quánzhí: 全职 - Full-time

• Keywords: quánzhí, 全职, full-time in Chinese, full-time job, full-time work, 全职工作, quánzhí gōngzuò, full-time employee, full-time mom, 全职太太, Chinese work culture, part-time vs full-time in Chinese
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese term 全职 (quánzhí), which means full-time. This comprehensive guide explains how to use `全职` when talking about jobs, careers, and even family roles in modern China. Discover its cultural significance, from the highly valued stable “full-time job” (`全职工作`) to the socially debated role of the “full-time wife” (`全职太太`). This entry is perfect for learners who want to understand work and life in China beyond the textbook.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): quánzhí
• Part of Speech: Adjective / Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: Full-time; engaging in a primary occupation for the standard number of hours.
• In a Nutshell: `全职` is the direct equivalent of “full-time” in English, used almost exclusively in the context of work or a primary role. It signifies a main occupation that takes up a standard workweek, implying stability, a regular salary, and benefits. It's the opposite of `兼职 (jiānzhí)`, or “part-time.”

• 全 (quán): Means “whole,” “entire,” or “all.” It's a simple and common character suggesting completeness.
• 职 (zhí): Means “duty,” “post,” or “job/occupation.” It relates to one's professional responsibilities.
• When combined, 全 (quán) + 职 (zhí) literally means “whole duty” or “entire occupation.” This perfectly captures the concept of a job that requires your full working hours and attention.

In Chinese culture, securing a `全职` job is a major life milestone, often seen as a prerequisite for stability, starting a family, and gaining social respect. It is closely linked to the traditional ideal of the `铁饭碗 (tiě fànwǎn)` or “iron rice bowl”—a secure, lifelong job. A fascinating point of comparison with Western culture is the evolution of the term `全职太太 (quánzhí tàitai)`, meaning “full-time wife” or stay-at-home-mom. In the West, this role is common but the terminology can feel dated. In China, the term is widely used and sparks lively public debate. For some, it represents a life of luxury and a return to traditional family values. For others, it symbolizes a woman's sacrifice of her own career and financial independence. This single phrase opens a window into contemporary Chinese views on family, gender roles, and economic status. More recently, a new term has emerged: `全职儿女 (quánzhí érnǚ)`, or “full-time children.” This refers to young adults who, after graduating, are paid a “salary” by their parents to stay home, do chores, and provide companionship. This reflects both the immense pressure of the modern job market and the enduring strength of familial bonds.

`全职` is a standard, neutral term used in various contexts:

• Job Hunting: You will see `全职` constantly in job advertisements and on résumés. Companies specify if a position is `全职` or `兼职 (jiānzhí)`.
• Daily Conversation: People use it to describe their employment status. For example, “I'm a full-time student” (`我是一个全职学生`).
• Describing Roles: It's used to describe not just jobs but any role that requires a person's full-time dedication, like the `全职太太` example.
• Formality: The term is neutral and can be used in both formal (contracts, interviews) and informal (talking with friends) settings.

