gōngzī: 工资 - Salary, Wage, Pay

• Keywords: 工资, gōngzī, salary in China, wage in Chinese, Chinese pay, how to say salary in Chinese, Chinese for wage, 月薪, 年薪, 薪水, income in Chinese
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 工资 (gōngzī), which means “salary” or “wage.” This comprehensive guide covers its meaning, cultural significance, and practical use in job hunting and daily conversation in China. Discover how to talk about your salary, ask for a raise, and understand the difference between 工资 (salary) and 收入 (income) to avoid common mistakes.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): gōngzī
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: A fixed, regular payment, typically paid monthly, from an employer to an employee for their work.
• In a Nutshell: 工资 (gōngzī) is the most common and direct word for what you earn from your job—your salary or wages. It's the money that gets deposited into your bank account for the work you've done. Think of it as the standard, neutral term you'd see on a job application or use when discussing your monthly pay with a friend.

• 工 (gōng): This character means “work,” “labor,” or “job.” Its shape is thought to be a pictogram of a carpenter's square, a fundamental tool for building and craftsmanship.
• 资 (zī): This character means “resources,” “capital,” “funds,” or “assets.”
• Together, 工资 (gōngzī) literally translates to “work funds” or “labor resources.” This combination perfectly captures the modern meaning of a salary: the financial resources you receive in exchange for your labor.

In Chinese culture, 工资 (gōngzī) is more than just money; it's a significant indicator of one's ability, social standing, and capacity to provide for a family. While it can be a private topic, it's also a subject of immense practical importance and frequent discussion among close friends and family. A key cultural difference compared to the West (e.g., the United States) is the payment cycle. In China, salaries are almost universally paid on a monthly basis (月薪 - yuèxīn), whereas bi-weekly payments are common in the US. This monthly rhythm influences budgeting and financial planning. The concept of 工资 is also historically tied to the idea of the “iron rice bowl” (铁饭碗 - tiě fànwǎn). This term refers to the ideal of a secure, stable job (often with the government) that provides a steady salary for life. While China's economy has become much more dynamic, the underlying desire for a stable 工资 remains a powerful motivator for many, influencing career choices and life decisions like marriage and buying property. A good salary is a significant source of “face” (面子 - miànzi), bringing pride to both the individual and their family.

工资 is a highly practical term used across various settings:

• Job Hunting and the Workplace: This is the default term used in job advertisements, interviews, and employment contracts. You'll frequently encounter phrases like:
  • 期望工资 (qīwàng gōngzī): Expected salary
  • 工资面议 (gōngzī miànyì): Salary negotiable (literally “salary discussed in person”)
  • 涨工资 (zhǎng gōngzī): To get a pay raise
  • 发工资 (fā gōngzī): To get paid / Payday
• Daily Conversation: Among friends or family, talking about salary is common. People will talk about their pay being high or low, or when their next payday is. It's a fundamental part of discussing one's livelihood.
• Formality: 工资 is a neutral term, appropriate for both formal (contracts) and informal (chatting with friends) situations. It's slightly more formal and standard than its close synonym, 薪水 (xīnshuǐ), but both are used interchangeably in everyday speech.

