dàixīn xiūjià: 带薪休假 - Paid Leave, Paid Vacation

• Keywords: dai xin xiu jia, dàixīn xiūjià, 带薪休假, paid leave in China, paid vacation China, Chinese for paid time off, PTO in China, annual leave China, Chinese labor law, work benefits in China.
• Summary: 带薪休假 (dàixīn xiūjià) is the Chinese term for paid leave or paid vacation. It refers to the time off from work that an employee is entitled to while still receiving their full salary. Understanding this term is crucial for anyone working in or with China, as it is not just a company perk but a legally protected right under Chinese labor law. This page explores its meaning, cultural significance, and practical usage in the modern Chinese workplace.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): dàixīn xiūjià
• Part of Speech: Verb Phrase / Noun
• HSK Level: N/A (Concept relevant for HSK 4+, vocabulary is HSK 5+)
• Concise Definition: To take a vacation or leave of absence from work without a loss of salary.
• In a Nutshell: `带薪休假` literally means “to take a holiday while carrying your salary.” It's the standard term for what English speakers call Paid Time Off (PTO) or paid vacation. It represents a key component of modern work-life balance in China and is a standard benefit detailed in any formal employment contract.

• 带 (dài): To carry, to bring with. Imagine a person carrying a bag or wearing a belt—they are bringing it with them.
• 薪 (xīn): Salary, wages. Originally, this character referred to firewood (a valuable commodity), which evolved to mean payment for work.
• 休 (xiū): To rest. This is a beautiful pictograph of a person (人) leaning against a tree (木), the very image of taking a break.
• 假 (jià): Leave, vacation, holiday. (Note: this character is also pronounced `jiǎ` when it means fake/false).

When combined, `带薪 (dàixīn)` means “carrying salary,” and `休假 (xiūjià)` means “to rest on a holiday/take leave.” Together, 带薪休假 (dàixīn xiūjià) paints a clear picture: taking a restful vacation while still bringing your salary with you.

The concept of `带薪休假` highlights a major shift in Chinese work culture. For decades, the prevailing ethic was one of endurance and sacrifice for the collective or the company, with long hours being the norm (a modern manifestation is the controversial “996 culture”). Taking personal vacation was often seen as secondary. However, with economic development and a new generation entering the workforce, there is a growing emphasis on individual rights and work-life balance. `带薪休假` is at the heart of this shift. Comparison to Western Culture (USA): A key difference lies in its legal status. In the United States, Paid Time Off (PTO) is a common and expected benefit, but there is no federal law mandating that companies provide it. It's a matter of company policy and negotiation. In China, `带薪年休假` (paid annual leave) is a legally mandated right for all employees who have worked continuously for more than one year. The “Regulation on Paid Annual Leave for Employees” (《职工带薪年休假条例》) stipulates the minimum number of days:

• 1-10 years of cumulative work experience: 5 days
• 10-20 years of cumulative work experience: 10 days
• 20+ years of cumulative work experience: 15 days

Companies are free to offer more than the legal minimum, but not less. This makes `带薪休假` not just a “perk” but a fundamental labor right, a topic of frequent discussion in job interviews and contract negotiations.

`带薪休假` is used in both formal and informal contexts, but it's most common in professional settings.

• Formal Usage: You will see this term in your `劳动合同 (láodòng hétong)` or labor contract, in company HR policies, and on official leave request forms. When discussing your benefits package with HR, this is the precise term to use.
• Informal Usage: In daily conversation, people often use the shorter, more common term `年假 (niánjià)`, which means “annual leave.” They might ask a friend, “你今年还有几天年假？” (Nǐ jīnnián hái yǒu jǐ tiān niánjià? - How many days of annual leave do you have left this year?). While `年假` is more common for annual vacation, `带薪休假` is the broader, more formal category that it falls into.
• Connotation: The term carries a very positive connotation. It is a highly desired benefit and a symbol of a good, modern company. The only negative context is when someone complains about not having enough `带薪休假` or their boss not allowing them to take it.

