
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AI Study Notes for 工资
Quick Contrast
薪水 (xīnshuǐ) refers specifically to salary and is often used in a more formal context, while 工资 (gōngzī) is a broader term for wages that can include hourly pay or salaries.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 工 (gōng) as a worker with tools, symbolizing labor, and 资 (zī) as resources or funds. Together, they form the concept of payment for labor. Imagine a worker proudly holding their paycheck, emphasizing that their 'work' earns 'pay'.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 工资; it's pronounced gōng zī, with a high level tone for both characters. Common collocations include '工资水平' (wage level) and '最低工资' (minimum wage). It is more commonly used in informal settings, but can also appear in formal discussions about compensation.
In China, the concept of '工资' is closely tied to discussions about the rapidly evolving job market and the importance of fair wages in the context of economic development. The minimum wage law and labor rights are prominent issues in contemporary society.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 工资 (wages) with 薪水 (xīn shuǐ), which also means salary but is more colloquial. For example, saying '我的工资是3000元' (Wǒ de gōng zī shì 3000 yuán) is correct, while '我的薪水是3000元' (Wǒ de xīn shuǐ shì 3000 yuán) is more casual.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 工资
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Grammar Patterns of 工资
工资 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
In absolute terms British wages remain low by European standards.
7
针对不同的员工群体,冠东公司设计了不同的绩效工资形式.
zhēn duì bù tóng de yuán gōng qún tǐ, , guān dōng gōng sī shè jì le bù tóng de jì xiào gōng zī xíng.
Guandong Company designs different merit pay's pattern in accordance with group.
8
工资的涨幅高过了生产率增长的速度，从而消耗了利润所得。
gōng zī de zhǎng fú gāo guò le shēng chǎn shuài zēng cháng de sù dù， ， cóng ér xiāo hào le lì rùn suǒ。
Wages were rising faster than productivity and this was eating into profits.
9
工资很低，员工的离职率很高。
gōng zī hěn dī， ， yuán gōng de lí zhí shuài hěn。
Wages are low and the wastage rate of staff is high.
10
这个职位工资很高。
zhè gè zhí wèi gōng zī hěn gāo。
The job is very well paid.
Cultural Notes for 工资
🏮Cultural insight
In China, the concept of '工资' is closely tied to discussions about the rapidly evolving job market and the importance of fair wages in the context of economic development. The minimum wage law and labor rights are prominent issues in contemporary society.
Frequently Asked Questions about 工资
You can say '你的工资是多少?' (Nǐ de gōng zī shì duō shǎo?), which means 'What is your salary?'. This is generally acceptable in informal settings.
工资 specifically refers to wages or pay received for work, while 收入 (shōu rù) is a broader term that includes all types of income, such as investments or rental income.
Yes, 工资 can be used in formal documents, typically when discussing employee compensation or financial reports.
