Ways to say it
| Vietnamese | IPA |
|---|---|
| việc làm | [viək̚˧˨ʔ laːm˨˩] (Hà Nội, narrow) [viək̚˨˩ʔ laːm˦˩] (Huế, narrow) |
| công việc | [kəwŋ͡m˧˧ viək̚˧˨ʔ] (Hà Nội, narrow) [kəwŋ͡m˧˧ viək̚˨˩ʔ] (Huế, narrow) |
The term công việc is used to refer to the actual content, tasks or daily duties of a job. If you are talking specifically about one's occupation or profession, you would use nghề nghiệp. To describe 'hard work', use the phrase công việc khó khăn. When you want to describe a machine or system that 'works' (functions or operates correctly), use hoạt động or the particle được rather than a noun for work.
What does it mean word for word?
The term việc làm is composed of việc (task/matter) and làm (to do), literally meaning 'the task of doing'. The term công việc is composed of công (work/labor) and việc (task/matter).
Which one should you use?
Việc làm is often used in an abstract or systemic sense to refer to employment or the availability of jobs. In contrast, công việc refers to the specific tasks, duties or the actual work one performs.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the action of working (the verb), do not use the nouns việc làm or công việc alone. Instead, use the verb phrase làm việc.
Did you know?
- In the historical Nôm script, the character used for việc was incorrectly unified with a different character for many years and was only corrected in 2021.
Examples in context
- Công việc thế nào?How are things at work?This example shows how to ask about someone's current state regarding their công việc.Tatoeba #9003248 by dotheduyet1999, translation #569277 by CM
- Tiếp tục công việc đi.Carry on with your work.This example is a way to tell someone to continue their công việc.Tatoeba #10043661 by dotheduyet1999, translation #69361 by CM
- Công việc của mày dư lào?How's the work going?Tatoeba #9003250 by dotheduyet1999, translation #871731 by CK
- Tôi có rất nhiều công việc phải làm ngày hôm nay.I have a lot of work to do today.
- Tôi muốn tìm một công việc làm tại công ty này.I want to find a job at this company.
- Hôm nay tôi có rất nhiều việc phải làm.Today, I have a lot of work to do.
- 54 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their current employment status at a cafe.
- ChiAnh đã tìm được việc làm chưa?Have you found a job yet?
- TuấnTôi vừa mới có việc làm rồi.I just got a job.
- ChiChúc mừng anh nhé!Congratulations to you!
- TuấnCảm ơn Chi nhiều.Thanks a lot, Chi.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “work” translations and entries việc làm, công việc, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries công, công việc, làm, việc, việc làm, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
