zhíwù: 职务 - Post, Position, Duties

• Keywords: 职务, zhiwu, Chinese job title, position in Chinese, duties in Chinese, 职位 vs 职务, 工作 vs 职务, professional Chinese, Chinese for post, Chinese business vocabulary, HSK 5
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 职务 (zhíwù), a fundamental Chinese term for a formal “post,” “position,” or “duties” within an organization. This page explains how 职务 is more than just a job title; it reflects a person's specific responsibilities, authority, and status in Chinese professional and official culture. Learn the crucial differences between 职务, 职位 (zhíwèi), and 工作 (gōngzuò) to speak and write more accurately in business and formal situations.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zhíwù
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: A formal post, position, or a set of duties associated with a specific role within an organization.
• In a Nutshell: Think of 职务 (zhíwù) not just as a “job,” but as a specific, official role with defined responsibilities. While “工作 (gōngzuò)” is the general word for “work,” 职务 refers to your formal title and the tasks that come with it, like “Sales Manager” or “Project Director.” It's a term used on résumés, in corporate hierarchies, and in official contexts, emphasizing function and responsibility over the simple act of being employed.

• 职 (zhí): This character means “duty,” “office,” or “post.” It's composed of the “ear” radical (耳) on the left and a phonetic component on the right. You can think of it as one's duty to “listen” to their responsibilities or the requirements of their office. It’s the core of words related to professional life, like `职业 (zhíyè)` - profession.
• 务 (wù): This character means “affair,” “business,” or “task.” It signifies something that must be attended to. You see it in words like `任务 (rènwù)` - mission/task, and `服务 (fúwù)` - service.
• When combined, 职务 (zhíwù) literally translates to “duty-tasks” or “office-affairs.” This combination perfectly captures the concept of a formal position that is defined by its specific set of duties and responsibilities.

In Chinese culture, a person's 职务 (zhíwù) is often a primary indicator of their social status, authority, and even personal worth, especially in more traditional or formal environments like government and large state-owned enterprises. It’s more than just a functional descriptor; it places an individual within a clear social and organizational hierarchy. This contrasts with the more individualistic Western view of a “job title,” which can sometimes be flexible or creatively named. In China, the 职务 is typically standardized and carries significant weight. For example, addressing someone by their 职务 followed by their surname (e.g., 李经理 Lǐ Jīnglǐ - Manager Li, 王主任 Wáng Zhǔrèn - Director Wang) is a common and crucial sign of respect. Failing to do so can be seen as a slight. This practice reflects the underlying cultural value of respecting hierarchy and acknowledging a person's official role and the authority that comes with it. Your 职务 is a core part of your public identity.

职务 (zhíwù) is a formal term primarily used in professional, official, and administrative contexts.

• Formal Documents: You will always see 职务 on résumés (简历 jiǎnlì), business cards (名片 míngpiàn), and official forms where you need to state your position.
• Business and Government: In meetings, official announcements, and news reports, 职务 is the standard term for discussing someone's role, a promotion (提升职务 tíshēng zhíwù), or a removal from a post (免去职务 miǎnqù zhíwù).
• Conversation: In everyday, casual conversation, it sounds overly formal. If you ask a new acquaintance, “你的职务是什么？” (Nǐ de zhíwù shì shénme?), it can sound stiff or even like an interrogation. Instead, you would use the more casual “你做什么工作？” (Nǐ zuò shénme gōngzuò? - What work do you do?). You use 职务 when the specific title and its responsibilities are the topic of discussion.

