jiǎnlì: 简历 - Résumé, Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Keywords: jiǎnlì, 简历, Chinese for resume, Chinese for CV, how to write a resume in China, Chinese job application, Curriculum Vitae in Chinese, work in China, 投简历, Chinese job search.

Summary: The Chinese word 简历 (jiǎnlì) is the direct equivalent of a résumé or Curriculum Vitae (CV) in English. It is the essential document for any job application (求职) in China. While similar to its Western counterpart, a Chinese 简历 often has unique cultural expectations regarding personal information and structure. Understanding how to create and tailor a compelling 简历 is a critical skill for anyone looking to work or intern in a Chinese-speaking environment.

Pinyin (with tone marks): jiǎn lì

Part of Speech: Noun

HSK Level: HSK 4

Concise Definition: A résumé or curriculum vitae (CV) detailing one's education, work experience, and qualifications for a job application.

In a Nutshell: Think of 简历 (jiǎnlì) as the key that unlocks the door to a job interview in China. It's a formal summary of who you are professionally. The two characters literally mean “simple” (简) and “experience” (历), which perfectly captures its purpose: a brief overview of your personal and professional history.

简 (jiǎn): This character means “simple,” “brief,” or “to simplify.” It's composed of the bamboo radical (竹) on top and 间 (jiān) on the bottom. The bamboo radical points to early writing materials (bamboo slips), suggesting a written document, while 间 means “space” or “interval.” Together, they evoke the idea of a simplified or abbreviated record.

历 (lì): This character means “experience,” “history,” or “to go through.” Its original form depicts a plant (禾) under a shelter or cliff (厂), possibly representing a record of harvests or the passage of time. It captures the essence of one's accumulated life and work history.

Combined Meaning: The characters join together beautifully: 简 (simple) + 历 (experience) = a simple summary of one's experience. This is precisely what a résumé is.

A Chinese 简历 (jiǎnlì) serves the same function as a Western résumé, but the content expectations can differ significantly, reflecting cultural values.

Comparison to Western Résumés: The biggest difference is the inclusion of personal information. Traditionally, a Chinese 简历 is expected to include a professional headshot, age, gender, and sometimes even marital status or place of birth (籍贯, jíguàn). While this practice is becoming less common in multinational corporations and the tech industry due to anti-discrimination standards, it remains prevalent in many state-owned enterprises (国企, guóqǐ) and more traditional companies. In the West, including such information is a major faux pas.

Emphasis and Values: A 简历 often places a heavy emphasis on formal education (学历, xuélì), academic awards, and any prestigious affiliations. For certain government or state-owned jobs, noting membership in the Communist Party (中共党员, Zhōnggòng dǎngyuán) can be seen as a significant asset. The tone is generally more factual and less focused on the creative, narrative-driven “personal branding” that has become popular in some Western contexts. It's a document of record, not a marketing brochure.

Job Hunting (求职, qiúzhí): The 简历 is the cornerstone of any job search. The most common verb used with it is 投 (tóu), which means “to throw” or “to submit.” The phrase 投简历 (tóu jiǎnlì) means “to send/submit a résumé.”

Online Platforms: Job seekers in China typically upload their 简历 to major online recruitment platforms like Zhaopin (智联招聘) and 51job (前程无忧). Companies then screen these digital résumés.

Formality: A 简历 is always a formal document. It should be written in a professional, concise, and error-free manner.

Tailoring: Just like in the West, it's considered best practice to tailor your 简历 for each specific job you apply for, highlighting the most relevant skills and experiences. The phrase for this is 针对性地修改简历 (zhēnduìxìng de xiūgǎi jiǎnlì) - “to revise the résumé with a specific target in mind.”

Mistake 1: Direct Translation without Cultural Adaptation. A common mistake for foreigners is to simply translate their home-country résumé into Chinese. This often fails because it might omit information that a Chinese HR manager expects (like a photo) or use a format/tone that feels strange. Always research the norms for the specific industry and type of company you're applying to in China.

“Résumé” vs. “CV”: In English, a “résumé” is typically a 1-2 page summary, while a “Curriculum Vitae (CV)” is a much longer, comprehensive document used in academia. In Chinese, 简历 (jiǎnlì) is used for both. For most business contexts, it refers to the shorter résumé format. If a long, academic CV is required, the job posting might specify a 详细简历 (xiángxì jiǎnlì), or “detailed résumé.”

求职 (qiúzhí) - To seek/look for a job. The entire process for which a 简历 is created.

面试 (miànshì) - Job interview. The step that hopefully follows a successful 简历 submission.

招聘 (zhāopìn) - To recruit; recruitment. The company's side of the hiring process.

工作经验 (gōngzuò jīngyàn) - Work experience. A critical section of any 简历.

学历 (xuélì) - Educational background; academic qualifications. A highly valued section on a Chinese 简历.

求职信 (qiúzhíxìn) - Cover letter. A document that often accompanies a 简历. Also known as a 自荐信 (zìjiànxìn).

投递 (tóudì) - To deliver/submit. A more formal verb often used with 简历, as in 投递简历 (tóudì jiǎnlì).

人力资源 (rénlì zīyuán) - Human Resources (HR). The department that typically screens the 简历.