Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== gōngzuòrì: 工作日 - Workday, Business Day, Weekday ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** 工作日, gongzuori, workday in Chinese, business day Chinese, Chinese weekday, Chinese work schedule, what is a workday in China, make-up workday, 调休, Chinese office hours, business days in China. * **Summary:** "工作日 (gōngzuòrì)" is the Chinese word for a "workday" or "business day." While it typically refers to Monday through Friday, its meaning is critically influenced by China's unique public holiday system. Understanding `工作日` is essential for anyone doing business or living in China, as weekends can often be designated as official workdays (a system called `调休 tiáoxiū`) to create longer holiday breaks. This page explains its literal meaning, cultural significance, and practical use in modern China. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** gōngzuòrì * **Part of Speech:** Noun * **HSK Level:** HSK 3 * **Concise Definition:** A day on which work is officially scheduled; a workday or business day. * **In a Nutshell:** `工作日` is the standard term for any day you're expected to be at your job. Think of it as a "business day." While this usually means Monday to Friday, the key takeaway for learners is that this is not a fixed rule. Due to the national holiday schedule, a Saturday or Sunday can sometimes be an official `工作日`, a concept that often surprises foreigners. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **工 (gōng):** This character originally depicted a carpenter's square, a tool for work. It represents work, labor, skill, or industry. * **作 (zuò):** This character means to do, to make, or to compose. It signifies the action of working or creating. * **日 (rì):** This character is a pictogram of the sun and means "day" or "daytime." When combined, `工 (gōng)` and `作 (zuò)` form `工作 (gōngzuò)`, the common word for "work" or "job." Adding `日 (rì)` logically creates `工作日 (gōngzuòrì)`, a "work day." ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== The concept of `工作日` in China is inseparable from the state-managed holiday system known as **`调休 (tiáoxiū)`**, which literally means "to adjust rest." This system is a major cultural and practical difference from the Western concept of a fixed weekend. In the West, a "workday" or "business day" is almost universally understood as Monday through Friday, excluding public holidays. If a holiday falls on a Tuesday, people simply get Tuesday off. In China, the government often creates long, uninterrupted holiday blocks (like the 3-day Dragon Boat Festival or the 7-day National Day "Golden Week") to encourage travel and consumption. To achieve this, they "swap" days. For example, to make a 3-day holiday from Friday to Sunday, they might declare the preceding Sunday an official `工作日` to compensate for the Friday that was given off. This has several implications: * **Flexibility is Mandated:** The work schedule for the entire country is fluid and announced by the government annually. * **Collective Rhythm:** It reflects a collectivist mindset where the national schedule takes precedence over an individual's fixed five-day work week. Everyone is on the same altered schedule. * **Practical Impact:** For anyone living, working, or doing business with China, it's crucial to check the official holiday calendar. You cannot assume a weekend will be a day off, especially if it's adjacent to a public holiday. This affects everything from project deadlines to international logistics. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== `工作日` is a common and practical term used in many daily situations. * **Business and Logistics:** It's standard in business communication, especially regarding deadlines and delivery times. A package that takes "3-5 `工作日`" to arrive will not count weekends or public holidays (unless a weekend has been designated a workday). * **Office and Government Hours:** When you check the opening hours for a bank, post office, or government bureau, they will almost always be specified in terms of `工作日`. * **Daily Conversation:** People use it to plan activities, schedule appointments, or complain about their work schedule. For example, "Let's meet after the workday" (`我们工作日之后见吧`). The term is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal settings without issue. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 我们的办公时间是周一到周五的**工作日**。 * Pinyin: Wǒmen de bàngōng shíjiān shì zhōuyī dào zhōuwǔ de **gōngzuòrì**. * English: Our office hours are on the **workdays** from Monday to Friday. * Analysis: This is the most standard usage, defining the typical work week. * **Example 2:** * 快递通常需要三到五个**工作日**才能送到。 * Pinyin: Kuàidì tōngcháng xūyào sān dào wǔ ge **gōngzuòrì** cáinéng sòng dào. * English: The delivery usually takes three to five **business days** to arrive. * Analysis: A very common phrase in e-commerce and logistics. Note the use of the measure word `个 (ge)`. * **Example 3:** * 因为国庆节调休，这个周日也是**工作日**。 * Pinyin: Yīnwèi Guóqìngjié tiáoxiū, zhège zhōurì yěshì **gōngzuòrì**. * English: Because of the National Day holiday adjustment, this Sunday is also a **workday**. * Analysis: This sentence perfectly illustrates the concept of `调休 (tiáoxiū)`. It's a crucial sentence for any foreigner to understand. * **Example 4:** * 对不起，银行在非**工作日**不办理业务。 * Pinyin: Duìbuqǐ, yínháng zài fēi **gōngzuòrì** bù bànlǐ yèwù. * English: Sorry, the bank does not handle business on non-**workdays**. * Analysis: Here, `非 (fēi)` is used to mean "non-," a common and formal way to negate a noun. * **Example 5:** * 这个项目必须在十个**工作日**内完成。 * Pinyin: Zhège xiàngmù bìxū zài shí ge **gōngzuòrì** nèi wánchéng. * English: This project must be completed within ten **working days**. * Analysis: Shows its use in setting deadlines in a professional context. * **Example 6:** * 你能查一下下个月有几个**工作日**吗？ * Pinyin: Nǐ néng chá yīxià xià ge yuè yǒu jǐ ge **gōngzuòrì** ma? * English: Can you check how many **workdays** there are next month? * Analysis: A practical question for planning and scheduling. * **Example 7:** * 我太累了，真希望明天不是**工作日**。 * Pinyin: Wǒ tài lèi le, zhēn xīwàng míngtiān bùshì **gōngzuòrì**. * English: I'm so tired, I really wish tomorrow wasn't a **workday**. * Analysis: A simple, conversational sentence expressing a common sentiment. * **Example 8:** * 我们最好在**工作日**去博物馆，人会少一些。 * Pinyin: Wǒmen zuìhǎo zài **gōngzuòrì** qù bówùguǎn, rén huì shǎo yīxiē. * English: We'd better go to the museum on a **workday**; there will be fewer people. * Analysis: Here, `工作日` is used synonymously with "weekday" to contrast with the more crowded weekends. * **Example 9:** * 按照规定，公司必须在员工离职后15个**工作日**内结清工资。 * Pinyin: Ànzhào guīdìng, gōngsī bìxū zài yuángōng lízhí hòu shíwǔ ge **gōngzuòrì** nèi jiéqīng gōngzī. * English: According to regulations, the company must settle the final salary within 15 **business days** after an employee resigns. * Analysis: Demonstrates the term's use in formal, legal, or contractual contexts. * **Example 10:** * 连续上了七天班，我都忘了今天是不是**工作日**了。 * Pinyin: Liánxù shàngle qī tiān bān, wǒ dōu wàngle jīntiān shì bùshì **gōngzuòrì** le. * English: After working for seven days straight, I've forgotten whether today is a **workday** or not. * Analysis: A relatable complaint, especially after a `调休` schedule results in a long stretch of work without a break. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **The Weekend Trap:** The biggest mistake for foreigners is assuming Saturday and Sunday are always non-workdays. Before a major Chinese holiday, always check the official government schedule. You might be surprised to find you have a meeting or that your package is out for delivery on a Sunday. * **`工作日 (gōngzuòrì)` vs. `平日 (píngrì)`:** These are similar but not always interchangeable. * `工作日` specifically refers to a day for *work*. It's a functional term. * `平日 (píngrì)` means "normal day" or "weekday." It's used to contrast with weekends or holidays in a more general sense. * **Example:** To say "The subway is crowded on weekdays," you would more naturally use `平日 (píngrì)`. To say "The report is due in 5 business days," you must use `工作日 (gōngzuòrì)`. * **`工作日` vs. `工作天 (gōngzuò tiān)`:** `工作日 (gōngzuòrì)` is more standard and formal, often referring to a specific day on the calendar (a business day). `工作天 (gōngzuò tiān)` is more colloquial and is often used when counting a duration of work ("I need three workdays to do this" -> `我需要三个工作天`). In most cases, they are interchangeable, but `工作日` is safer for formal or written communication. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[调休]] (tiáoxiū) - The system of adjusting rest days by swapping a weekend day with a weekday to create a longer holiday. This is the concept that makes `工作日` in China unique. * [[周末]] (zhōumò) - Weekend. The typical antonym for `工作日`. * [[节假日]] (jiéjiàrì) - Festivals and holidays. The existence of these days is the reason for `调休` and changes to the `工作日` schedule. * [[上班]] (shàngbān) - (Verb) To go to work; to be on duty. The activity you do on a `工作日`. * [[下班]] (xiàbān) - (Verb) To get off work. * [[加班]] (jiābān) - (Verb) To work overtime. This often happens on a `工作日` or even a day that was supposed to be a rest day. * [[双休]] (shuāngxiū) - Two-day weekend (literally "double rest"). Refers to the standard Saturday-Sunday weekend system that `调休` often disrupts. * [[法定假日]] (fǎdìng jiàrì) - Legal/statutory holiday. An official non-`工作日` designated by law.