• Example 1:
  • 请问，您现在的职务是什么？
  • Pinyin: Qǐngwèn, nín xiànzài de zhíwù shì shénme?
  • English: Excuse me, what is your current position?
  • Analysis: A very polite and formal way to ask about someone's professional role, suitable for a formal interview or networking event. “您 (nín)” adds to the formality.
• Example 2:
  • 他因为工作出色，被提升到了一个更高的职务。
  • Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi gōngzuò chūsè, bèi tíshēng dào le yí ge gèng gāo de zhíwù.
  • English: Because of his outstanding work, he was promoted to a higher position.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights how 职务 is linked to hierarchy and promotion within a company.
• Example 3:
  • 在我的简历上，我列出了我所有的职务和职责。
  • Pinyin: Zài wǒ de jiǎnlì shàng, wǒ lièchū le wǒ suǒyǒu de zhíwù hé zhízé.
  • English: On my résumé, I listed all of my positions and responsibilities.
  • Analysis: Shows the practical use of 职务 in the context of job applications. `职责 (zhízé)` means “duties/responsibilities” and is often paired with 职务.
• Example 4:
  • 作为经理，他的主要职务是管理整个团队。
  • Pinyin: Zuòwéi jīnglǐ, tā de zhǔyào zhíwù shì guǎnlǐ zhěnggè tuánduì.
  • English: As a manager, his main duty is to manage the entire team.
  • Analysis: This clearly illustrates that 职务 refers to the functions and responsibilities of a role.
• Example 5:
  • 担任这个职务需要很强的领导能力。
  • Pinyin: Dānrèn zhège zhíwù xūyào hěn qiáng de lǐngdǎo nénglì.
  • English: Holding this post requires strong leadership skills.
  • Analysis: `担任 (dānrèn)` means “to hold the post of” or “to serve as,” and is a formal verb often used with 职务.
• Example 6:
  • 公司宣布免去他财务总监的职务。
  • Pinyin: Gōngsī xuānbù miǎnqù tā cáiwù zǒngjiān de zhíwù.
  • English: The company announced his removal from the post of Chief Financial Officer.
  • Analysis: `免去职务 (miǎnqù zhíwù)` is the formal phrase for “to remove from a post” or “to dismiss.”
• Example 7:
  • 他的名片上印着他的姓名和职务。
  • Pinyin: Tā de míngpiàn shàng yìn zhe tā de xìngmíng hé zhíwù.
  • English: His name and position are printed on his business card.
  • Analysis: Another very common real-world application of the word.
• Example 8:
  • 虽然他没有正式的职务，但他在公司里很有影响力。
  • Pinyin: Suīrán tā méiyǒu zhèngshì de zhíwù, dàn tā zài gōngsī lǐ hěn yǒu yǐngxiǎnglì.
  • English: Although he doesn't have a formal position, he is very influential in the company.
  • Analysis: This sentence makes a clear distinction between a formal, designated role (职务) and informal influence.
• Example 9:
  • 你必须履行你的职务所要求的一切。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ bìxū lǚxíng nǐ de zhíwù suǒ yāoqiú de yíqiè.
  • English: You must fulfill everything that your duties require.
  • Analysis: `履行 (lǚxíng)` means “to perform” or “to fulfill,” and is often used with abstract concepts like duties or promises. It emphasizes the responsibility aspect of 职务.
• Example 10:
  • 每个职务都有其特定的工作范围。
  • Pinyin: Měi ge zhíwù dōu yǒu qí tèdìng de gōngzuò fànwéi.
  • English: Every position has its specific scope of work.
  • Analysis: This clearly connects the post (职务) to its defined limits and responsibilities (`工作范围 - gōngzuò fànwéi`).

• 职务 (zhíwù) vs. 职位 (zhíwèi): This is the most subtle and common point of confusion.
  • 职务 (zhíwù) emphasizes the duties, responsibilities, and function of a role. It's about what you do.
  • 职位 (zhíwèi) emphasizes the position itself, the post, or the “slot” in an organizational chart. It's about the spot you occupy.
  • Analogy: Think of a company as a chess board. The squares are the 职位 (positions). The piece that occupies the square and its specific moves (e.g., a Bishop) is the 职务 (duties).
  • They are often interchangeable, but 职位 is more common when talking about job openings or the number of posts. For example: “我们公司有三个空缺的职位” (Our company has three vacant positions).
• 职务 (zhíwù) vs. 工作 (gōngzuò): A critical distinction for beginners.
  • 工作 (gōngzuò) is “work” or “job” in the most general sense. It's broad and can be used in almost any context, formal or informal.
  • 职务 (zhíwù) is a formal, specific “post” or “position.”
  • Incorrect: (To a new friend) `你的职务是什么？` - This is too formal and jarring.
  • Correct: (To a new friend) `你做什么工作？` - This is natural and friendly.
  • Correct: (On a résumé) `职务：市场经理` - This is the standard, formal usage.
• 职务 (zhíwù) vs. 职业 (zhíyè):
  • 职业 (zhíyè) is your “profession,” “occupation,” or “career field.” It's a broad category. Examples: 医生 (doctor), 老师 (teacher), 律师 (lawyer).
  • 职务 (zhíwù) is your specific title within an organization.
  • Example: His 职业 (zhíyè) is a teacher, but his current 职务 (zhíwù) at the school is “Head of the English Department.”

• 职位 (zhíwèi) - A post or position; the “spot” in an organization. Very similar to 职务 but focuses more on the spot than the duties.
• 工作 (gōngzuò) - The general term for “work” or “job.” Much broader and more common in daily speech.
• 职业 (zhíyè) - A profession, occupation, or career field (e.g., medicine, law).
• 职责 (zhízé) - Duty, responsibility. This term focuses solely on the obligations of a role, often used alongside 职务.
• 头衔 (tóuxián) - A formal title, which can be a 职务 but can also be an honorary title without specific duties.
• 岗位 (gǎngwèi) - A specific post or station, often used for more operational, on-the-ground roles (e.g., a security guard's post).
• 经理 (jīnglǐ) - Manager. A very common example of a 职务.
• 总监 (zǒngjiān) - Director. Another common high-level 职务.
• 担任 (dānrèn) - A formal verb meaning “to hold the post of” or “to serve as,” frequently used with 职务.
• 简历 (jiǎnlì) - Résumé/CV. The document where you list your past 职务.