miànshì: 面试 - Interview (job, school admission)

• Keywords: mianshi, 面试, Chinese job interview, how to say interview in Chinese, mianshi meaning, Chinese interview process, job application in China, mianshi vs caifang, prepare for Chinese interview
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese term 面试 (miànshì), which means “interview,” primarily for a job or school admission. This comprehensive guide covers its meaning, cultural significance in China's competitive environment, and practical usage. Discover how to use 面试 (miànshì) correctly in sentences, understand the critical difference between it and a journalistic interview, and get tips for navigating the modern Chinese interview process.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): miànshì
• Part of Speech: Noun / Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: An interview (noun) or to interview (verb), specifically in the context of evaluation for a job, promotion, or school admission.
• In a Nutshell: 面试 (miànshì) is the word you need for any situation where you are being formally evaluated for a position. Think of it as the direct equivalent of “job interview” or “admissions interview.” It can describe the event itself (“I have an interview”) or the action of conducting or attending one (“The manager is interviewing candidates”). It's a formal and standard term used throughout the professional and academic world in China.

• 面 (miàn): This character's primary meaning is “face,” “surface,” or “side.” In this context, it signifies a “face-to-face” interaction.
• 试 (shì): This character means “to test,” “to try,” or “an examination.”
• Together, 面试 (miànshì) literally translates to a “face test” or “face-to-face trial.” This vividly captures the essence of an in-person evaluation where your abilities and character are assessed directly.

In China, the 面试 (miànshì) is often a high-stakes, pivotal event, more so than in many Western cultures. This is largely due to the immense competition for desirable university spots and white-collar jobs. A successful 面试 can significantly impact one's career trajectory and social standing. While a Western interview focuses heavily on individual achievements and direct communication, a Chinese 面试 may carry subtle cultural nuances:

• Humility and Respect: Interviewees are expected to show deep respect for the 面试官 (miànshìguān), or interviewer. Overt self-promotion can sometimes be perceived as arrogance. It's a delicate balance of confidently presenting your skills while remaining humble.
• Group Harmony: Companies often look for candidates who will integrate well into the team and company culture. Questions might be geared towards assessing your ability to be a cooperative and harmonious team member rather than a disruptive “star player.”
• Stability and Loyalty: Employers in China highly value loyalty. They want to know you see the position as a long-term commitment, not just a stepping stone. Questions about your five-year plan or personal life (e.g., marital status, plans for children) may be asked to gauge your stability, though this practice is becoming less common in international companies. This contrasts with Western norms where such questions are often illegal.
• Connection to Mianzi (面子): Performing well in a 面试 not only secures a job but also brings 面子 (miànzi), or “face,” to you and your family. Conversely, failing an important interview can be seen as a loss of face.

面试 (miànshì) is a standard, formal term used in all professional and academic settings.

• As a Noun (the event):
• You use it to talk about the appointment itself.
• e.g., “My interview is at 3 PM.” (`我的面试在下午三点。`)
• e.g., “I need to prepare for the interview.” (`我需要准备一下面试。`)
• As a Verb (the action):
• You use it to describe the action of attending an interview or conducting one.
• e.g., “I'm going to an interview tomorrow.” (`我明天要去面试。`)
• e.g., “The manager interviewed three people today.” (`经理今天面试了三个人。`)

The term is used ubiquitously in job-hunting conversations, on recruitment websites like Zhaopin (智联招聘) and 51job, and in university admission correspondence.

