3 · 40 words

Jobs and professions

What people do for a living, and how to say what somebody works as.

Many job titles are built from the work plus a small ending: 员(yuán) for staff (售货员(shòuhuòyuán), shop assistant), 师(shī) for a trained professional (工程师(gōngchéngshī), engineer), 工(gōng) for manual work (电工(diàngōng), electrician). To say what somebody does, use 是(shì) or 当(dāng) with no word for “a”: 她(tā)是(shì)护士(hùshi), she is a nurse.

The words

Verb (2)

当(dāng)to work as; to be (a job or role)Verb3

我(wǒ)弟弟(dìdi)想(xiǎng)当(dāng)医生(yīshēng)。My younger brother wants to be a doctor.

打工(dǎgōng)to work a (temporary or part-time) jobVerb3

暑假(shǔjià)我(wǒ)在(zài)一(yì)家(jiā)咖啡馆(kāfēiguǎn)打工(dǎgōng)。During the summer holidays I worked in a café.

Also used for leaving home to work in a city.

Noun (38)

职业(zhíyè)occupation; professionNoun3

请(qǐng)在(zài)表(biǎo)上(shàng)写(xiě)一下(yíxià)你(nǐ)的(de)职业(zhíyè)。Please write your occupation on the form.

律师(lǜshī)lawyerNoun3

她(tā)哥哥(gēge)是(shì)律师(lǜshī)，工作(gōngzuò)很(hěn)忙(máng)。Her elder brother is a lawyer and is very busy at work.

工程师(gōngchéngshī)engineerNoun3

他(tā)大学(dàxué)毕业(bìyè)以后(yǐhòu)当(dāng)了(le)工程师(gōngchéngshī)。After graduating from university he became an engineer.

记者(jìzhě)journalist; reporterNoun3

很(hěn)多(duō)记者(jìzhě)在(zài)门口(ménkǒu)等(děng)着(zhe)采访(cǎifǎng)他(tā)。Lots of reporters were waiting at the door to interview him.

警察(jǐngchá)police officer; the policeNoun3

我(wǒ)的(de)钱包(qiánbāo)丢(diū)了(le)，只好(zhǐhǎo)去(qù)找(zhǎo)警察(jǐngchá)。I lost my wallet, so I had to go to the police.

护士(hùshi)nurseNoun3

护士(hùshi)每(měi)两(liǎng)个(ge)小时(xiǎoshí)来(lái)看(kàn)一(yí)次(cì)病人(bìngrén)。The nurse comes to check on the patients every two hours.

厨师(chúshī)chef; cookNoun3

这(zhè)家(jiā)饭馆(fànguǎn)的(de)厨师(chúshī)是(shì)从(cóng)四川(Sìchuān)来(lái)的(de)。The chef at this restaurant comes from Sichuan.

售货员(shòuhuòyuán)shop assistantNoun3

售货员(shòuhuòyuán)问(wèn)我(wǒ)要(yào)什么(shénme)颜色(yánsè)的(de)。The shop assistant asked me which colour I wanted.

售票员(shòupiàoyuán)ticket seller; bus conductorNoun3

售票员(shòupiàoyuán)告诉(gàosu)我(wǒ)最后(zuìhòu)一(yì)班(bān)车(chē)几(jǐ)点(diǎn)开(kāi)。The ticket seller told me what time the last bus leaves.

教授(jiàoshòu)professorNoun3

王(Wáng)教授(jiàoshòu)下(xià)个(ge)学期(xuéqī)教(jiāo)我们(wǒmen)历史(lìshǐ)。Professor Wang is teaching us history next term.

Like other titles, it follows the surname.

公务员(gōngwùyuán)civil servantNoun3

他(tā)父母(fùmǔ)希望(xīwàng)他(tā)考(kǎo)公务员(gōngwùyuán)。His parents hope he will sit the civil-service exam.

Civil servants are recruited by exam, hence 考(kǎo)公务员(gōngwùyuán).

工人(gōngrén)workerNoun3

这(zhè)家(jiā)工厂(gōngchǎng)有(yǒu)五(wǔ)百(bǎi)多(duō)个(ge)工人(gōngrén)。This factory has over five hundred workers.

管理员(guǎnlǐyuán)administrator; caretaker; attendantNoun3

图书馆(túshūguǎn)的(de)管理员(guǎnlǐyuán)帮(bāng)我(wǒ)找到(zhǎodào)了(le)那(nà)本(běn)书(shū)。The library attendant helped me find that book.

设计师(shèjìshī)designerNoun3

这(zhè)条(tiáo)裙子(qúnzi)是(shì)一(yí)位(wèi)年轻(niánqīng)设计师(shèjìshī)设计(shèjì)的(de)。This dress was designed by a young designer.

程序员(chéngxùyuán)programmerNoun3

程序员(chéngxùyuán)常常(chángcháng)要(yào)加班(jiābān)到(dào)很(hěn)晚(wǎn)。Programmers often have to work late into the evening.

工作人员(gōngzuòrényuán)staff; member of staffNoun3

有(yǒu)问题(wèntí)可以(kěyǐ)问(wèn)穿(chuān)红(hóng)衣服(yīfu)的(de)工作人员(gōngzuòrényuán)。If you have any questions, ask the staff in red.

保安(bǎo'ān)security guardNoun3

晚上(wǎnshang)进(jìn)大楼(dàlóu)要(yào)给(gěi)保安(bǎo'ān)看(kàn)证件(zhèngjiàn)。In the evening you have to show the security guard your ID to get into the building.