• Example 1:
  • 我毕业后找到了一份全职工作。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ bìyè hòu zhǎodào le yí fèn quánzhí gōngzuò.
  • English: I found a full-time job after graduating.
  • Analysis: A classic and common sentence structure. `一份 (yí fèn)` is the measure word for a job, and `全职` acts as an adjective modifying `工作 (gōngzuò)`.
• Example 2:
  • 这家公司正在招聘三名全职工程师。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī zhèngzài zhāopìn sān míng quánzhí gōngchéngshī.
  • English: This company is currently recruiting three full-time engineers.
  • Analysis: This is typical language you would see in a job posting. `全职` directly modifies the job title.
• Example 3:
  • 你是全职还是兼职？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ shì quánzhí háishì jiānzhí?
  • English: Are you full-time or part-time?
  • Analysis: A direct question about employment status. Here, `全职` functions as a noun, representing the state of being a full-time worker.
• Example 4:
  • 她为了照顾孩子，决定当一名全职妈妈。
  • Pinyin: Tā wèile zhàogù háizi, juédìng dāng yī míng quánzhí māmā.
  • English: To take care of her children, she decided to be a full-time mom.
  • Analysis: This shows the use of `全职` outside of a paid job, referring to a primary life role.
• Example 5:
  • 全职工作的压力有时候很大。
  • Pinyin: Quánzhí gōngzuò de yālì yǒushíhou hěn dà.
  • English: The pressure of a full-time job can be immense sometimes.
  • Analysis: `全职工作` is used here as the subject of the sentence, a very common construction.
• Example 6:
  • 他辞掉了工作，现在是一名全职作家。
  • Pinyin: Tā cídiào le gōngzuò, xiànzài shì yī míng quánzhí zuòjiā.
  • English: He quit his job and is now a full-time writer.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates how `全职` can be applied to freelance or creative professions, indicating it's their sole source of income and work.
• Example 7:
  • 与兼职相比，全职员工的福利更好。
  • Pinyin: Yǔ jiānzhí xiāngbǐ, quánzhí yuángōng de fúlì gèng hǎo.
  • English: Compared to part-time, the benefits for full-time employees are better.
  • Analysis: A sentence directly comparing full-time and part-time work, highlighting a key difference.
• Example 8:
  • 我不想再做全职了，我想试试自由职业。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ bù xiǎng zài zuò quánzhí le, wǒ xiǎng shìshi zìyóu zhíyè.
  • English: I don't want to work full-time anymore, I want to try freelancing.
  • Analysis: Here, `做全职 (zuò quánzhí)` is a colloquial way of saying “to work a full-time job.”
• Example 9:
  • 很多年轻人选择成为“全职儿女”，在家陪伴父母。
  • Pinyin: Hěn duō niánqīngrén xuǎnzé chéngwéi “quánzhí érnǚ”, zài jiā péibàn fùmǔ.
  • English: Many young people are choosing to become “full-time children,” staying home to accompany their parents.
  • Analysis: This introduces the very modern and culturally specific concept of `全职儿女`.
• Example 10:
  • 这个项目需要你全职投入。
  • Pinyin: Zhège xiàngmù xūyào nǐ quánzhí tóurù.
  • English: This project requires your full-time commitment.
  • Analysis: This shows `全职` used adverbially, modifying the verb `投入 (tóurù)`, meaning “to invest” or “to commit.” It means you need to commit to it with all your working hours.

• `全职 (quánzhí)` vs. `专职 (zhuānzhí)`: This is a crucial distinction that often confuses learners.
  • `全职 (quánzhí)` refers to time commitment. It answers the question, “Do you work part-time or full-time?”
  • `专职 (zhuānzhí)` refers to specialization or professionalism. It answers the question, “Is this your dedicated profession or just a side-gig/hobby?”
  • Example: A doctor is a `专职 (zhuānzhí)` medical professional. He almost certainly also works `全职 (quánzhí)`. An amateur photographer who quits her office job to only do photography becomes a `专职` photographer. Whether she works `全职` (40+ hours/week) or `兼职` (part-time hours) is a separate question.
  • Incorrect: ~~我是专职工作。~~ (Wǒ shì zhuānzhí gōngzuò.)
  • Correct: 我是全职工作。(Wǒ shì quánzhí gōngzuò.) - I work full-time.
  • Correct: 我是一名专职司机。(Wǒ shì yī míng zhuānzhí sījī.) - I am a professional driver.
• Don't Forget the Noun: In English, we can say “I work full-time.” In Chinese, while you can say `我是全职的 (Wǒ shì quánzhí de)`, it's more common and clear to include the noun, as in `我有一份全职工作 (Wǒ yǒu yí fèn quánzhí gōngzuò)`.

• 兼职 (jiānzhí) - The direct antonym of `全职`, meaning “part-time.”
• 工作 (gōngzuò) - The general term for “job” or “work,” which is often described as being `全职`.
• 职业 (zhíyè) - “Profession” or “career.” This is a broader concept than a single job. Your `职业` might be teaching, while your current `工作` is a `全职` position at a specific school.
• 全职太太 (quánzhí tàitai) - A specific and culturally significant application of the term: “full-time wife” or “homemaker.”
• 专职 (zhuānzhí) - A commonly confused term meaning “specialized” or “professional,” referring to role focus, not time commitment.
• 上班族 (shàngbānzú) - “Office worker” or “commuter tribe.” The vast majority of the `上班族` have `全职` jobs.
• 铁饭碗 (tiě fànwǎn) - The “iron rice bowl,” the traditional cultural ideal of a stable, secure, lifelong `全职` job, often with the government or a state-owned enterprise.
• 自由职业 (zìyóu zhíyè) - “Freelance.” The opposite lifestyle to having a fixed `全职` job.