花名册
huāmíngcè
The English phrase 'roster' can be translated into Chinese as 花名册 (huāmíngcè).
花名册 is typically used for official or formal lists, such as a membership roster, a student roll or an employee registry.
Meaning: a list of names (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term 花名册 literally breaks down into 'flower' (花), 'name' (名) and 'register/book' (册).
Which one should you use?
While 花名册 refers to a list of names, other terms describe specific types of schedules. 值班表 translates to a 'duty schedule' or 'work schedule', and 排班表 denotes a 'scheduling' or 'roster system'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Taiwan (Mandarin), 花名册 is used to refer to a roster or list of names.
How do you pronounce it?
huāmíngcè
Did you know?
- At companies like Alibaba, employees use a 花名 (huāmíng) or 'flower name' as a professional alias. This practice is designed to remove hierarchical titles and promote equality among colleagues.
- The character 册 (cè) originally depicted a bundle of bamboo slips tied together with a cord. This reflects how historical Chinese records were physically constructed before the invention of paper.
- The character 花 (huā) in 花名册 does not mean a botanical flower here. In this context, it acts as a prefix meaning 'detailed' or 'itemized'.
Examples in context
- 请向我提供最新的值班表。Please provide me with the latest duty schedule.
- 公司的排班表通常在每个月初发布。The company's work schedule is usually released at the beginning of each month.
- 将参加明天会议的名单发送给我。Send me the roster of attendees for tomorrow's meeting.
- 请把这份花名册拿给我。Qǐng bǎ zhè fèn huāmíngcè ná gěi wǒ.Please give me this roster.
- 我们需要更新一下花名册。Wǒmen xūyào gēngxīn yīxià huāmíngcè.We need to update the roster.
- 这张花名册上有很多名字。Zhè zhāng huāmíngcè shàng yǒu hěnduō míngzì.There are many names on this roster.
Example conversation
At a community center, checking the volunteer list.
- 雨婷 Yuting伟，你能帮我查一下花名册吗？Wěi, nǐ néng bāng wǒ chá yīxià huāmíngcè ma?Wei, can you help me check the roster?
- 伟 Wei好的，我这就去拿。Hǎo de, wǒ zhè jiù qù ná.Okay, I will go get it right now.
- 雨婷 Yuting谢谢，我们需要确认志愿者名单。Xièxiè, wǒmen xūyào quèrèn zhìyuànzhě míngdān.Thank you, we need to confirm the volunteer list.
- 伟 Wei没问题，雨婷。Méi wèntí, Yǔtíng.No problem, Yuting.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “roster” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
