fā gōngzī: 发工资 - To Get Paid, To Receive a Salary, Payday

• Keywords: fa gongzi, fagongzi, 发工资 meaning, what is gongzi, get paid in Chinese, Chinese for salary, payday in China, Chinese work culture, receive salary, issue salary, fā gōngzī.
• Summary: “发工资” (fā gōngzī) is a fundamental Chinese verb phrase that literally means “to issue wages” and is used by employees to mean “to get paid.” It signifies the universally joyful event of receiving one's monthly salary, a crucial moment in Chinese work culture often associated with social activities like treating colleagues to a meal. Understanding this term is essential for anyone interested in modern Chinese life, work, and everyday conversation.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): fā gōngzī
• Part of Speech: Verb-Object Phrase
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: To issue a salary (from an employer's perspective) or to receive a salary (from an employee's perspective).
• In a Nutshell: “发工资” is the action of getting paid. While its components literally mean “to send out work money,” it's the go-to phrase for expressing the happy moment your salary arrives. It captures the feeling of relief and excitement known universally as “payday.” When you hear a Chinese friend exclaim, “今天发工资了!” (jīntiān fā gōngzī le!), you know it's a good day for them.

• 发 (fā): This character's primary meaning here is “to send out,” “to issue,” or “to distribute.” Think of a company sending out money from its accounts to its employees.
• 工 (gōng): This character means “work,” “labor,” or “skill.” Its ancient form is said to be a pictogram of a carpenter's square, a fundamental tool for a worker.
• 资 (zī): This character means “resources,” “capital,” or in this context, “money” or “wages.”

When combined, 工资 (gōngzī) means “work money,” which is the perfect way to describe a salary or wage. Adding 发 (fā) in front turns it into the action: 发 (to issue) + 工资 (wages) = to pay a salary.

The concept of payday is universal, but “发工资” in China carries a distinctly social and communal flavor.

• Payday Treats (请客 - qǐngkè): It's a very common and expected social ritual for someone who has just been paid, especially a young person who received their first-ever salary, to treat their friends or close colleagues to a nice meal or bubble tea. This act of “请客” (qǐngkè) isn't just about celebration; it's about sharing one's good fortune and strengthening social bonds, a key aspect of building 关系 (guānxi).
• Comparison to the West: In American culture, getting paid is often a private, digital event (a direct deposit notification). While colleagues might go out for a “payday happy hour,” it's typically a “go Dutch” or individual affair. The Chinese tradition of the one who got paid treating the group is more pronounced and reinforces a more collectivist mindset. The joy isn't just personal; it's meant to be shared.
• The Monthly Rhythm: Unlike the weekly or bi-weekly pay cycles common in the US, the vast majority of companies in China pay their employees monthly, usually on a fixed date (e.g., the 10th, 15th, or 25th). This date becomes a significant marker in the month, a point of anticipation that dictates social plans and major purchases. The time just before payday can be a period of humorous penny-pinching, a phenomenon captured by the term 月光族 (yuèguāngzú) - the “moonlight clan” who spend their money before the next paycheck arrives.

“发工资” is a high-frequency term used in various everyday situations.

• Informal Conversation: This is its most common habitat. Friends and colleagues will frequently talk about it.
  • “你几号发工资？” (Nǐ jǐ hào fā gōngzī?) - “What day of the month do you get paid?”
  • “发工资了，我们去吃大餐吧！” (Fā gōngzī le, wǒmen qù chī dàcān ba!) - “We got paid, let's go have a feast!”
• Social Media: It's a popular topic for posts and memes. You'll often see happy posts on payday, or humorous complaints about how long it's taking for payday to arrive, especially near the end of the month.
• Workplace & Job Hunting: It's a critical and practical question in any job-related discussion.
  • “公司每个月十五号准时发工资。” (Gōngsī měi ge yuè shíwǔ hào zhǔnshí fā gōngzī.) - “The company pays salaries on time on the 15th of every month.”

The connotation is almost always positive and exciting. The only time it's negative is when it's used in a negative sentence, such as when a company is late with payments.

