Traditional Chinese - Work Talk

你是做什麼工作的？

Nǐ shì zuò shénme gōngzuò de?

What do you do for work?

Meaning: 你是做什麼工作的？ (Nǐ shì zuò shénme gōngzuò de?) means “What do you do for work?”

When to use: Use this in friendly conversation when you want to ask someone about their job.

Tip: Don’t translate word-for-word as 做什麼工作嗎 (zuò shénme gōngzuò ma). This chunk already has the question word 什麼 (shénme), so you don’t need 嗎 (ma).

我是___

Wǒ shì ___.

I work as a ___.

Meaning: 我是___。 (Wǒ shì ___.) means “I work as a ___.”

When to use: Use it with a job title or role, like 老師 (lǎoshī) or 工程師 (gōngchéngshī).

Tip: Use 我是___ (Wǒ shì ___) for a role, not a workplace. For a company or place, use 我在___上班 (Wǒ zài ___ shàngbān).

我在___上班。

Wǒ zài ___ shàngbān.

I work at ___.

Meaning: 我在___上班。 (Wǒ zài ___ shàngbān.) means “I work at ___.”

When to use: Use it for a company, store, school, hospital, or workplace name.

Tip: Don’t use 上班 (shàngbān) with a job title by itself. Say 我是設計師 (Wǒ shì shèjìshī) for “I’m a designer,” but 我在公司上班 (Wǒ zài gōngsī shàngbān) for “I work at a company.”

我做的是___方面的工作。

Wǒ zuò de shì ___ fāngmiàn de gōngzuò.

I work in ___.

Meaning: 我做的是___方面的工作。 (Wǒ zuò de shì ___ fāngmiàn de gōngzuò.) means “I work in ___.”

When to use: Use it to talk about your field, area, department, or kind of work.

我在找工作

Wǒ zài zhǎo gōngzuò.

I'm looking for a job.

Meaning: 我在找工作。 (Wǒ zài zhǎo gōngzuò.) means “I’m looking for a job.”

When to use: Use it when you are currently job hunting.

我___開始上班。

Wǒ ___ kāishǐ shàngbān.

I start work at ___.

Meaning: 我___開始上班。 (Wǒ ___ kāishǐ shàngbān.) means “I start work at ___.”

When to use: Use the blank with a time, such as 九點 (jiǔ diǎn) or 早上八點 (zǎoshang bā diǎn).

我___下班

Wǒ ___ xiàbān.

I finish work at ___.

Meaning: 我___下班。 (Wǒ ___ xiàbān.) means “I finish work at ___.”

When to use: Use the blank with a time. 下班 (xiàbān) is the natural way to say “get off work” in Taiwan Mandarin.

我___休假

Wǒ ___ xiūjià.

I have a day off on ___.

Meaning: 我___休假。 (Wǒ ___ xiūjià.) means “I have a day off on ___.”

When to use: Use the blank with a weekday or date, like 星期一 (xīngqī yī) or 明天 (míngtiān).

你可以幫我處理這件事嗎？

Nǐ kěyǐ bāng wǒ chǔlǐ zhè jiàn shì ma?

Can you help me with this task?

Meaning: 你可以幫我處理這件事嗎？ (Nǐ kěyǐ bāng wǒ chǔlǐ zhè jiàn shì ma?) means “Can you help me with this task?”

When to use: Use it at work when asking someone to help handle a task or situation.

Tip: 這件事 (zhè jiàn shì) sounds natural for “this thing/task” at work. It is often smoother than a direct translation of “task.”

我現在在休息

Wǒ xiànzài zài xiūxí.

I'm on break.

Meaning: 我現在在休息。 (Wǒ xiànzài zài xiūxí.) means “I’m on break.”

When to use: Use it when you are currently resting or taking a break during work.

我做全職

Wǒ zuò quánzhí.

I work full-time.

Meaning: 我做全職。 (Wǒ zuò quánzhí.) means “I work full-time.”

When to use: Use it to describe a full-time work schedule.

我做兼職

Wǒ zuò jiānzhí.

I work part-time.

Meaning: 我做兼職。 (Wǒ zuò jiānzhí.) means “I work part-time.”

When to use: Use it to describe a part-time work schedule.

會議幾點

Huìyì jǐ diǎn?

What time is the meeting?

Meaning: 會議幾點？ (Huìyì jǐ diǎn?) means “What time is the meeting?”

When to use: Use it to ask the time of a meeting. To sound a little more polite, you can add 請問 (qǐngwèn): 請問會議幾點？ (Qǐngwèn huìyì jǐ diǎn?)