zhíwèi: 职位 - Position, Post, Job Title

• Keywords: zhiwei, 职位, Chinese word for position, job post in Chinese, professional title Chinese, 职位 vs 工作, 职位 vs 职业, zhiwei meaning, Chinese business vocabulary, HSK 4 words
• Summary: In Chinese, 职位 (zhíwèi) refers to a specific, formal position, post, or job title within an organization's structure. Unlike the general term for “job” (工作, gōngzuò), 职位 emphasizes a defined role with specific duties and a rank in a hierarchy, such as “Marketing Manager” or “Software Engineer.” It's a key term in professional contexts like job hunting, business cards, and formal introductions in China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zhí wèi
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: A specific job or post within an organization.
• In a Nutshell: Think of `职位` as the official title on your business card. It’s not just the work you do, but the specific, formal “slot” you fill in a company or institution. If a company has an organizational chart, each box on that chart represents a `职位`. It carries a more formal and structural weight than the everyday word for “job.”

• 职 (zhí): This character relates to duty, office, or profession. It's built from the “ear” radical (耳) and a phonetic component. Think of it as one's official function or the responsibilities one is charged with.
• 位 (wèi): This character means “place,” “seat,” or “position.” It's composed of the “person” radical (人) and “to stand” (立). It literally depicts a person standing in their designated spot.
• When combined, 职位 (zhíwèi) literally means “duty-place” or “responsibility-position.” This perfectly captures the meaning of a formal post that comes with a specific set of responsibilities and a defined place in a hierarchy.

In Chinese culture, a person's `职位 (zhíwèi)` often plays a more significant role in their social identity than in many Western cultures. It's not just a job; it's a quick and powerful indicator of one's status, authority, and social standing. In a professional setting, knowing someone's `职位` is crucial for navigating interactions correctly. It dictates the level of formality, the appropriate way to address them (e.g., Director Li, Manager Wang), and the general dynamic of the relationship. This is tied to the high value placed on hierarchy and respect within Chinese social and business culture. Let's compare this with the common American question, “What do you do?” This question focuses on the *activity* or *profession*. While the answer might be “I'm an engineer,” the Chinese equivalent often seeks the more specific `职位`, such as “Senior Engineer at Huawei.” The first implies a profession, while the second defines a specific rank within a specific organization. This distinction is important because the `职位` immediately places the person within a clear social and professional map, which is a cornerstone of interaction in China.

`职位` is a formal term used primarily in professional and official contexts.

• Job Hunting and Recruitment: You will see `职位` everywhere on job search websites, in recruitment ads (`招聘职位` - zhāopìn zhíwèi), and on application forms. Your CV (`简历` - jiǎnlì) will list the `职位` you've held.
• Formal Introductions: When introducing someone in a business meeting, you would use their `职位`. For example, “这位是我们的市场部经理，李先生” (This is our Marketing Department Manager, Mr. Li). The manager's `职位` is “市场部经理” (Marketing Department Manager).
• Office and Government Contexts: It is used to discuss organizational structure, promotions (`晋升` - jìnshēng), and official posts in government or large corporations.

You would rarely use `职位` in a casual chat with a friend. Instead of asking, “你的职位是什么？” (What is your position?), which sounds overly formal, you'd ask, “你做什么工作？” (What job do you do?).

