How to Say "I Work" in Chinese

我工作

wǒ gōngzuò

In Chinese, the phrase for "I work" is 我工作 (wǒ gōngzuò).

This phrase is a statement used to say that one has a job or is currently performing a task for a living.

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase is composed of 我 (wǒ), meaning "I" and 工作 (gōngzuò), meaning "to work" or "job".

The component 工作 (gōngzuò) can function as both a verb meaning "to work" and a noun meaning "job" or "work".

wǒ gōngzuò

In a professional setting, instead of saying 我工作, you might hear someone say 我在上班. The term 上班 literally means 'to go up to work' and is the standard way to say you are 'on the clock'.
The character 工 (gōng) in 工作 is a pictograph that originally depicted a carpenter's square or tool.
In many Chinese social contexts, asking 你在做什么工作? (What work are you doing?) is a standard way to break the ice or start a conversation with a stranger.

我工作得太多了。
I work too much.
Tatoeba #1783806 by sadhen, translation #1553441 by CK
我工作很多小時。
I work long hours.
Tatoeba #6047503 by verdastelo9604, translation #4500060 by CK
租的房屋要离我工作地方近一点。
The rental should be somewhat close to where I work.
Tatoeba #420396 by sysko, translation #1496213 by weihaiping
我工作了十年了。
I have been working for ten years.
我是职员，负责市场营销。
I am an employee responsible for marketing.
我从事工作已经有好几个月了。
I have been engaged in work for several months.
我有份工作，是在一家媒体公司。
I have a job at a media company.

Two friends are discussing their daily routines.

伟 Wei

你每天在公司吗？
Nǐ měitiān zài gōngsī ma?
Are you at the office every day?
佳怡 Jiayi

是的，我工作很忙。
Shì de, wǒ gōngzuò hěn máng.
Yes, I work very busily.
伟 Wei

你工作累不累？
Nǐ gōngzuò lèi bù lèi?
Is your work tiring?
佳怡 Jiayi

虽然累，但我喜欢我工作。
Suīrán lèi, dàn wǒ xǐhuān wǒ gōngzuò.
Although it's tiring, I like my work.

Sources

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