3 · 40 words

At work and in the office

Meetings, overtime, time off, applying for a job and the paperwork of an ordinary working day.

Several of these words are separable verbs — a verb and its object fused into one item: 开会(kāihuì), 加班(jiābān), 出差(chūchāi), 值班(zhíbān). They take no further object, and anything that comes in between — 了(le), a length of time — goes inside the word: 加(jiā)了(le)三(sān)天(tiān)班(bān), “worked overtime for three days”.

The words

Verb (13)

开会(kāihuì)to have a meeting; to be in a meetingVerb3

经理(jīnglǐ)正在(zhèngzài)开会(kāihuì)，请(qǐng)您(nín)等(děng)一下(yíxià)。The manager is in a meeting; please wait a moment.

Separable: 开(kāi)了(le)一(yí)上午(shàngwǔ)的(de)会(huì), “was in meetings all morning”.

加班(jiābān)to work overtimeVerb3

这(zhè)个(ge)月(yuè)我(wǒ)几乎(jīhū)每天(měitiān)都(dōu)加班(jiābān)。This month I have worked overtime almost every day.

出差(chūchāi)to go on a business tripVerb3

我(wǒ)下(xià)周(zhōu)要(yào)去(qù)上海(Shànghǎi)出差(chūchāi)。Next week I am going to Shanghai on a business trip.

差(chāi) here, “an errand”; the same character is chà in 差不多(chàbuduō).

招聘(zhāopìn)to recruit; to advertise a jobVerb3

我们(wǒmen)公司(gōngsī)正在(zhèngzài)招聘(zhāopìn)会(huì)说(shuō)英语(Yīngyǔ)的(de)员工(yuángōng)。Our company is recruiting staff who speak English.

The employer 招聘(zhāopìn); the applicant 应聘(yìngpìn).

应聘(yìngpìn)to apply for a jobVerb3

有(yǒu)一百(yìbǎi)多(duō)个(ge)人(rén)来(lái)应聘(yìngpìn)这(zhè)份(fèn)工作(gōngzuò)。More than a hundred people applied for this job.

应(yìng) here, “to respond”; as “should” it is yīng.

辞职(cízhí)to resign; to quit (a job)Verb3

她(tā)辞职(cízhí)以后(yǐhòu)开(kāi)了(le)一(yì)家(jiā)咖啡馆(kāfēiguǎn)。After resigning she opened a café.

休假(xiūjià)to be on holiday; to take leaveVerb3

老板(lǎobǎn)下(xià)个(ge)星期(xīngqī)休假(xiūjià)，不(bú)在(zài)公司(gōngsī)。The boss is on holiday next week and will not be in the office.

打卡(dǎkǎ)to clock in; to clock outVerb3

我们(wǒmen)公司(gōngsī)上班(shàngbān)和(hé)下班(xiàbān)都(dōu)要(yào)打卡(dǎkǎ)。At our company you have to clock in and clock out.

值班(zhíbān)to be on dutyVerb3

周末(zhōumò)公司(gōngsī)只(zhǐ)有(yǒu)一(yí)个(ge)人(rén)值班(zhíbān)。At weekends only one person is on duty at the company.

复印(fùyìn)to photocopyVerb3

请(qǐng)把(bǎ)护照(hùzhào)复印(fùyìn)一(yí)份(fèn)。Please make a copy of your passport.

签字(qiānzì)to sign (one’s name)Verb3

请(qǐng)您(nín)在(zài)这儿(zhèr)签字(qiānzì)。Please sign here.

办公(bàngōng)to work (in an office); to do office workVerb3

我们(wǒmen)公司(gōngsī)在(zài)五(wǔ)楼(lóu)办公(bàngōng)。Our company has its offices on the fifth floor.

换班(huànbān)to swap shifts; to change shiftsVerb3

我(wǒ)明天(míngtiān)有(yǒu)事(shì)，能(néng)跟(gēn)你(nǐ)换班(huànbān)吗(ma)？I have got something on tomorrow — could I swap shifts with you?

This list belongs to Work and careers — 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.