jiānzhí: 兼职 - Part-time Job, Side Job, Moonlighting

• Keywords: jianzhi, 兼职, part-time job in China, side hustle China, moonlighting in Chinese, find a part-time job in China, what does jianzhi mean, Chinese for part-time, student job China, dǎgōng, fùyè
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 兼职 (jiānzhí), the essential Chinese word for a “part-time job” or “side hustle.” This guide explores its cultural significance for students and professionals in modern China, explaining how it differs from Western concepts. Learn how to use 兼职 correctly in conversation with over 10 practical example sentences, understand common mistakes, and explore related terms like 实习 (shíxí) and 副业 (fùyè) to navigate the Chinese job market.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jiānzhí
• Part of Speech: Noun, Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To hold a part-time job; a part-time job.
• In a Nutshell: 兼职 (jiānzhí) refers to any work done in addition to one's primary occupation, whether that's being a full-time student or a full-time employee. It's the go-to term for “part-time job,” “side gig,” or “moonlighting.” The core idea is that this job is held *concurrently* with another main responsibility, making it a very common concept among university students and young professionals looking to earn extra money or gain experience.

• 兼 (jiān): This character's original pictograph showed a hand holding two stalks of grain (禾). Its meaning is “simultaneously,” “concurrently,” or “holding two or more positions at once.” It beautifully captures the idea of juggling multiple responsibilities.
• 职 (zhí): This character means “duty,” “position,” or “job.” It refers to a person's professional role or post.

When combined, 兼职 (jiānzhí) literally translates to a “concurrent job” or “simultaneous duty.” This paints a clear picture of someone taking on extra work alongside their main role.

In modern China, 兼职 is a widespread and culturally significant practice, especially for two key groups: students and young urban professionals. For university students, doing a 兼职 is almost a rite of passage. Common part-time jobs include tutoring (家教 jiājiào), working in cafes or restaurants, or being a brand promoter. It's seen not just as a way to earn spending money, but as a crucial step towards independence, gaining social experience (社会经验 shèhuì jīngyàn), and building a resume. For young professionals in competitive cities like Beijing and Shanghai, 兼职 often takes the form of a “side hustle” or what's increasingly called a 副业 (fùyè). This could be anything from freelance design and translation to running an online store or driving for a ride-sharing app. It's driven by a desire to supplement income, pursue a passion, or even test a business idea before quitting a stable “iron rice bowl” (铁饭碗 tiě fànwǎn) job. Comparison with Western Culture: While “part-time job” is a direct translation, the cultural feel can differ. In the West, a “part-time job” can easily be someone's *only* form of employment. In Chinese, 兼职 strongly implies it's in addition to something else. The concept of a “side hustle” in American culture is a very close match in spirit, as both reflect an ambition to do more, earn more, and be more than just one's primary job title.

兼职 is a versatile word used in both formal and informal contexts.

• As a Noun: You can “look for a part-time job” (找兼职 - zhǎo jiānzhí), “have a part-time job” (有兼职 - yǒu jiānzhí), or “do a part-time job” (做兼职 - zuò jiānzhí).
• As a Verb: You can “兼职 as a teacher” (兼职当老师 - jiānzhí dāng lǎoshī). Here, it functions as a verb meaning “to work part-time.”

You will see this term everywhere on university bulletin boards, in WeChat groups for job seekers, and on major Chinese recruitment websites like Zhaopin (智联招聘) and 51job. The connotation is generally neutral to positive, suggesting that the person is hardworking and proactive.

