niánjià: 年假 - Annual Leave, Paid Vacation

• Keywords: nianjia, 年假, annual leave China, paid vacation in Chinese, how to say vacation in Chinese, Chinese work culture, PTO in China, asking for time off in China, sick leave in Chinese, public holidays China.
• Summary: Learn all about 年假 (niánjià), the Chinese term for annual leave or paid vacation. This entry explains what 年假 means, how it's a crucial part of modern Chinese work culture, and how it differs from public holidays. Discover how to ask for time off, discuss your vacation plans, and understand the cultural nuances of work-life balance in China, making it an essential term for anyone working or interacting in a Chinese-speaking environment.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): niánjià (nián jià)
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: Paid annual leave from a job.
• In a Nutshell: 年假 (niánjià) is the Chinese equivalent of “annual leave” or “Paid Time Off” (PTO) in the West. It's the personal vacation time that an employee earns over the year, separate from national public holidays like Chinese New Year or National Day. You use your 年假 for personal travel, relaxation, or handling private matters that require a day off from work. It's a fundamental concept in any Chinese workplace.

• 年 (nián): This character means “year.” Its ancient pictograph depicted a person carrying harvested grain, symbolizing the end of an agricultural cycle and the start of a new year.
• 假 (jià): This character means “leave” or “vacation.” It's composed of the person radical (亻) on the left, suggesting it's something for people. Note: This character has another common pronunciation, jiǎ, which means “fake” or “false,” so context is key!
• When combined, 年假 (niánjià) literally translates to “year leave,” which perfectly captures its meaning as “annual leave.”

年假 (niánjià) is a relatively modern concept in China, codified into labor law in 2008. While the idea of taking a break from work is universal, the application and perception of 年假 in China have some unique cultural aspects. Comparison with Western “PTO”: In the West, Paid Time Off (PTO) is often seen as a right that employees are strongly encouraged to use for their mental health and well-being. While this is also true in China, there can sometimes be a subtle, unspoken pressure in more competitive or traditional work environments (like the infamous “996” culture) to not use all of one's allocated leave, as it might be perceived as a lack of dedication. However, this is changing rapidly with younger generations who prioritize work-life balance. The Art of “拼假 (pīnjià)”: A hugely popular and practical cultural phenomenon is 拼假 (pīnjià), which means “to piece together a vacation.” This is the clever strategy of using a few days of your 年假 to connect a weekend with a public holiday, turning a 3-day break into a week-long or even 10-day-long vacation. Travel agencies and social media are often full of 拼假 guides before major holidays, showing people the most efficient way to maximize their time off. This highlights a pragmatic and resourceful approach to vacation planning.

年假 is a standard term used in all professional and personal contexts related to work.

• In the Office: You would use it when talking to HR, filling out leave request forms, or discussing plans with your manager. The most common verb used with it is 请 (qǐng), meaning “to request,” as in 请年假 (qǐng niánjià).
• In Conversation: With friends and colleagues, you'll often hear questions like, “你还有几天年假？” (Nǐ hái yǒu jǐ tiān niánjià? - How many days of annual leave do you still have?) or discussions about what to do during the upcoming 年假.
• Formality: The term is neutral. It's used in formal written contracts (e.g., “员工每年享有10天带薪年假” - Employees are entitled to 10 days of paid annual leave per year) and in casual chats.

