zhǎng gōngzī: 涨工资 - To Get a Raise, Salary Increase

• Keywords: zhǎng gōngzī, 涨工资, get a raise in Chinese, salary increase, pay rise, Chinese salary, working in China, Chinese work culture, negotiate salary China, 加薪, jiāxīn
• Summary: Learn how to say “get a raise” in Chinese with the essential term 涨工资 (zhǎng gōngzī). This page provides a deep dive into its meaning, cultural significance when negotiating a salary increase in China, and practical examples. Understand why this simple phrase is a cornerstone of conversations about work, career, and life in modern China, and learn the nuances to avoid common mistakes when discussing your pay with a Chinese boss.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zhǎng gōngzī
• Part of Speech: Verb-Object Phrase
• HSK Level: HSK 4 (as the components 涨 and 工资 are HSK 3 and 4 respectively)
• Concise Definition: To receive an increase in one's salary or wages.
• In a Nutshell: 涨工资 (zhǎng gōngzī) is the most common and direct way to talk about getting a pay raise in Mandarin Chinese. It literally translates to “salary rises.” It's a universally positive event and a frequent topic of conversation among friends and colleagues. While the phrase itself is simple, the act of *asking* for a raise involves significant cultural nuances compared to the West.

• 涨 (zhǎng): To rise, to go up, to swell. The character's left side is the water radical (氵), hinting at its original meaning of rising water levels. It's now used for any kind of increase, from prices (涨价) to water, and in this case, salary.
• 工 (gōng): Work, labor, skill. The character is a pictogram of an ancient carpenter's square, a tool representing work and craftsmanship.
• 资 (zī): Resources, capital, funds. It refers to money or provisions.

Together, 工资 (gōngzī) means “work funds” or “wages/salary.” When you combine it with 涨 (zhǎng), you get 涨工资 (zhǎng gōngzī), which literally means “salary rises,” perfectly capturing the meaning of “to get a pay raise.”

In both China and the West, getting a raise is a primary goal for most employees. However, the cultural script for achieving it can differ significantly. In many Western, particularly American, corporate cultures, employees are often encouraged to be proactive, schedule meetings, and directly state their case for a raise by presenting their accomplishments. It's seen as taking charge of your career. In China, the approach is often more indirect and relational. While this is changing with younger generations and in international companies, a traditional expectation is that a good boss will recognize your hard work and reward you accordingly without you having to ask. Directly demanding, “我要涨工资” (Wǒ yào zhǎng gōngzī - I want a raise), can be perceived as confrontational or aggressive. Instead, an employee might: 1. Hint indirectly: During a performance review, they might say something like, “我为公司付出了很多，也希望能得到公司的认可。” (Wǒ wèi gōngsī fùchūle hěnduō, yě xīwàng néng dédào gōngsī de rènkě - I've contributed a lot to the company and hope to receive the company's recognition.) The implication is clear. 2. Rely on 关系 (guānxi): A good relationship with your manager is paramount. The decision to grant a raise can be as much about your boss liking and trusting you as it is about your raw performance metrics. 3. Use an outside offer: The most powerful (and risky) way to secure a raise is often to get an offer from another company. This is a common reason for 跳槽 (tiàocáo - job-hopping) in China. For a learner, understanding this context is crucial. The phrase 涨工资 is simple, but the social dynamics behind it are complex.

涨工资 is a high-frequency phrase used in various everyday situations.

• Informal Conversation: Among friends, classmates, and colleagues, it's a very common topic. “你涨工资了吗？” (Nǐ zhǎng gōngzī le ma? - Did you get a raise?) is a standard way to catch up on work life. People openly celebrate getting a raise or complain about the lack of one.
• Negotiations with Management: As discussed, one must be careful. While you might use the phrase when discussing your goals, the initial approach should be subtle. Using a softer phrasing like “我想谈谈关于薪资调整的问题” (Wǒ xiǎng tántan guānyú xīnzī tiáozhěng de wèntí - I'd like to talk about the issue of salary adjustment) is often safer.
• Social Media and News: News reports often discuss the average “涨工资幅度” (zhǎng gōngzī fúdù - rate of salary increase) for different industries. On social media, you'll see countless posts and memes celebrating a raise or, more often, complaining about how prices are rising but salaries are not.

The connotation of 涨工资 itself is overwhelmingly positive. Who doesn't want a raise? The potential negativity only comes from the context, such as complaining about not getting one or the social awkwardness of asking for one.

Example 1:

• 我老板下个月要给我涨工资，我太开心了！
• Pinyin: Wǒ lǎobǎn xià ge yuè yào gěi wǒ zhǎng gōngzī, wǒ tài kāixīn le!
• English: My boss is giving me a raise next month, I'm so happy!
• Analysis: A simple, direct, and joyful statement. This is how you'd share good news with a friend.

Example 2:

• 你们公司每年都涨工资吗？
• Pinyin: Nǐmen gōngsī měi nián dōu zhǎng gōngzī ma?
• English: Does your company give raises every year?
• Analysis: A common question when comparing jobs or company benefits.

Example 3:

• 今年经济不好，涨工资是没什么希望了。
• Pinyin: Jīnnián jīngjì bù hǎo, zhǎng gōngzī shì méishénme xīwàng le.
• English: The economy isn't good this year, so there's not much hope for a pay raise.
• Analysis: Demonstrates how getting a raise is often tied to the company's or the broader economy's performance.

Example 4:

• 他因为老板不给涨工资，所以决定跳槽了。
• Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi lǎobǎn bù gěi zhǎng gōngzī, suǒyǐ juédìng tiàocáo le.
• English: He decided to job-hop because his boss wouldn't give him a raise.
• Analysis: This highlights a very common career move in modern China. 跳槽 (tiàocáo) is often the fastest way to 涨工资.

