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March 24, 2026
职业(職業)zhíyè(zhi2ye4)
职业 (zhí yè) refers to an individual's occupation or profession, indicating the work they do for a living. It is commonly used in contexts such as job discussions, career aspirations, and professional identity. This term encompasses a wide range of fields, from traditional professions to modern vocations.
Frequency#1420DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In China, the concept of 职业 is closely tied to social status and family expectations, often determining one's place in society. Many young people feel pressure to choose prestigious professions that align with societal values.
Memory Tip
Think of 职 (zhí) as a 'job' with a person standing in front of a 'door' (the radical represents 'door' and suggests entering a profession), and 业 (yè) as 'work' that builds one's career. Imagine someone stepping through a door into their future profession, saying 'I am a professional!'
Meanings of 职业
zhíyè(zhi2ye4)
1occupation
2profession
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 职业
职业Simplified
職業Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#1420Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2
Podcast: 职业
Podcast: 职业
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AI Study Notes for 职业
Quick Contrast
行业 (háng yè) refers to an industry or sector, while 职业 (zhí yè) focuses on an individual's specific occupation within that industry.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 职 (zhí) as a 'job' with a person standing in front of a 'door' (the radical represents 'door' and suggests entering a profession), and 业 (yè) as 'work' that builds one's career. Imagine someone stepping through a door into their future profession, saying 'I am a professional!'
Usage Notes
Be mindful of using 职业 in formal contexts, especially when discussing professional qualifications or career paths. Students often confuse it with 工作 (gōng zuò), which means 'work' in a more general sense. Common collocations include '职业发展' (career development) and '职业选择' (career choice).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 4 word, 职业 connects with other vocabulary related to work and education, such as 工作 (gōng zuò) and 学习 (xué xí). Focus on using this term in sentences about your own profession or discussing different careers to reinforce its meaning and usage.
Cultural Note
In China, the concept of 职业 is closely tied to social status and family expectations, often determining one's place in society. Many young people feel pressure to choose prestigious professions that align with societal values.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 职业 with the more general term 工作 (gōng zuò), leading to sentences like '我的工作是医生' (Wǒ de gōng zuò shì yīshēng) which can be correct but less formal. A better option in formal contexts would be '我的职业是医生' (Wǒ de zhí yè shì yīshēng).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 职业
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Grammar Patterns of 职业
职业 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 4 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
你可能得了____性皮肤病。
You might be having an occupationally related skin problem.
Example Sentences for 职业 (10)
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1
你可能得了职业性皮肤病。
nǐ kě néng dé le zhí yè xìng pí fū bìng。
You might be having an occupationally related skin problem.
2
不幸的是，容易感冒是这个行业的职业性风险。
bù xìng de shì， ， róng yì gǎn mào shì zhè gè háng yè de zhí yè xìng fēng。
Catching colds is unfortunately an occupational hazard in this profession.
3
他们的兴趣完全是围绕着他们的职业。
tā mén de xīng qù wán quán shì wéi rào zháo tā mén de zhí yè。
Their interests were completely bound up in their careers.
4
卡琳设法达到了其职业的要求。
kǎ lín shè fǎ dá dào le qí zhí yè de yào qiú。
Somehow Karin managed to cope with the demands of her career.
He had never been knocked out in a professional fight.
9
年轻人有各种职业选择机会。
nián qīng rén yǒu gè zhǒng zhí yè xuǎn zé jī huì。
There are a wide range of career opportunities open to young people.
10
他是个会诊医生，严肃认真，对自己的职业全身心投入。
tā shì gè huì zhěn yī shēng， ， yán sù rèn， zhēn ， duì zì jǐ de zhí yè quán shēn xīn。
He was a consultant physician, a serious man dedicated to his calling.
Cultural Notes for 职业
🏮Cultural insight
In China, the concept of 职业 is closely tied to social status and family expectations, often determining one's place in society. Many young people feel pressure to choose prestigious professions that align with societal values.
Frequently Asked Questions about 职业
You can say '我的职业是教师' (Wǒ de zhí yè shì jiàoshī) meaning 'My profession is teaching.'
Yes, 职业 is typically used in formal discussions about professions, whereas 工作 is more casual.
Yes, it can refer to any occupation, but it often implies a level of professionalism and commitment.
