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March 24, 2026
工业(工業)gōngyè(gong1ye4)
工业 (gōng yè) refers to the sector of the economy that manufactures goods and provides services through the use of machinery and labor. It encompasses a wide range of activities, including manufacturing, processing, and production, and is often contrasted with agriculture. The term is commonly used in discussions about economic development and infrastructure.
Frequency#5775DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In China, the rapid development of 工业 has been a cornerstone of economic reform since the late 20th century, leading to urbanization and significant changes in lifestyle. The focus on industrial growth reflects China's ambition to become a global manufacturing powerhouse.
Memory Tip
Imagine a large factory (工) with busy workers (业) manufacturing products. The characters represent the idea of work (工) leading to the creation of goods (业). Visualize a bustling industrial scene where machinery and labor come together to produce something valuable.
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AI Study Notes for 工业
Quick Contrast
制造业 (zhìzào yè) refers specifically to manufacturing, while 工业 (gōngyè) encompasses a broader range of industrial activities including processing and production.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a large factory (工) with busy workers (业) manufacturing products. The characters represent the idea of work (工) leading to the creation of goods (业). Visualize a bustling industrial scene where machinery and labor come together to produce something valuable.
Usage Notes
When using 工业, it’s important to distinguish it from related terms like '农业' (agriculture) and '商业' (commerce). It is typically used in formal contexts, such as economic reports or discussions about national development. A common collocation is '工业发展' (industrial development).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 5 word, 工业 connects with other economic terms like '经济' (economy) and '贸易' (trade). Students should focus on understanding its application in contexts related to economic discussions and the vocabulary that surrounds it.
Cultural Note
In China, the rapid development of 工业 has been a cornerstone of economic reform since the late 20th century, leading to urbanization and significant changes in lifestyle. The focus on industrial growth reflects China's ambition to become a global manufacturing powerhouse.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 工业 with related terms like '工艺' (craftsmanship) or '行业' (industry sector). For instance, saying '我学习工艺' (I study craftsmanship) when they mean '我学习工业' (I study industry) can lead to misunderstandings.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 工业
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Grammar Patterns of 工业
工业 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). 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
人们担心的是科学会成为____的仆人。
The fear is that science could become the handmaiden of industry.
Example Sentences for 工业 (10)
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1
人们担心的是科学会成为工业的仆人。
rén mén dān xīn de shì kē xué huì chéng wéi gōng yè de pū rén。
The fear is that science could become the handmaiden of industry.
2
这暴露了以长久的环境破坏为代价换取短期工业利益的错误。
zhè bào lòu le yǐ cháng jiǔ de huán jìng pò huài wéi dài jià huàn qǔ duǎn qī gōng yè lì yì de cuò wù。
It exposes the fallacy of short-term industrial gain at long-term environmental expense.
In two years, the British coal industry will be dead and buried.
10
工业现代化分20年逐步实现.
gōng yè xiàn dài huà fēn20 20 nián zhú bù shí.
The modernization of the industry was phased over at 20 - year period.
Cultural Notes for 工业
🏮Cultural insight
In China, the rapid development of 工业 has been a cornerstone of economic reform since the late 20th century, leading to urbanization and significant changes in lifestyle. The focus on industrial growth reflects China's ambition to become a global manufacturing powerhouse.
Frequently Asked Questions about 工业
工业 specifically refers to the manufacturing and production sector, while 产业 encompasses broader categories, including agriculture, services, and technology.
It's generally used in more formal contexts, such as academic discussions or news articles, rather than casual conversations.
工业 is crucial as it contributes significantly to China's GDP and employment, driving innovation and infrastructure development.
