lízhí: 离职 - To Resign, To Leave a Job

Keywords: lízhí, 离职, how to say quit a job in Chinese, resign in Chinese, leave a company in Chinese, Chinese vocabulary for work, HSK 5 vocabulary, 辞职 vs 离职, employment in China, Chinese business vocabulary.

Summary: Learn the essential Chinese term 离职 (lízhí), which means “to leave a job” or “to resign.” This page provides a deep dive for English-speaking learners, covering its core meaning, cultural significance in the Chinese workplace, and practical usage. We'll clarify the crucial difference between 离职 (lízhí) and 辞职 (cízhí), offer over 10 real-world example sentences, and explore related concepts like job-hopping (跳槽) and the “iron rice bowl” (铁饭碗). This is a must-know HSK 5 word for anyone discussing careers or employment in China.

Pinyin (with tone marks): lízhí

Part of Speech: Verb

HSK Level: HSK 5

Concise Definition: To leave or be separated from one's post or job.

In a Nutshell: 离职 (lízhí) is the standard, slightly formal term for the state or process of leaving a job. It's a neutral word that doesn't specify the reason for departure—it could be a resignation, a layoff, or the end of a contract. Think of it as the official status change from “employed” to “formerly employed” at a particular company. It's the term you'll see on HR forms, resumes, and in formal announcements.

离 (lí): This character means “to leave,” “to be away from,” or “to separate.” Pictorially, it can be imagined as a bird (隹) leaving its perch or nest, signifying departure.

职 (zhí): This character means “post,” “duty,” “job,” or “profession.” It's composed of the “ear” radical (耳) on the left, suggesting listening to orders or duties.

When combined, 离职 (lízhí) literally means “to leave (离) one's job/post (职).” The meaning is direct and transparent.

In traditional Chinese culture, job stability was highly prized, epitomized by the concept of the 铁饭碗 (tiě fànwǎn), or “iron rice bowl”—a secure job for life, typically in a state-owned enterprise. In this context, leaving a job was a major, often negative, event.

However, modern China has seen a dramatic shift. Among younger, urban professionals, 跳槽 (tiàocáo), or “job-hopping,” is now common in the pursuit of better salaries, titles, and career development.

Comparison to Western Culture: While “quitting a job” in the West is an individualistic decision, the process of 离职 (lízhí) in China is often handled with a greater emphasis on maintaining harmony and good 关系 (guānxi). Resignations are typically less confrontational. The goal is to leave on good terms, ensuring that you don't “burn bridges,” as professional circles can be surprisingly small. The act of 离职 (lízhí) is treated as a formal procedure, a neutral event marking a transition, rather than a dramatic personal break.

Everyday Conversation: While it's perfectly correct, in casual conversation about deciding to quit, you might hear the more active term 辞职 (cízhí). However, when reporting the fact that someone is no longer with a company, 离职 (lízhí) is very common. For example, “I heard Xiao Wang left the company” would use 离职.

Connotation: 离职 (lízhí) is neutral. It is a statement of fact that someone is no longer working at a place. It carries no inherent judgment about whether the departure was positive or negative.

辞职 (cízhí) - To resign. The active verb for when an employee decides to quit.

跳槽 (tiàocáo) - To job-hop. The action of switching from one company to another, often for a better position.

退休 (tuìxiū) - To retire. To end one's career due to age.

开除 (kāichú) - To fire; to dismiss. A formal and very negative term for termination due to fault.

失业 (shīyè) - To be unemployed. The state of being jobless.

下岗 (xiàgǎng) - To be laid off. Has strong historical ties to the 1990s layoffs from state-owned enterprises.

手续 (shǒuxù) - Procedures; formalities (e.g., 离职手续 - departure procedures).

简历 (jiǎnlì) - Résumé; CV. The document where you list your dates of employment and departure (离职).

铁饭碗 (tiě fànwǎn) - “Iron rice bowl.” A metaphor for a stable, secure, life-long job.

关系 (guānxi) - Relationships; connections. The social network that is important to maintain even when leaving a job.