• Example 1:
  • 我正在申请一个新的职位。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zhèngzài shēnqǐng yī gè xīn de zhíwèi.
  • English: I am applying for a new position.
  • Analysis: This is a classic, standard sentence used in the context of job hunting. `申请 (shēnqǐng)` means “to apply for,” and `职位` is the perfect word here.
• Example 2:
  • 这个公司的职位空缺已经发布在网上了。
  • Pinyin: Zhè ge gōngsī de zhíwèi kòngquē yǐjīng fābù zài wǎng shàng le.
  • English: This company's job vacancy has already been posted online.
  • Analysis: `空缺 (kòngquē)` means “vacancy” or “opening.” It combines directly with `职位` to mean “vacant position” or “job opening.”
• Example 3:
  • 恭喜你获得了市场总监的职位！
  • Pinyin: Gōngxǐ nǐ huòdé le shìchǎng zǒngjiān de zhíwèi!
  • English: Congratulations on getting the position of Marketing Director!
  • Analysis: `获得 (huòdé)` means “to obtain” or “to get.” This sentence shows how `职位` is used to refer to a specific, high-ranking title like `市场总监 (shìchǎng zǒngjiān)`.
• Example 4:
  • 他的职位很高，责任也很大。
  • Pinyin: Tā de zhíwèi hěn gāo, zérèn yě hěn dà.
  • English: His position is very high, and his responsibilities are also great.
  • Analysis: This sentence directly links `职位` to the concepts of rank (`高` - high) and responsibility (`责任` - zérèn).
• Example 5:
  • 公司内部有很多不同的职位可供选择。
  • Pinyin: Gōngsī nèibù yǒu hěn duō bùtóng de zhíwèi kě gōng xuǎnzé.
  • English: There are many different positions to choose from within the company.
  • Analysis: `内部 (nèibù)` means “internal.” This is a typical sentence used when discussing internal transfers or career paths within a corporation.
• Example 6:
  • 你理想的职位是什么？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ lǐxiǎng de zhíwèi shì shénme?
  • English: What is your ideal position?
  • Analysis: A common question in a job interview. It's formal and focuses on the specific title or role you aspire to.
• Example 7:
  • 每个职位都有其特定的工作职责。
  • Pinyin: Měi gè zhíwèi dōu yǒu qí tèdìng de gōngzuò zhízé.
  • English: Every position has its specific job duties.
  • Analysis: This sentence clearly illustrates the link between a `职位` (position) and its associated `工作职责 (gōngzuò zhízé)` (job responsibilities).
• Example 8:
  • 由于公司重组，一些职位被取消了。
  • Pinyin: Yóuyú gōngsī chóngzǔ, yīxiē zhíwèi bèi qǔxiāo le.
  • English: Due to company restructuring, some positions were eliminated.
  • Analysis: This shows `职位` used in the context of corporate changes. The passive voice `被 (bèi)` is used to show the positions “were eliminated.”
• Example 9:
  • 他被任命了一个重要的政府职位。
  • Pinyin: Tā bèi rènmìng le yī gè zhòngyào de zhèngfǔ zhíwèi.
  • English: He was appointed to an important government post.
  • Analysis: `任命 (rènmìng)` means “to appoint.” `职位` is the correct term for official government posts.
• Example 10:
  • 我的名片上印着我的姓名和职位。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de míngpiàn shàng yìn zhe wǒ de xìngmíng hé zhíwèi.
  • English: My business card has my name and position printed on it.
  • Analysis: A very practical example. Your `名片 (míngpiàn)` (business card) is where your `职位` is formally displayed.

The most common mistake for learners is confusing `职位 (zhíwèi)`, `工作 (gōngzuò)`, and `职业 (zhíyè)`.

• 职位 (zhíwèi) - The Post/Title: Specific and formal. Refers to a single, countable role in an organization.
  • Example: His position is “Sales Manager.” (他的职位是“销售经理”。)
• 工作 (gōngzuò) - The Job/Work: General and versatile. Refers to the activity of working, or a job in a general sense. Can be a noun or a verb.
  • Example: I have to go to work. (我得去上班了。) / My job is very busy. (我的工作很忙。)
• 职业 (zhíyè) - The Profession/Career: A broad category or field of work.
  • Example: His profession is teaching. (他的职业是教师。)

Common Mistake: Using `职位` in a casual context where `工作` is better.

• Incorrect: 我今天职位很忙。 (Wǒ jīntiān zhíwèi hěn máng.)
  • Reason: This sounds strange, like saying “My position is busy today.” `职位` is the title, not the work itself.
• Correct: 我今天工作很忙。 (Wǒ jīntiān gōngzuò hěn máng.) - “My work is very busy today.”

Common Mistake: Using `职位` when you mean `职业`.

• Incorrect: 我的梦想职位是当一名医生。 (Wǒ de mèngxiǎng zhíwèi shì dāng yī míng yīshēng.)
  • Reason: “Doctor” is a profession/career (`职业`), not a specific position (like “Chief of Surgery,” which is a `职位`).
• Correct: 我的理想职业是当一名医生。 (Wǒ de lǐxiǎng zhíyè shì dāng yī míng yīshēng.) - “My ideal profession is to be a doctor.”

• 工作 (gōngzuò) - The general, everyday word for “job” or “work.” `职位` is a type of `工作`.
• 职业 (zhíyè) - A person's profession, occupation, or career field (e.g., law, medicine, engineering).
• 岗位 (gǎngwèi) - A post or station. Very similar to `职位`, but can sometimes imply a more operational or specific role on the ground, like a “sentry post” or “assembly line post.”
• 职务 (zhíwù) - A post or duties, often used in formal, official, or government contexts. It emphasizes the duties and responsibilities more than `职位`.
• 头衔 (tóuxián) - A title. This word focuses purely on the name of the rank or position, separate from the work itself.
• 职称 (zhíchēng) - Professional/technical title. This refers to a rank achieved through qualification in a technical or academic field (e.g., “Senior Engineer,” “Professor,” “Associate Researcher”) and is often separate from an administrative `职位` (e.g., “Department Head”).
• 晋升 (jìnshēng) - To get a promotion; the act of moving to a higher `职位`.
• 招聘 (zhāopìn) - To recruit; the process of finding people to fill a `职位`.
• 简历 (jiǎnlì) - Résumé or CV; the document you use to apply for a `职位`.
• 空缺 (kòngquē) - Vacancy or opening. Often appears as `职位空缺` (job opening).