(of students) to have a job outside of class time, or during vacation
HSK 4, v, rank #5577, Medium
dǎgōng(da3gong1) T3
1to work a temporary or casual job
2(of students) to have a job outside of class time, or during vacation
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March 24, 2026
打工dǎgōng(da3gong1)
打工 refers to working a temporary or casual job, often done by students during their free time or vacations. It implies a job that is not permanent or full-time and is typically used in informal contexts, such as part-time jobs or seasonal work.
Frequency#5577DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, it is common for students to take on 打工 during their studies to help support their education or gain work experience. This practice reflects the value placed on hard work and self-sufficiency.
Memory Tip
Think of 打 (dǎ) as 'to hit' and 工 (gōng) as 'work'. Imagine you are 'hitting' the ground to build a temporary structure, symbolizing casual or part-time labor. Visualize a student hitting the pavement to find a gig during summer break.
Meanings of 打工
dǎgōng(da3gong1)
1to work a temporary or casual job
2(of students) to have a job outside of class time, or during vacation
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AI Study Notes for 打工
Quick Contrast
打工 (dǎgōng) vs 工作 (gōngzuò) — use 打工 for temporary or casual jobs, while 工作 refers to regular or formal employment.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 打 (dǎ) as 'to hit' and 工 (gōng) as 'work'. Imagine you are 'hitting' the ground to build a temporary structure, symbolizing casual or part-time labor. Visualize a student hitting the pavement to find a gig during summer break.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 打工 with full-time employment terms. Remember that 打工 is informal and typically used for part-time or casual work. It's common to pair this term with words like '学生' (student) to indicate student jobs.
HSK Study Tips
As HSK Level 5 vocabulary, 打工 is relevant for discussing everyday life and work situations. Students should practice its usage in sentences to describe job experiences and learn related vocabulary like '兼职' (part-time job) and '实习' (internship).
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, it is common for students to take on 打工 during their studies to help support their education or gain work experience. This practice reflects the value placed on hard work and self-sufficiency.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes mistakenly use 打工 to refer to full-time jobs, leading to confusion. For example, saying '我打工在公司' (Wǒ dǎgōng zài gōngsī) suggests a casual job, while '我在公司工作' (Wǒ zài gōngsī gōngzuò) clarifies a full-time position.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 打工
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Grammar Patterns of 打工
打工 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 2 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.
She worked to pay the rent while I went to college.
Cultural Notes for 打工
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, it is common for students to take on 打工 during their studies to help support their education or gain work experience. This practice reflects the value placed on hard work and self-sufficiency.
Frequently Asked Questions about 打工
No, while it's often used to describe students' part-time jobs, anyone can 打工 as long as the job is temporary or casual.
打工 is specifically for informal or temporary jobs; for full-time positions, use the term '工作' (gōngzuò).
You can say '我今年夏天打工了' (Wǒ jīnnián xiàtiān dǎgōng le).
