biānzhì: 编制 - To Compile; Staffing Quota

• Keywords: bianzhi, 编制, what is bianzhi, Chinese government job, iron rice bowl, staffing quota in China, 编制 meaning, state-owned enterprise, public sector job China, compile a budget in Chinese, civil service
• Summary: Learn the dual meaning of the essential Chinese word 编制 (biānzhì). While it can mean “to compile” or “to draw up” a plan, its more significant cultural meaning refers to the official staffing quota for a government or state-affiliated job. Securing a position “within the bianzhi” (在编) is a life goal for many in China, as it represents the ultimate job security, often called the “iron rice bowl” (铁饭碗), complete with stable salary, benefits, and social status. This page will break down both meanings, their cultural importance, and how to use the term correctly.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): biānzhì
• Part of Speech: Verb / Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: (1) To work out or draw up (a plan, budget, etc.). (2) The authorized number of permanent staff positions in a state-run organization.
• In a Nutshell: Imagine a word that can mean “to make a spreadsheet,” but also refers to a “golden ticket” for lifetime job security. That's `编制`. As a verb, it's a formal word for creating plans or documents. As a noun, it's the most important word in the Chinese public sector job market. It's not just a job; it's a permanent, government-approved spot that's incredibly stable and highly sought after.

• 编 (biān): The silk radical (纟) on the left hints at its original meaning of weaving or plaiting. By extension, it means to organize, compile, edit, or put things together in an orderly fashion.
• 制 (zhì): This character means to make, manufacture, or control. The knife radical (刂) on the right suggests carving or shaping something according to a rule or system.
• How they combine: The characters literally mean “to compile according to a system.” This perfectly captures both meanings: the verb “to compile” a document systematically, and the noun “a systemized list” of official positions.

`编制` is one of the most culturally loaded terms in modern Chinese professional life. To understand it is to understand a core aspiration of millions of Chinese people. In Western cultures, a job is typically a contract between an employee and an employer, which can be terminated. The goal is often career growth, high salary, or personal fulfillment, sometimes at the cost of stability. The concept of `编制` is a direct counterpoint to this. A `编制` position is a permanent slot within a state-controlled entity, like a government bureau, a public school, a state-run hospital, or a State-Owned Enterprise (SOE). It is the modern-day equivalent of the “iron rice bowl” (铁饭碗, tiě fànwǎn)—a job for life that is safe from economic downturns and company failures. The cultural values it represents are:

• Stability over Risk: It reflects a deep-seated cultural preference for security and predictability, a value passed down through generations that have experienced turmoil and uncertainty.
• The Power of the State: Holding a `编制` position links one's personal fortune directly to the state, which is seen as the most stable and reliable provider.
• Social Status: Having `编制` is a mark of success and a source of great pride for a family. It tells society that you are a reliable, intelligent, and respectable person who has passed the incredibly competitive civil service exams or other rigorous selection processes.

The distinction between a worker with `编制` (在编, zài biān) and one without (编外, biānwài) can be stark. Two people might do the exact same job in the same office, but the `在编` employee has a higher salary, much better benefits, a pension, and near-absolute job security, while the `编外` (contract) worker does not. This is a fundamental divide in the Chinese public sector workplace.

`编制` is used frequently in conversations about careers, family pressure, and life planning.

In this sense, it's used in formal, written, or business contexts. It means to create something complex and systematic.

• To draw up a budget: `编制预算 (biānzhì yùsuàn)`
• To formulate a plan: `编制计划 (biānzhì jìhuà)`
• To develop software: `编制软件 (biānzhì ruǎnjiàn)`

This is the most common and culturally significant usage in daily conversation.

• Getting a `编制`: People talk about the struggle to `考上编制 (kǎoshàng biānzhì)`—to pass the exams and get a position.
• Having a `编制`: A person might be described as `有编制 (yǒu biānzhì)`, which is a huge compliment to their career status.
• “Inside” vs. “Outside”: The most crucial distinction is between `在编 (zài biān)` (inside the system, permanent) and `编外 (biānwài)` (outside the system, a contractor). This topic dominates office politics in public institutions.

Example 1 (Verb: To Compile/Draw Up)

• 我们需要编制一份详细的年度预算。
• Pinyin: Wǒmen xūyào biānzhì yī fèn xiángxì de niándù yùsuàn.
• English: We need to draw up a detailed annual budget.
• Analysis: This is a formal, standard use of `编制` as a verb, common in a business or administrative setting.

Example 2 (Verb: To Program)

• 这个软件是他们公司自己编制的。
• Pinyin: Zhège ruǎnjiàn shì tāmen gōngsī zìjǐ biānzhì de.
• English: This software was programmed by their own company.
• Analysis: Here, `编制` is used to mean creating something technical like software. It implies a systematic process.

Example 3 (Noun: The Coveted Position)

• 她毕业后，通过考试拿到了教师编制。
• Pinyin: Tā bìyè hòu, tōngguò kǎoshì ná dào le jiàoshī biānzhì.
• English: After graduating, she passed the exam and got an official teaching position (with tenure/security).
• Analysis: This is the most common cultural meaning. `拿到编制` (ná dào biānzhì) means to “obtain the golden ticket” of a secure job.