快递员(kuàidìyuán)courier; parcel delivery driverNoun3

快递员(kuàidìyuán)把(bǎ)包裹(bāoguǒ)放(fàng)在(zài)门口(ménkǒu)了(le)。The courier left the parcel at the door.

外卖员(wàimàiyuán)food delivery riderNoun3

下(xià)大(dà)雨(yǔ)的(de)时候(shíhou)，外卖员(wàimàiyuán)特别(tèbié)辛苦(xīnkǔ)。Food delivery riders have a really hard time when it pours with rain.

收银员(shōuyínyuán)cashierNoun3

收银员(shōuyínyuán)找(zhǎo)给(gěi)我(wǒ)五(wǔ)块(kuài)钱(qián)。The cashier gave me five yuan change.

艺术家(yìshùjiā)artistNoun3

这(zhè)条(tiáo)街(jiē)上(shàng)住(zhù)着(zhe)很(hěn)多(duō)年轻(niánqīng)艺术家(yìshùjiā)。Lots of young artists live on this street.

理发师(lǐfàshī)hairdresser; barberNoun3

理发师(lǐfàshī)问(wèn)我(wǒ)想(xiǎng)剪(jiǎn)多(duō)短(duǎn)。The hairdresser asked how short I wanted it.

消防员(xiāofángyuán)firefighterNoun3

消防员(xiāofángyuán)几(jǐ)分钟(fēnzhōng)就(jiù)到(dào)了(le)。The firefighters arrived within a few minutes.

军人(jūnrén)soldier; member of the armed forcesNoun3

他(tā)爷爷(yéye)年轻(niánqīng)的(de)时候(shíhou)是(shì)军人(jūnrén)。His grandfather was a soldier when he was young.

商人(shāngrén)businessman; traderNoun3

很(hěn)多(duō)商人(shāngrén)来(lái)这里(zhèlǐ)买(mǎi)茶叶(cháyè)。Many traders come here to buy tea.

店主(diànzhǔ)shop ownerNoun3

店主(diànzhǔ)很(hěn)热情(rèqíng)，还(hái)送(sòng)了(le)我(wǒ)一(yí)个(ge)小(xiǎo)礼物(lǐwù)。The shop owner was very friendly and even gave me a small present.

清洁工(qīngjiégōng)cleaner; street sweeperNoun3

清洁工(qīngjiégōng)每天(měitiān)早上(zǎoshang)六(liù)点(diǎn)开始(kāishǐ)打扫(dǎsǎo)街道(jiēdào)。The street cleaners start sweeping at six every morning.

邮递员(yóudìyuán)postman; postal workerNoun3

邮递员(yóudìyuán)给(gěi)我(wǒ)送来(sònglai)一(yì)封(fēng)信(xìn)。The postman brought me a letter.

牙医(yáyī)dentistNoun3

我(wǒ)牙(yá)疼(téng)了(le)好(hǎo)几(jǐ)天(tiān)，明天(míngtiān)得(děi)去(qù)看(kàn)牙医(yáyī)。My tooth has been hurting for days; I have to see the dentist tomorrow.

兽医(shòuyī)vetNoun3

我(wǒ)家(jiā)的(de)狗(gǒu)不(bù)吃(chī)东西(dōngxi)，我(wǒ)带(dài)它(tā)去(qù)看(kàn)兽医(shòuyī)。Our dog isn’t eating, so I’m taking it to the vet.

摄影师(shèyǐngshī)photographerNoun3

婚礼(hūnlǐ)那(nà)天(tiān)我们(wǒmen)请(qǐng)了(le)一(yí)位(wèi)摄影师(shèyǐngshī)。We hired a photographer for the wedding day.

电工(diàngōng)electricianNoun3

家里(jiāli)的(de)灯(dēng)坏(huài)了(le)，得(děi)找(zhǎo)个(ge)电工(diàngōng)来(lái)修(xiū)。The lights at home have stopped working; we need to get an electrician in.

修理工(xiūlǐgōng)repairman; mechanicNoun3

洗衣机(xǐyījī)坏(huài)了(le)，修理工(xiūlǐgōng)下午(xiàwǔ)来(lái)。The washing machine is broken; the repairman is coming this afternoon.

飞行员(fēixíngyuán)pilotNoun3

他(tā)从小(cóngxiǎo)就(jiù)想(xiǎng)当(dāng)飞行员(fēixíngyuán)。He has wanted to be a pilot since he was little.

空姐(kōngjiě)flight attendant (woman, spoken)Noun3

空姐(kōngjiě)给(gěi)每(měi)位(wèi)乘客(chéngkè)送(sòng)了(le)一(yì)杯(bēi)水(shuǐ)。The flight attendant brought every passenger a glass of water.

Short for 空中小姐(kōngzhōngxiǎojiě); the neutral term is 乘务员(chéngwùyuán).

模特(mótè)model (in fashion)Noun3

她(tā)个子(gèzi)很(hěn)高(gāo)，上(shàng)大学(dàxué)时(shí)当(dāng)过(guo)模特(mótè)。She is very tall and worked as a model when she was at university.

保姆(bǎomǔ)nanny; domestic helperNoun3

他们(tāmen)请(qǐng)了(le)一(yí)个(ge)保姆(bǎomǔ)照顾(zhàogù)孩子(háizi)。They hired a nanny to look after the children.

家庭主妇(jiātíngzhǔfù)housewifeNoun3

她(tā)结婚(jiéhūn)以后(yǐhòu)当(dāng)了(le)几(jǐ)年(nián)家庭主妇(jiātíngzhǔfù)。After she married she was a housewife for a few years.

This list belongs to Work and jobs — seven lists and 279 words that can also be practised as a whole.

Practise this list

Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 40 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.