gǎngwèi: 岗位 - (Job) Post, Position, Station

• Keywords: gǎngwèi, 岗位, Chinese word for job post, job position in Chinese, what does gangwei mean, 工作 vs 岗位, Chinese business vocabulary, professional post, station, Chinese careers, HSK 5
• Summary: Learn the meaning of 岗位 (gǎngwèi), a crucial Chinese term for a specific “job post,” “position,” or “station.” This guide dives deep into its meaning, distinguishing it from the general word for “job” (工作, gōngzuò). Discover the cultural importance of responsibility and duty embedded in 岗位, and learn how to use it accurately in professional and everyday contexts with practical examples.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): gǎngwèi
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: A specific post, position, or station of employment with defined duties.
• In a Nutshell: While “工作 (gōngzuò)” is the general word for “job” or “work,” 岗位 (gǎngwèi) is more specific. Think of it as your designated spot or station within a company or organization. It's not just the work you do, but the specific role you fill, complete with a set of responsibilities. It carries a stronger sense of duty and being “on post,” like a guard at their station.

• 岗 (gǎng): This character originally referred to a mound, a small hill, or a ridge. This evolved to mean a sentry post or a checkpoint, a place where someone is stationed to stand guard.
• 位 (wèi): This character means “place,” “seat,” or “position.” It refers to a specific location or status that a person occupies.
• The two characters combine beautifully: 岗 (sentry post) + 位 (position) = 岗位 (a specific post or station of duty). The word paints a picture of a person holding a defined position with clear responsibilities, much like a soldier assigned to a specific watchtower.

In Chinese work culture, 岗位 (gǎngwèi) carries a weight of responsibility and collectivism. It's not just about personal career advancement but about fulfilling your designated role for the good of the team or company. The term reflects a society where each person has a part to play in a larger machine. A common and highly valued expression is 坚守岗位 (jiānshǒu gǎngwèi), which means “to stand fast at one's post” or “to stick to one's post.” This phrase is used to praise employees who are dedicated, reliable, and dutiful, especially during difficult times. It highlights the cultural virtue of perseverance and commitment to one's responsibilities. Compared to the Western concept of a “job,” 岗位 is less about the abstract career path and more about the concrete, functional role you perform. An American might say, “My job is in marketing.” A Chinese speaker might specify, “My 岗位 is Digital Marketing Manager.” The focus is on the specific station and its associated duties within the organizational structure.

岗位 is a formal and standard term used widely in professional and official settings.

• Job Hunting: You'll see 岗位 used constantly in job descriptions (招聘广告) and on application forms. Companies list the requirements for each specific 岗位.
• In the Office: Managers might discuss reassigning employees to different 岗位 (posts). Performance is often evaluated based on how well an employee fulfills the duties (职责) of their 岗位.
• Connotation: The term is neutral to positive. Holding a 岗位 implies you are a functioning, contributing member of an organization. Being praised for how you handle your 岗位 is a significant compliment.