Example 4 (Noun: A Life Goal)

• 在很多小城市，有一个编制比在大城市挣高薪更让人羡慕。
• Pinyin: Zài hěnduō xiǎo chéngshì, yǒu yīgè biānzhì bǐ zài dà chéngshì zhèng gāoxīn gèng ràng rén xiànmù.
• English: In many small cities, having a `bianzhi` position is more enviable than earning a high salary in a big city.
• Analysis: This sentence perfectly captures the cultural value placed on stability (`编制`) over high but potentially unstable income.

Example 5 (Distinction: Inside vs. Outside)

• 虽然我们做同样的工作，但他是在编人员，我只是个编外人员。
• Pinyin: Suīrán wǒmen zuò tóngyàng de gōngzuò, dàn tā shì zài biān rényuán, wǒ zhǐshì ge biānwài rényuán.
• English: Although we do the same work, he is an official staff member (“on the books”), while I'm just a contract worker.
• Analysis: This highlights the critical `在编 (zài biān)` vs. `编外 (biānwài)` distinction. `在编` is an adjective phrase derived from `编制`.

Example 6 (Noun: Family Pressure)

• 我父母一直希望我能考个编制，找一份稳定的工作。
• Pinyin: Wǒ fùmǔ yīzhí xīwàng wǒ néng kǎo ge biānzhì, zhǎo yī fèn wěndìng de gōngzuò.
• English: My parents have always hoped I could pass the exam for a `bianzhi` position and find a stable job.
• Analysis: This shows how getting a `编制` is often a family expectation, tied to the value of filial piety and making one's parents proud and secure.

Example 7 (Noun: Scarcity)

• 现在政府部门的编制越来越少，竞争非常激烈。
• Pinyin: Xiànzài zhèngfǔ bùmén de biānzhì yuèláiyuè shǎo, jìngzhēng fēicháng jīliè.
• English: Nowadays, the number of official staff positions in government departments is shrinking, and the competition is fierce.
• Analysis: This sentence points to the high-demand, low-supply nature of these coveted positions.

Example 8 (Noun: Quitting is a Big Deal)

• 他居然辞掉了自己的编制工作，真是太有勇气了。
• Pinyin: Tā jūrán cídiào le zìjǐ de biānzhì gōngzuò, zhēnshi tài yǒu yǒngqì le.
• English: He actually quit his `bianzhi` job! That's so brave.
• Analysis: Quitting a `编制` job is often seen as shocking or foolish because it means giving up lifetime security. It takes real “courage” (勇气).

Example 9 (Noun: As a Countable Noun)

• 我们单位今年只有一个编制名额。
• Pinyin: Wǒmen dānwèi jīnnián zhǐyǒu yīgè biānzhì míng'é.
• English: Our work unit only has one `bianzhi` slot/quota this year.
• Analysis: `名额 (míng'é)` means “quota” or “number of people allowed.” It's often paired with `编制` to emphasize it's a specific, countable slot.

Example 10 (Verb: To Fabricate/Make up - Negative Connotation)

• 这些指控完全是他编制出来的谎言。
• Pinyin: Zhèxiē zhǐkòng wánquán shì tā biānzhì chūlái de huǎngyán.
• English: These accusations are complete lies that he fabricated.
• Analysis: This is a less common but important usage. Similar to “weave a tale,” `编制` can mean to fabricate a complex lie or story. The context makes the negative meaning clear.

• Verb vs. Noun: The biggest mistake for learners is only knowing the verb definition (“to compile”) and missing the far more common and culturally important noun meaning (“official job slot”). If you hear `编制` in a conversation about careers, it almost certainly refers to the noun.
• `编制` vs. `工作` (gōngzuò): A `编制` is a *type* of `工作` (job), but they are not interchangeable. A job at a private startup is a `工作`, but it does not have `编制`. A teaching position at a public school is a `工作`, and it *does* have `编制`. Always remember: all `编制` are `工作`, but not all `工作` are `编制`.
• Not the same as “Tenure”: While similar to academic tenure in the West (providing job security), `编制` is much broader. It applies to a vast range of public sector jobs, from administrative clerks and government drivers to doctors, journalists at state media, and engineers at SOEs.

• 铁饭碗 (tiě fànwǎn) - The “iron rice bowl.” This is the nickname for the security and benefits that a `编制` job provides.
• 公务员 (gōngwùyuán) - Civil servant. The most well-known type of job that comes with a `编制`.
• 事业单位 (shìyè dānwèi) - Public institution (e.g., public schools, hospitals, research institutes). A major source of `编制` jobs outside of the core government.
• 国企 (guóqǐ) - State-Owned Enterprise (SOE). Large companies owned by the government that also offer `编制` positions.
• 在编 (zài biān) - “Within the `编制` system.” An adjective used to describe a person who has an official, permanent position.
• 编外 (biānwài) - “Outside the `编制` system.” Describes a contract worker in a public institution who lacks the security and benefits of their `在编` colleagues.
• 合同工 (hétong gōng) - Contract worker. Often used as a synonym for a `编外` employee.
• 稳定 (wěndìng) - Stable, steady. This is the primary quality and attraction of a `编制` job.