Example 5:

• 如果你能完成这个大项目，我就给你涨工资。
• Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ néng wánchéng zhège dà xiàngmù, wǒ jiù gěi nǐ zhǎng gōngzī.
• English: If you can complete this big project, I'll give you a raise.
• Analysis: A classic conditional promise from a boss, linking a raise directly to performance on a key task.

Example 6:

• 这次他涨了两千块工资。
• Pinyin: Zhè cì tā zhǎng le liǎng qiān kuài gōngzī.
• English: He got a 2000 yuan raise this time.
• Analysis: Crucial grammar point. 涨工资 is a separable verb-object phrase. The verb `涨` can be separated from the object `工资` to insert other elements, like the amount.

Example 7:

• 与其等着老板给你涨工资，不如自己努力提升价值。
• Pinyin: Yǔqí děngzhe lǎobǎn gěi nǐ zhǎng gōngzī, bùrú zìjǐ nǔlì tíshēng jiàzhí.
• English: Rather than waiting for the boss to give you a raise, it's better to work hard to increase your own value.
• Analysis: This sentence reflects a modern, proactive mindset about career development.

Example 8:

• 物价一直在涨，就是工资不涨，生活压力好大。
• Pinyin: Wùjià yīzhí zài zhǎng, jiùshì gōngzī bù zhǎng, shēnghuó yālì hǎo dà.
• English: The cost of living is always going up, but salaries aren't. The pressure of life is so great.
• Analysis: A very common complaint you'll hear in China. Note the parallel structure: `物价…涨` (prices rise) and `工资不涨` (salary doesn't rise).

Example 9:

• 老板，关于涨工资的事情，我想和您谈一下。
• Pinyin: Lǎobǎn, guānyú zhǎng gōngzī de shìqing, wǒ xiǎng hé nín tán yīxià.
• English: Boss, regarding the matter of a salary increase, I'd like to have a talk with you.
• Analysis: A polite and relatively formal way to broach the subject with a superior. “关于…的事情” (guānyú…de shìqing) softens the request.

Example 10:

• 升职和涨工资是两码事，有时候升职了也不一定涨工资。
• Pinyin: Shēngzhí hé zhǎng gōngzī shì liǎng mǎ shì, yǒushíhou shēngzhí le yě bù yīdìng zhǎng gōngzī.
• English: Promotion and a pay raise are two different things; sometimes you get promoted but don't necessarily get a raise.
• Analysis: This sentence points out a key nuance in corporate life. A 升职 (shēngzhí - promotion) might come with more responsibility but not always more pay.

• Mistake 1: Being too direct.
  • Incorrect: (To a boss) `老板，我要涨工资!` (Lǎobǎn, wǒ yào zhǎng gōngzī!)
  • Why it's wrong: This sounds like a demand, not a request. It's too aggressive and could damage your relationship with your boss. `要 (yào)` can mean “to want” in a very strong, almost insistent way.
  • Better: `老板，您看我最近的表现，是不是可以考虑一下薪资调整？` (Lǎobǎn, nín kàn wǒ zuìjìn de biǎoxiàn, shì bu shì kěyǐ kǎolǜ yīxià xīnzī tiáozhěng? - Boss, looking at my recent performance, would it be possible to consider a salary adjustment?)
• Mistake 2: Incorrect grammar with separable verbs.
  • Incorrect: `我涨了工资两千块。` (Wǒ zhǎng le gōngzī liǎng qiān kuài.)
  • Why it's wrong: When you specify the amount of the raise, it must go between the verb `涨` and the object `工资`.
  • Correct: `我涨了两千块工资。` (Wǒ zhǎng le liǎng qiān kuài gōngzī.)
• Mistake 3: Confusing who is the actor.
  • Incorrect: `我涨了我的工资。` (Wǒ zhǎng le wǒ de gōngzī.)
  • Why it's wrong: This implies you raised your own salary, which is impossible unless you're the company owner. The phrase `我涨工资了` (wǒ zhǎng gōngzī le) works because it's a statement of a change in state (“My salary has risen”), with the actor (the company) being implied.
  • Correct: `公司给我涨工资了。` (Gōngsī gěi wǒ zhǎng gōngzī le. - The company gave me a raise.) or simply `我涨工资了。` (I got a raise.)

• 加薪 (jiāxīn) - A more formal, written synonym for `涨工资`. Means “to add salary.” You would see this in a contract or formal announcement.
• 工资 (gōngzī) - Salary, wages. The core noun within our term.
• 薪水 (xīnshuǐ) - A common synonym for `工资`, literally “firewood-water money.”
• 奖金 (jiǎngjīn) - A bonus. A one-time payment, distinct from the permanent increase of a `涨工资`.
• 年终奖 (niánzhōngjiǎng) - Year-end bonus. A critical part of total compensation in many Chinese companies.
• 升职 (shēngzhí) - To get a promotion. Often happens together with `涨工资`, but not always.
• 跳槽 (tiàocáo) - To job-hop. A strategy often used specifically to get a significant salary increase.
• 绩效 (jìxiào) - Performance (as in Key Performance Indicators or a performance review). The primary justification for getting a raise.
• 裁员 (cáiyuán) - To lay off staff. The opposite and most feared outcome in corporate life.
• 待遇 (dàiyù) - Treatment, but often refers to the entire compensation package (salary, benefits, bonus, etc.). You might ask a friend about a new job: “那家公司待遇怎么样？” (Nà jiā gōngsī dàiyù zěnmeyàng? - How's the compensation package at that company?).