Comparing "gongzuo" and "shangban"

Both 工作 (gōngzuò) and 上班 (shàngbān) can be verbs related to doing one's job. Both are used in formal and informal contexts. The difference is that 上班 means "to go to work" during one's normal work hours, whereas 工作 means "to work" in a less specific sense, and it can also be a noun.











B1HSK3ASV4227
工作 (gōngzuò) 上班 (shàngbān)
Meaning to work; a job to go to work
Part of Speech verb, noun verb
Formality flexible flexible

For "go to work" both 工作 and 上班 are roughly interchangeable

Example Sentences

  • 你 在 哪里 工作Nǐ zài nǎlǐ gōngzuò ?Where are you working?
  • 我 今天 不 用 上班Wǒ jīntiān bù yòng shàngbān .I don't have to work today.
  • 因为 假期 调休,这个 星期 我 需要 上班 六 天。 Yīnwèi jiàqī tiáoxiū, zhège xīngqī wǒ xūyào shàngbān liù tiān.I have to work six days this week because of the holiday transfer.
  • 工作的 时候 不 要 看 视频。 gōngzuò de shíhou bù yào kàn shìpín.Don't watch videos at work.
  • 你 几 点 开始 工作Nǐ jǐ diǎn kāishǐ gōngzuò ?What time do you start working?
  • 我 现在 上班 了,我 可以 自己 挣钱 了。 Wǒ xiànzài shàngbān le, wǒ kěyǐ zìjǐ zhèngqián le.I'm working now, I can earn my own money.

工作 is more general in usage and can also be a noun

Set Phrases

  • 工作 经验 gōngzuò jīngyàn.work experience.
  • 工作 签证 gōngzuò qiānzhèng.work visa.
  • 工作 压力 gōngzuò yālì.work pressure.
  • 工作 环境 gōngzuò huánjìng.work environment.

Example Sentences

  • 你 的 工作 是 什么? Nǐ de gōngzuò shì shénme?What is your job?
  • 我 正在 申请 我 的 工作 签证Wǒ zhèngzài shēnqǐng wǒ de gōngzuò qiānzhèng.I am applying for my work visa.
  • 我 觉得 在 家 工作 更 有效 。 Wǒ juéde zài jiā gōngzuò gèng yǒuxiào.I think it is more effective to work at home.
  • 这个 星期 我 有 很 多 工作 。 Zhège xīngqī wǒ yǒu hěn duō gōngzuò .I have a lot of work this week.
  • 我 有 很 丰富 的 工作 经验Wǒ yǒu hěn fēngfù de gōngzuò jīngyàn.I have a lot of work experience.

上班

Set Phrases

  • 上班 时间 shàngbān shíjiān.work hours
  • 上班 高峰 shàngbān gāofēng.commute peak

Example Sentences

  • 我 每 天 走路 去 上班 。 Wǒ měi tiān zǒulù qù shàngbān .I walk to work every day.
  • 我 每 天 九 点 半 上班Wǒ měi tiān jiǔ diǎn bàn shàngbān .I go to work at 9:30 every day.
  • 今天 老板 没有 来 上班 。 Jīntiān lǎobǎn méiyǒu lái shàngbān .Today, my boss didn't come to work.
  • 现在 应该 是 上班 高峰 时间 , 但是 地铁 里 没有 人 。 Xiànzài yīnggāi shì shàngbān gāofēng shíjiān, dànshì dìtiě lǐ méiyǒu rén.It's supposed to be rush hour, but there's no one on the subway.

上班 是离合词

Example Sentences

  • 我 每 个 星期 四 天 Wǒ měi gè xīngqī shàng sì tiān bān .I work four days a week.
  • 自从 我 ,我 变得 很 忙。 Zìcóng wǒ shàng le bān , wǒ biànde hěn máng.Since I started working, I've become very busy.
  • 我 不 喜欢 这 家 公司,所以 我 三 天 我 就 辞职 了。 Wǒ bù xǐhuan zhè jiā gōngsī, suǒyǐ wǒ shàng le sān tiān bān wǒ jiù cízhí le.I didn't like the company, so I quit after three days of work.

Sources and further reading

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