• Example 1:
  • 公司现在有几个空缺的岗位。
  • Pinyin: Gōngsī xiànzài yǒu jǐ ge kòngquē de gǎngwèi.
  • English: The company has several vacant positions right now.
  • Analysis: This is a very common and neutral way to talk about job openings. 岗位 is the standard term used in HR and recruitment.
• Example 2:
  • 无论如何，我们都必须坚守岗位。
  • Pinyin: Wúlùn rúhé, wǒmen dōu bìxū jiānshǒu gǎngwèi.
  • English: No matter what happens, we must all stand fast at our posts.
  • Analysis: This sentence showcases the cultural value of duty associated with 岗位. It's a powerful statement of commitment.
• Example 3:
  • 这个岗位的职责是什么？
  • Pinyin: Zhège gǎngwèi de zhízé shì shénme?
  • English: What are the responsibilities of this position?
  • Analysis: A crucial question to ask during a job interview. It directly links the “post” (岗位) with its “duties” (职责, zhízé).
• Example 4:
  • 他因为表现出色，被调到了一个更重要的岗位。
  • Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi biǎoxiàn chūsè, bèi diào dào le yí ge gèng zhòngyào de gǎngwèi.
  • English: Because of his outstanding performance, he was transferred to a more important post.
  • Analysis: This shows how 岗位 is used to talk about internal transfers and promotions within a company structure.
• Example 5:
  • 我目前的岗位是软件工程师。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ mùqián de gǎngwèi shì ruǎnjiàn gōngchéngshī.
  • English: My current position is Software Engineer.
  • Analysis: While you could also say “My job (工作) is…”, using 岗位 sounds slightly more formal and specific to your official title and role.
• Example 6:
  • 每个人都在自己的岗位上努力工作。
  • Pinyin: Měi ge rén dōu zài zìjǐ de gǎngwèi shàng nǔlì gōngzuò.
  • English: Everyone is working hard at their own post.
  • Analysis: This highlights the collective nature of work. Each person has a 岗位, and together they make the organization run.
• Example 7:
  • 这个岗位要求至少有两年的相关经验。
  • Pinyin: Zhège gǎngwèi yāoqiú zhìshǎo yǒu liǎng nián de xiāngguān jīngyàn.
  • English: This position requires at least two years of relevant experience.
  • Analysis: A typical sentence from a job advertisement, showing the requirements for a specific 岗位.
• Example 8:
  • 即使生病了，那位护士也依然没有离开自己的岗位。
  • Pinyin: Jíshǐ shēngbìng le, nà wèi hùshi yě yīrán méiyǒu líkāi zìjǐ de gǎngwèi.
  • English: Even though she was sick, that nurse still didn't leave her post.
  • Analysis: This is another example praising someone's strong sense of duty, similar to “坚守岗位”.
• Example 9:
  • 我们需要为这个新项目设立几个新的岗位。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen xūyào wèi zhège xīn xiàngmù shèlì jǐ ge xīn de gǎngwèi.
  • English: We need to create several new positions for this new project.
  • Analysis: This shows how companies create (设立, shèlì) new 岗位 as they grow or take on new initiatives.
• Example 10:
  • 他对自己的工作岗位非常满意。
  • Pinyin: Tā duì zìjǐ de gōngzuò gǎngwèi fēicháng mǎnyì.
  • English: He is very satisfied with his job position.
  • Analysis: “工作岗位” is a very common four-character combination that functions just like 岗位 but adds a bit of clarifying emphasis on “work.”

The most common mistake for learners is confusing 岗位 (gǎngwèi), 工作 (gōngzuò), and 职业 (zhíyè).

• 岗位 (gǎngwèi) vs. 工作 (gōngzuò):
  • 工作 (gōngzuò) is “work” or “job” in a general sense. It can be a noun (“My job is tiring”) or a verb (“I work in Beijing”).
  • 岗位 (gǎngwèi) is a noun only. It refers to a *specific post or position*.
  • Correct: 我有很多工作要做。 (Wǒ yǒu hěn duō gōngzuò yào zuò.) - I have a lot of work to do.
  • Incorrect: 我有很多岗位要做。 - This sounds like you hold many different job positions simultaneously, which is usually not the case.
• 岗位 (gǎngwèi) vs. 职业 (zhíyè):
  • 职业 (zhíyè) is your “profession” or “occupation” (e.g., doctor, teacher, lawyer). It's a broad category.
  • 岗位 (gǎngwèi) is the specific job you have within that profession at a particular place (e.g., “Emergency Room Doctor at People's Hospital”).
  • Example: His profession (职业) is teaching, and his current position (岗位) is Head of the English Department.

Think of it like this: You choose a 职业 (profession), you look for 工作 (a job), and a company hires you for a specific 岗位 (post).

• 工作 (gōngzuò) - The general term for “job” or “work.” 岗位 is a type of 工作.
• 职位 (zhíwèi) - Position, post. Very similar to and often interchangeable with 岗位. 职位 can sometimes focus more on the title and rank, while 岗位 can emphasize the station and its duties.
• 职业 (zhíyè) - Profession, occupation. A much broader category than 岗位.
• 职责 (zhízé) - Duty, responsibility. The specific tasks associated with a 岗位.
• 员工 (yuángōng) - Staff, employee. The person who fills a 岗位.
• 招聘 (zhāopìn) - To recruit; recruitment. The process of finding people to fill a 岗位.
• 上班 (shàngbān) - To go to work; to be on duty. The action of going to your 岗位.
• 坚守岗位 (jiānshǒu gǎngwèi) - A set phrase meaning “to stand fast at one's post,” expressing dedication.
• 离职 (lízhí) - To resign; to leave a job. The act of leaving your 岗位.