• Example 1:
  • 我们公司每年有十天带薪休假。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī měi nián yǒu shí tiān dàixīn xiūjià.
  • English: Our company offers ten days of paid leave per year.
  • Analysis: A simple, factual statement about a company's benefits policy. This is a very common way to use the term.
• Example 2:
  • 我想申请五天带薪休假，去泰国旅游。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xiǎng shēnqǐng wǔ tiān dàixīn xiūjià, qù Tàiguó lǚyóu.
  • English: I want to apply for five days of paid leave to travel to Thailand.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates how to use the term when making a formal request for time off. `申请 (shēnqǐng)` means “to apply for.”
• Example 3:
  • 根据中国劳动法，员工享有带薪休假的权利。
  • Pinyin: Gēnjù Zhōngguó láodòngfǎ, yuángōng xiǎngyǒu dàixīn xiūjià de quánlì.
  • English: According to Chinese labor law, employees enjoy the right to paid leave.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the legal status of paid leave in China. `权利 (quánlì)` means “right.”
• Example 4:
  • 你面试的时候，别忘了问带薪休假的政策。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ miànshì de shíhou, bié wàngle wèn dàixīn xiūjià de zhèngcè.
  • English: When you have your job interview, don't forget to ask about the paid leave policy.
  • Analysis: Practical advice for job seekers in China, showing the term's importance in employment negotiations.
• Example 5:
  • 老板总是不批准我的带薪休假申请，我太累了。
  • Pinyin: Lǎobǎn zǒngshì bù pīzhǔn wǒ de dàixīn xiūjià shēnqǐng, wǒ tài lèi le.
  • English: The boss never approves my paid leave requests, I'm so tired.
  • Analysis: Shows a negative situation where the right to paid leave is not being respected. `批准 (pīzhǔn)` means “to approve.”
• Example 6:
  • 公司的福利很好，除了带薪休假，还有补充医疗保险。
  • Pinyin: Gōngsī de fúlì hěn hǎo, chúle dàixīn xiūjià, hái yǒu bǔchōng yīliáo bǎoxiǎn.
  • English: The company's benefits are great; besides paid leave, there's also supplementary medical insurance.
  • Analysis: This positions `带薪休假` as a key part of a company's `福利 (fúlì)`, or benefits package.
• Example 7:
  • 我把今年的带薪休假和国庆节连在一起，可以休息半个月。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ bǎ jīnnián de dàixīn xiūjià hé Guóqìngjié lián zài yīqǐ, kěyǐ xiūxi bàn ge yuè.
  • English: I'm combining this year's paid leave with the National Day holiday, so I can rest for half a month.
  • Analysis: A common strategy in China is to “tack on” personal leave to public holidays to create a longer vacation.
• Example 8:
  • 这是带薪休假，不是病假，你不需要提供医生证明。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shì dàixīn xiūjià, búshì bìngjià, nǐ bù xūyào tígōng yīshēng zhèngmíng.
  • English: This is paid vacation, not sick leave; you don't need to provide a doctor's note.
  • Analysis: This sentence clearly distinguishes between two different types of paid time off.
• Example 9:
  • 如果当年不休带薪休假，公司应该支付三倍的工资。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ dāngnián bù xiū dàixīn xiūjià, gōngsī yīnggāi zhīfù sān bèi de gōngzī.
  • English: If you don't take your paid leave within the year, the company is supposed to pay you three times your salary (for those days).
  • Analysis: This refers to a specific provision in the Chinese labor law regarding unused vacation days, showing a deeper, more technical use of the term.
• Example 10:
  • 我还有三天年假没休，得在年底前用完。 (Using a common synonym)
  • Pinyin: Wǒ hái yǒu sān tiān niánjià méi xiū, děi zài niándǐ qián yòng wán.
  • English: I still have three days of annual leave I haven't taken, I have to use them before the end of the year.
  • Analysis: This example uses the more common colloquial term `年假 (niánjià)`, which is essentially a type of `带薪休假`.

• Mistake 1: Confusing it with other types of leave.
  • English speakers often lump all “time off” together. In Chinese, it's important to be specific.
    • Incorrect: 我生病了，想请三天带薪休假。(Wǒ shēngbìng le, xiǎng qǐng sān tiān dàixīn xiūjià.) - “I'm sick, I want to ask for three days of paid vacation.”
    • Why it's wrong: While sick leave is usually paid, it's called `病假 (bìngjià)`. Using `带薪休假` implies you are taking it for personal leisure, not illness.
    • Correct: 我生病了，想请三天病假。(Wǒ shēngbìng le, xiǎng qǐng sān tiān bìngjià.)
• Mistake 2: Confusing it with public holidays.
  • `带薪休假` is the leave you *earn* and can schedule yourself. `法定假日 (fǎdìng jiàrì)` are national public holidays like Chinese New Year or National Day, which everyone gets off. You don't “apply” for a public holiday.
• Nuance: “PTO” vs. a Legally Defined Right
  • A common pitfall is assuming the system works just like it does back home. While in English “paid leave” is a general term, in a Chinese context, `带薪休假` is tied directly to legal regulations. When discussing it, be aware that your Chinese counterpart is thinking of it in the context of the law, not just as a negotiable company perk.

• 年假 (niánjià) - Annual leave. The most common type of `带薪休假` and often used as a synonym in casual conversation.
• 病假 (bìngjià) - Sick leave. Paid time off for illness, distinct from vacation.
• 事假 (shìjià) - Personal leave. Time off to handle personal affairs, which is often unpaid, unlike `带薪休假`.
• 产假 (chǎnjià) - Maternity leave. A legally protected form of paid leave for new mothers.
• 法定假日 (fǎdìng jiàrì) - Legal/public holidays. National holidays that are separate from your personal leave allowance.
• 福利 (fúlì) - Benefits/welfare. `带薪休假` is considered a standard and important part of a company's `福利`.
• 劳动合同 (láodòng hétong) - Labor contract. The legal document where the terms of your `带薪休假` are officially stated.
• 加班 (jiābān) - To work overtime. The conceptual opposite of taking a break.
• 调休 (tiáoxiū) - To adjust rest days. The practice of working a weekend day to get a different weekday off, often done to create longer holiday periods around public holidays.
• 996 (jiǔjiǔliù) - The “996” work culture (9am to 9pm, 6 days a week), which is often criticized for violating workers' rights to rest and take leave.