• Example 1:
  • 我想请年假去旅游。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xiǎng qǐng niánjià qù lǚyóu.
  • English: I want to request annual leave to go traveling.
  • Analysis: This shows the most common structure for requesting leave. 请 (qǐng) is the essential verb here.
• Example 2:
  • 你今年还有几天年假？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ jīnnián hái yǒu jǐ tiān niánjià?
  • English: How many days of annual leave do you have left this year?
  • Analysis: A very common question among colleagues. 还 (hái) means “still” or “left.”
• Example 3:
  • 我的年假都休完了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de niánjià dōu xiū wán le.
  • English: I've already used up all my annual leave.
  • Analysis: 休 (xiū) means “to take a break” or “to be on leave,” and 完 (wán) is a result complement meaning “finished.” 休完 (xiū wán) means “to finish using” one's leave.
• Example 4:
  • 经理，我下周可以休三天年假吗？
  • Pinyin: Jīnglǐ, wǒ xià zhōu kěyǐ xiū sān tiān niánjià ma?
  • English: Manager, can I take three days of annual leave next week?
  • Analysis: A polite and direct way to ask a superior for time off.
• Example 5:
  • 我们公司规定，工作满一年后才有年假。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī guīdìng, gōngzuò mǎn yī nián hòu cái yǒu niánjià.
  • English: Our company policy states that you only get annual leave after working for a full year.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates how 年假 is used in a formal, corporate policy context.
• Example 6:
  • 我打算把年假和国庆节连在一起休。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ dǎsuàn bǎ niánjià hé Guóqìngjié lián zài yīqǐ xiū.
  • English: I plan to take my annual leave connected to the National Day holiday.
  • Analysis: This is a perfect example of describing 拼假 (pīnjià). 连在一起 (lián zài yīqǐ) means “to connect together.”
• Example 7:
  • 如果年底年假没休完，公司会把钱补给你。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ niándǐ niánjià méi xiū wán, gōngsī huì bǎ qián bǔ gěi nǐ.
  • English: If you don't finish your annual leave by the end of the year, the company will compensate you with money.
  • Analysis: This addresses the common policy of paying out unused vacation days. 补 (bǔ) here means “to compensate.”
• Example 8:
  • 真羡慕你，有那么多年假！
  • Pinyin: Zhēn xiànmù nǐ, yǒu nàme duō niánjià!
  • English: I'm so jealous, you have so much annual leave!
  • Analysis: A casual, conversational phrase expressing envy, very common among friends.
• Example 9:
  • 我休年假的时候，我的工作请你多费心了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xiū niánjià de shíhou, wǒ de gōngzuò qǐng nǐ duō fèixīn le.
  • English: While I'm on annual leave, please help me look after my work.
  • Analysis: A polite phrase to say to a colleague who will be covering for you. 多费心 (duō fèixīn) literally means “expend more heart/mind” and is a common way to ask someone to take care of something.
• Example 10:
  • 带薪年假是法律规定的员工福利。
  • Pinyin: Dàixīn niánjià shì fǎlǜ guīdìng de yuángōng fúlì.
  • English: Paid annual leave is an employee benefit stipulated by law.
  • Analysis: This uses the more formal term 带薪 (dàixīn) which means “paid” (literally “to carry salary”). 带薪年假 is the full, unambiguous term for “paid annual leave.”

A common point of confusion for learners is distinguishing 年假 from other types of time off.

• 年假 (niánjià) vs. 假期 (jiàqī): This is the most important distinction.
  • 年假 is specific: it's the paid vacation days you get from your job.
  • 假期 (jiàqī) is general: it means “holiday” or “vacation period.” It's an umbrella term that includes 年假, public holidays (法定假日 fǎdìng jiàrì), school holidays (寒暑假 hánshǔjià), etc.
  • Incorrect: “My Spring Festival vacation is my 年假.”
  • Correct: “Spring Festival is a public 假期 (jiàqī). I'm adding my 年假 (niánjià) to it to make it longer.”
• 年假 (niánjià) vs. 病假 (bìngjià) / 事假 (shìjià):
  • 病假 (bìngjià) is “sick leave.”
  • 事假 (shìjià) is “personal leave” for handling specific affairs, which is often unpaid.
  • You must be specific. If you are sick, you 请病假 (qǐng bìngjià), not 请年假 (qǐng niánjià). Using the wrong term would be confusing and incorrect in a work setting.

• 请假 (qǐngjià) - The essential verb for “to ask for leave” of any kind.
• 假期 (jiàqī) - The general term for “holiday” or “vacation period.”
• 休假 (xiūjià) - To take leave; to be on vacation. Can be a verb or noun.
• 带薪休假 (dàixīn xiūjià) - A more formal way to say “paid leave,” often seen in contracts.
• 病假 (bìngjià) - Sick leave.
• 事假 (shìjià) - Personal affairs leave, often unpaid.
• 法定假日 (fǎdìng jiàrì) - Legal/statutory public holidays (e.g., National Day, Dragon Boat Festival).
• 拼假 (pīnjià) - The popular practice of “piecing together” annual leave and public holidays to create a longer vacation.
• 加班 (jiābān) - To work overtime; the conceptual opposite of taking leave.
• 调休 (tiáoxiū) - To adjust days off, often when a public holiday falls on a weekend, requiring people to work on a weekend day to “make up for” a weekday off.