• Example 1:
  • 我们公司今天发工资！
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī jīntiān fā gōngzī!
  • English: Our company is paying salaries today!
  • Analysis: A simple, happy announcement. This shows the company's perspective (“to issue pay”) but is often said by an employee who is about to receive it.
• Example 2:
  • 你什么时候发工资？我可以借点钱吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ shénme shíhou fā gōngzī? Wǒ kěyǐ jiè diǎn qián ma?
  • English: When do you get paid? Can I borrow some money?
  • Analysis: A very practical question between friends, highlighting the term's connection to personal finance.
• Example 3:
  • 太好了！我终于发工资了！
  • Pinyin: Tài hǎo le! Wǒ zhōngyú fā gōngzī le!
  • English: Great! I finally got paid!
  • Analysis: The particle “了 (le)” indicates a completed action or a new situation. Here, it signals the happy arrival of the salary.
• Example 4:
  • 老板说这个月会推迟发工资。
  • Pinyin: Lǎobǎn shuō zhège yuè huì tuīchí fā gōngzī.
  • English: The boss said that paying salaries will be delayed this month.
  • Analysis: This shows a negative scenario, where the action of “发工资” is postponed.
• Example 5:
  • 发了工资以后，我想买一部新手机。
  • Pinyin: Fā le gōngzī yǐhòu, wǒ xiǎng mǎi yī bù xīn shǒujī.
  • English: After I get paid, I want to buy a new phone.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates how to use the phrase to talk about future plans contingent on receiving one's salary.
• Example 6:
  • 他们公司不但按时发工资，而且还有奖金。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen gōngsī bùdàn ànshí fā gōngzī, érqiě hái yǒu jiǎngjīn.
  • English: Their company not only pays on time, but also gives bonuses.
  • Analysis: “按时 (ànshí)” meaning “on time” is frequently paired with “发工资” to describe a good, reliable employer.
• Example 7:
  • 这是我第一份工作，第一次发工资的感觉真棒！
  • Pinyin: Zhè shì wǒ dì yī fèn gōngzuò, dì yī cì fā gōngzī de gǎnjué zhēn bàng!
  • English: This is my first job, the feeling of getting paid for the first time is awesome!
  • Analysis: Highlights the emotional significance of receiving one's first-ever paycheck.
• Example 8:
  • 如果老板不发工资，我们应该怎么办？
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ lǎobǎn bù fā gōngzī, wǒmen yīnggāi zěnme bàn?
  • English: If the boss doesn't pay our salaries, what should we do?
  • Analysis: A hypothetical question about a serious labor issue, showing the term's use in formal/legal contexts.
• Example 9:
  • 别担心，财务部正在处理，很快就会发工资了。
  • Pinyin: Bié dānxīn, cáiwù bù zhèngzài chǔlǐ, hěn kuài jiù huì fā gōngzī le.
  • English: Don't worry, the finance department is processing it, and salaries will be paid soon.
  • Analysis: A typical sentence one might hear in an office when payment is slightly delayed.
• Example 10:
  • 一发工资，我的钱就都花在还信用卡上了。
  • Pinyin: Yī fā gōngzī, wǒ de qián jiù dōu huā zài huán xìnyòngkǎ shàng le.
  • English: As soon as I get paid, all my money is spent on paying off my credit card.
  • Analysis: Uses the “一…就…” (yī…jiù…) structure, meaning “as soon as… then…”. This is a common pattern to describe what immediately happens after payday.

• Verb-Object Structure: This is the most critical point for learners. “发工资” is a set phrase composed of a verb (发) and an object (工资). You cannot add another object directly after it.
  • Incorrect: 他发工资我。 (Tā fā gōngzī wǒ.)
  • Correct: 他给我发工资。 (Tā gěi wǒ fā gōngzī.) - “He pays a salary to me.”
  • Correct: 公司发工资了。 (Gōngsī fā gōngzī le.) - “The company paid salaries.”
• Perspective Matters: The phrase can be used from both the employer's and employee's point of view. The context and subject of the sentence make the meaning clear.
  • Employer: 公司发工资 (Gōngsī fā gōngzī) - The company issues salaries.
  • Employee: 我发工资了 (Wǒ fā gōngzī le) - I got paid. (Literally “I issued salary-ed,” but understood as “I received my salary.”)
• Not a “Raise”: Do not confuse “发工资” (getting your regular pay) with “涨工资 (zhǎng gōngzī)” (getting a pay raise).
  • “我发工资了！” (Wǒ fā gōngzī le!) → I got paid! (Happy)
  • “我涨工资了！” (Wǒ zhǎng gōngzī le!) → I got a raise! (Even happier)

• 工资 (gōngzī) - The noun for “salary” or “wages.” “发工资” is the action, “工资” is the thing.
• 薪水 (xīnshuǐ) - A common synonym for salary, often used interchangeably with “工资”. Some feel it's slightly more formal or refers to white-collar pay.
• 涨工资 (zhǎng gōngzī) - To get a raise; an increase in salary. The antonym of “发工资” isn't direct, but this is a related positive event.
• 扣工资 (kòu gōngzī) - To have one's pay docked or deducted (e.g., for being late or breaking a rule). This is the negative counterpart.
• 月光族 (yuèguāngzú) - Literally “moonlight clan.” A popular slang term for people who spend their entire monthly salary before the next one arrives.
• 请客 (qǐngkè) - To treat someone (to a meal, drinks, etc.). A very common social activity that happens after someone “发工资”.
• 年终奖 (niánzhōngjiǎng) - Year-end bonus. A major part of compensation in many Chinese companies, separate from the monthly “工资”.
• 加班费 (jiābānfèi) - Overtime pay. Money earned for working extra hours.
• 老板 (lǎobǎn) - Boss. The person or entity who is responsible for “发工资”.
• 财务 (cáiwù) - Finance department. The people in the company who physically or digitally handle the process of “发工资”.