• Example 1:
  • 我对现在的工作很满意，特别是工资。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ duì xiànzài de gōngzuò hěn mǎnyì, tèbié shì gōngzī.
  • English: I'm very satisfied with my current job, especially the salary.
  • Analysis: A straightforward and positive statement. This is a common way to express satisfaction with one's compensation.
• Example 2:
  • 你每个月的工资是多少？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ měi ge yuè de gōngzī shì duōshao?
  • English: How much is your monthly salary?
  • Analysis: A very direct question. Depending on the culture and relationship, this can be considered normal or intrusive. It's more likely to be asked between close friends or family in China than between colleagues in a Western office.
• Example 3:
  • 老板，我什么时候能涨工资啊？
  • Pinyin: Lǎobǎn, wǒ shénme shíhou néng zhǎng gōngzī a?
  • English: Boss, when can I get a raise?
  • Analysis: Here, 涨工资 (zhǎng gōngzī) is a set phrase for “to get a raise.” The “啊 (a)” at the end softens the tone, making it sound more like a hopeful inquiry than a demand.
• Example 4:
  • 今天发工资了，我们出去吃顿好的吧！
  • Pinyin: Jīntiān fā gōngzī le, wǒmen chūqù chī dùn hǎo de ba!
  • English: It's payday today, let's go out for a nice meal!
  • Analysis: 发工资 (fā gōngzī) is a key verb phrase meaning “to issue wages” or, from the employee's perspective, “to get paid.” It's often associated with celebration.
• Example 5:
  • 这点儿工资在上海生活压力太大了。
  • Pinyin: Zhè diǎnr gōngzī zài Shànghǎi shēnghuó yālì tài dà le.
  • English: With such a small salary, the pressure of living in Shanghai is too great.
  • Analysis: This sentence expresses a common complaint about salary not keeping up with the high cost of living in major cities.
• Example 6:
  • 我的期望工资是每月一万块。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de qīwàng gōngzī shì měi yuè yī wàn kuài.
  • English: My expected salary is 10,000 RMB per month.
  • Analysis: 期望工资 (qīwàng gōngzī) is a standard phrase used during job interviews and salary negotiations.
• Example 7:
  • 如果你经常迟到，老板会扣你的工资。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ jīngcháng chídào, lǎobǎn huì kòu nǐ de gōngzī.
  • English: If you are often late, the boss will deduct from your salary.
  • Analysis: 扣工资 (kòu gōngzī) means “to dock pay” or “deduct from salary,” a common warning in employment contexts.
• Example 8:
  • 他用第一个月的工资给妈妈买了一件礼物。
  • Pinyin: Tā yòng dì-yī ge yuè de gōngzī gěi māma mǎi le yí jiàn lǐwù.
  • English: He used his first month's salary to buy a gift for his mom.
  • Analysis: This shows how 工资 is seen as the fruit of one's labor, often used to show filial piety or celebrate a new chapter in life.
• Example 9:
  • 找工作的时候，不要只看工资，也要考虑公司的发展前景。
  • Pinyin: Zhǎo gōngzuò de shíhou, búyào zhǐ kàn gōngzī, yě yào kǎolǜ gōngsī de fāzhǎn qiánjǐng.
  • English: When looking for a job, don't just look at the salary; you also have to consider the company's future prospects.
  • Analysis: This is common advice given to young job-seekers, highlighting the tension between immediate pay and long-term career growth.
• Example 10:
  • 我们公司的工资是每月15号发。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī de gōngzī shì měi yuè shíwǔ hào fā.
  • English: Our company's salaries are paid on the 15th of every month.
  • Analysis: A practical sentence specifying the exact payday, a crucial piece of information for any employee.
• Example 11:
  • 税后工资比我想象的要少一些。
  • Pinyin: Shuì hòu gōngzī bǐ wǒ xiǎngxiàng de yào shǎo yīxiē.
  • English: The after-tax salary is a bit less than I imagined.
  • Analysis: This introduces the practical concept of “take-home pay” by using 税后 (shuì hòu), meaning “after tax.” The opposite is 税前 (shuì qián), “before tax.”

• 工资 (gōngzī) vs. 收入 (shōurù): This is the most critical distinction for learners.
  • 工资 (gōngzī) is specifically salary/wage from an employer.
  • 收入 (shōurù) is total income, which can include salary, investment returns, rental income, freelance earnings, etc.
  • Incorrect: 他不工作，但是他的工资很高。(Tā bù gōngzuò, dànshì tā de gōngzī hěn gāo.) - “He doesn't work, but his salary is high.” This is illogical.
  • Correct: 他不工作，但是他的收入很高，因为他收房租。(Tā bù gōngzuò, dànshì tā de shōurù hěn gāo, yīnwèi tā shōu fángzū.) - “He doesn't work, but his income is high because he collects rent.”
• 工资 (gōngzī) vs. 薪水 (xīnshuǐ): These two terms are largely interchangeable synonyms in modern spoken Chinese.
  • 工资 is the standard, neutral, and slightly more formal term.
  • 薪水 (xīnshuǐ) literally means “firewood and water money,” implying money for basic necessities. It can feel slightly more colloquial or personal. You can safely use either in most daily conversations without issue.
• 工资 (gōngzī) vs. 薪酬 (xīnchóu):
  • 薪酬 (xīnchóu) is a formal, business-oriented term for “remuneration” or a total compensation package. It includes salary, bonuses, stock options, benefits, and other perks. You would see this in an HR manual or a high-level executive contract, but you wouldn't use it to ask a friend how much they make.

• 薪水 (xīnshuǐ) - A very common synonym for salary, often used interchangeably with 工资.
• 收入 (shōurù) - The broader term for “income” from all sources, not just a job.
• 奖金 (jiǎngjīn) - A bonus; an extra payment outside of the regular salary, often given for good performance or during holidays.
• 年薪 (niánxīn) - Annual salary; used when discussing yearly compensation, especially for high-level positions.
• 月薪 (yuèxīn) - Monthly salary; the most common way salaries are measured and discussed in China.
• 发工资 (fā gōngzī) - A verb phrase meaning “to get paid” (from the employee's view) or “to issue wages” (from the employer's view).
• 涨工资 (zhǎng gōngzī) - A verb phrase meaning “to get a pay raise.”
• 铁饭碗 (tiě fànwǎn) - The “iron rice bowl”; a cultural concept referring to a secure, stable job with a guaranteed salary for life.
• 五险一金 (wǔ xiǎn yī jīn) - “Five Insurances and One Fund”; the mandatory social benefits package in China (pension, medical, unemployment, etc.) that is deducted from and contributed to alongside one's salary.
• 薪酬 (xīnchóu) - A formal term for a total “compensation package” or “remuneration,” including salary, bonuses, and benefits.