• Example 1:
• 为了赚点零花钱，很多大学生都会去做兼职。
• Pinyin: Wèile zhuàn diǎn línghuāqián, hěn duō dàxuéshēng dōu huì qù zuò jiānzhí.
• English: In order to earn some spending money, many university students will go do a part-time job.
• Analysis: This is a classic use case. 做 (zuò) is the common verb paired with the noun 兼职. 零花钱 (línghuāqián) - “pocket money” or “spending money” - is a frequent motivation.
• Example 2:
• 我最近在找一份周末的兼职，想增加一些收入。
• Pinyin: Wǒ zuìjìn zài zhǎo yī fèn zhōumò de jiānzhí, xiǎng zēngjiā yīxiē shōurù.
• English: I've recently been looking for a weekend part-time job, as I want to increase my income.
• Analysis: Here, 兼职 is a noun. Note the measure word 份 (fèn) used for jobs. 增加收入 (zēngjiā shōurù) - “increase income” - is another key reason people seek a 兼职.
• Example 3:
• 他白天是程序员，晚上兼职教吉他。
• Pinyin: Tā báitiān shì chéngxùyuán, wǎnshàng jiānzhí jiāo jítā.
• English: He is a programmer during the day and works part-time teaching guitar at night.
• Analysis: In this sentence, 兼职 is used as an adverbial verb, modifying the main verb 教 (jiāo). It shows how he teaches guitar—part-time.
• Example 4:
• 你觉得我应该接受这份兼职工作吗？
• Pinyin: Nǐ juédé wǒ yīnggāi jiēshòu zhè fèn jiānzhí gōngzuò ma?
• English: Do you think I should accept this part-time job?
• Analysis: 兼职工作 (jiānzhí gōngzuò) is a common and slightly more formal way to say “part-time job.”
• Example 5:
• 做兼职虽然很累，但是能学到很多东西。
• Pinyin: Zuò jiānzhí suīrán hěn lèi, dànshì néng xuédào hěn duō dōngxi.
• English: Although working a part-time job is very tiring, you can learn a lot of things.
• Analysis: This sentence highlights the trade-off often associated with 兼职: it's hard work but rewarding in terms of experience.
• Example 6:
• 这家咖啡店正在招聘兼职服务员。
• Pinyin: Zhè jiā kāfēi diàn zhèngzài zhāopìn jiānzhí fúwùyuán.
• English: This coffee shop is currently recruiting part-time servers.
• Analysis: A very typical sentence you'd see in a job advertisement. 招聘 (zhāopìn) means “to recruit.”
• Example 7:
• 我的公司不允许员工有兼职。
• Pinyin: Wǒ de gōngsī bù yǔnxǔ yuángōng yǒu jiānzhí.
• English: My company does not permit employees to have part-time jobs.
• Analysis: This points to a potential real-world conflict. Some full-time employment contracts in China forbid moonlighting.
• Example 8:
• 他靠几份兼职的收入来支付学费。
• Pinyin: Tā kào jǐ fèn jiānzhí de shōurù lái zhīfù xuéfèi.
• English: He relies on the income from several part-time jobs to pay for his tuition.
• Analysis: This shows how multiple part-time jobs can be held. 靠 (kào) means “to rely on,” and 支付学费 (zhīfù xuéfèi) means “to pay tuition fees.”
• Example 9:
• 我想找一个可以在家做的兼职，比如在线翻译。
• Pinyin: Wǒ xiǎng zhǎo yī gè kěyǐ zài jiā zuò de jiānzhí, bǐrú zàixiàn fānyì.
• English: I want to find a part-time job that I can do from home, for example, online translation.
• Analysis: This reflects the modern trend of remote part-time work. 在家做 (zài jiā zuò) means “do at home.”
• Example 10:
• 你的兼职每小时多少钱？
• Pinyin: Nǐ de jiānzhí měi xiǎoshí duōshǎo qián?
• English: How much does your part-time job pay per hour?
• Analysis: A direct and practical question about compensation. 每小时 (měi xiǎoshí) means “per hour.”

• 兼职 (jiānzhí) vs. 实习 (shíxí) - Internship: This is the most common point of confusion for learners.
  • 兼职 (jiānzhí) is a job done primarily for money. It can be in any field, regardless of your career goals (e.g., an engineering student working at a milk tea shop).
  • 实习 (shíxí) is an internship, done primarily for professional experience in your field of study. It may be low-paid or even unpaid.
  • Incorrect: 我在一家律师事务所做兼职，为了学习经验。(I'm doing a part-time job at a law firm to gain experience.)
  • Correct: 我在一家律师事务所实习，为了学习经验。(I'm doing an internship at a law firm to gain experience.)
  • While an internship can feel like a part-time job, if the primary goal is career-related learning, 实习 (shíxí) is the more precise term.
• 兼职 (jiānzhí) vs. 零工 (línggōng) - Odd Job / Gig Work:
  • 兼职 implies a certain level of regularity and commitment (e.g., every weekend).
  • 零工 (línggōng) refers to temporary, one-off, or irregular “odd jobs” (e.g., helping someone move, a one-day promotional event).
  • If you tutor a student every Saturday, it's a 兼职. If you help your neighbor fix their computer once for 100 RMB, it's a 零工.

• 全职 (quánzhí) - Full-time job. The direct antonym of 兼职.
• 实习 (shíxí) - Internship. A position for students to gain professional experience, distinct from a money-focused 兼职.
• 副业 (fùyè) - Side-line, side business. Very similar to 兼职, but often implies a more serious, entrepreneurial venture that could potentially become a main business.
• 打工 (dǎgōng) - To work a job (for someone else). A very broad term that can encompass both full-time and part-time work, but often has a connotation of manual or non-professional labor.
• 零工 (línggōng) - Odd job, gig work. Refers to more temporary and less stable work than a 兼职.
• 自由职业 (zìyóu zhíyè) - Freelance/Self-employed. A freelancer's entire career might consist of work that others would consider a collection of part-time gigs.
• 招聘 (zhāopìn) - To recruit; recruitment. You'll often see 招聘兼职 (recruiting for a part-time position).
• 工资 (gōngzī) - Salary, wages. The money you earn from your 兼职 or 全职 job.
• 经验 (jīngyàn) - Experience. A key reason, besides money, for taking on a 兼职 or 实习.