• Example 1:
  • 我明天有一个重要的面试。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ míngtiān yǒu yí ge hěn zhòngyào de miànshì.
  • English: I have a very important interview tomorrow.
  • Analysis: Here, 面试 is used as a noun, meaning “an interview.” This is a very common way to announce an upcoming interview.
• Example 2:
  • 你好，我是来面试的。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ hǎo, wǒ shì lái miànshì de.
  • English: Hello, I am here for an interview.
  • Analysis: 面试 is used as a verb here. This is a perfect sentence to use when you arrive at the company's front desk. The `是…的 (shì…de)` structure emphasizes the purpose of your visit.
• Example 3:
  • 你的面试怎么样了？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ de miànshì zěnmeyàng le?
  • English: How did your interview go?
  • Analysis: A classic follow-up question. 面试 is a noun here, “your interview.” `怎么样了 (zěnmeyàng le)` is a common way to ask for an update on a situation.
• Example 4:
  • 我们公司的HR正在面试一位候选人。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī de HR zhèngzài miànshì yí wèi hòuxuǎnrén.
  • English: Our company's HR is currently interviewing a candidate.
  • Analysis: This shows 面试 used as a verb from the interviewer's perspective. `正在 (zhèngzài)` indicates an action in progress.
• Example 5:
  • 为了准备面试，我查了很多资料。
  • Pinyin: Wèile zhǔnbèi miànshì, wǒ chá le hěn duō zīliào.
  • English: In order to prepare for the interview, I researched a lot of information.
  • Analysis: A noun usage. `为了 (wèile)` means “in order to” and sets up the purpose for the action that follows.
• Example 6:
  • 恭喜你通过了第一轮面试！
  • Pinyin: Gōngxǐ nǐ tōngguò le dì yī lún miànshì!
  • English: Congratulations on passing the first round of interviews!
  • Analysis: 面试 is a noun. In China, it's common to have multiple rounds (`轮 lún`) of interviews for a competitive position.
• Example 7:
  • 面试的时候不要太紧张，自信一点。
  • Pinyin: Miànshì de shíhou búyào tài jǐnzhāng, zìxìn yìdiǎn.
  • English: Don't be too nervous during the interview, be a little more confident.
  • Analysis: `面试的时候 (miànshì de shíhou)` means “during the interview,” a very useful time phrase.
• Example 8:
  • 他收到了三家公司的面试通知。
  • Pinyin: Tā shōudào le sān jiā gōngsī de miànshì tōngzhī.
  • English: He received interview notices from three companies.
  • Analysis: 面试通知 (miànshì tōngzhī) is a fixed phrase for an “interview notice” or “invitation to interview.”
• Example 9:
  • 这次面试是视频面试，不是现场的。
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì miànshì shì shìpín miànshì, búshì xiànchǎng de.
  • English: This interview is a video interview, not an in-person one.
  • Analysis: This sentence demonstrates compound nouns. `视频面试 (shìpín miànshì)` means “video interview,” a very relevant term today.
• Example 10:
  • 面试官问了我很多关于工作经验的问题。
  • Pinyin: Miànshìguān wèn le wǒ hěn duō guānyú gōngzuò jīngyàn de wèntí.
  • English: The interviewer asked me many questions about my work experience.
  • Analysis: This introduces the related term 面试官 (miànshìguān), the “interviewer.” It's formed by adding `官 (guān)`, meaning “official,” to 面试.

The most common mistake for English speakers is confusing 面试 (miànshì) with 采访 (cǎifǎng). While both can be translated as “interview,” their contexts are completely different.

• 面试 (miànshì): An evaluative interview for a job, school admission, or promotion. Someone is being assessed.
• 采访 (cǎifǎng): A journalistic or research interview to gather information. You 采访 a celebrity for a magazine, a witness for a news report, or an expert for your research paper.

Incorrect Usage:

• `我明天要去面试那个电影明星。`
• `Wǒ míngtiān yào qù miànshì nàge diànyǐng míngxīng.`
• Why it's wrong: This sounds like you are the hiring manager considering hiring the movie star for a job.
• Correct Usage: `我明天要去采访那个电影明星。` (I'm going to interview that movie star for an article/show.)

Incorrect Usage:

• `记者采访了那位求职者。`
• `Jìzhě cǎifǎng le nà wèi qiúzhízhě.`
• Why it's wrong: This sounds like a reporter is just gathering information from the job seeker for a story, not evaluating them for a position.
• Correct Usage: `HR面试了那位求职者。` (The HR person interviewed that job seeker.)

Think of it this way: In a 面试, there is a power imbalance where one party is judging the other. In a 采访, the goal is an exchange of information.

• 采访 (cǎifǎng) - The crucial distinction: a journalistic or research interview.
• 面试官 (miànshìguān) - The interviewer; the person conducting the 面试.
• 招聘 (zhāopìn) - To recruit; recruitment. The overall process that includes posting a job and holding interviews.
• 简历 (jiǎnlì) - Résumé or CV. The document you submit to get a 面试.
• 求职 (qiúzhí) - To seek a job; job hunting. The general activity of looking for work.
• 应聘 (yìngpìn) - To apply for a job position.
• 录取 (lùqǔ) - To be hired; to be admitted/enrolled. The successful outcome of a 面试.
• offer (offer) - The English word “offer” is commonly used directly in Mandarin to refer to a job offer.
• 经验 (jīngyàn) - Experience (work experience, life experience), a key topic of discussion in any 面试.
• 自我介绍 (zìwǒ jièshào) - Self-introduction. Almost every 面试 begins with this.