Chinese word

义工

Pronunciation

Pinyinyì gōng

Meaning

  • nounvolunteer

Example

学校组织了一个义工项目，很多学生参加了。xué xiào zǔ zhī le yí gè yì gōng xiàng mù hěn duō xué shēng cān jiā le

The school organized a volunteer project, and many students took part.

Illustration for 义工 (volunteer)

More examples

他周末在养老院做义工，陪老人聊天。tā zhōu mò zài yáng lǎo yuàn zuò yì gōng péi lǎo rén liáo tiān

On weekends, he does volunteer work at a nursing home and chats with the elderly.

Core concept

Someone who freely turns personal effort into practical help for the wider community.

Common phrases

  • 做义工zuò yì gōng

    do volunteer work

  • 义工项目yì gōng xiàng mù

    volunteer project

  • 义工组织yì gōng zǔ zhī

    volunteer organization

Similar words

志愿者zhì yuàn zhě: A person who willingly offers service without asking for payment.
志工zhì gōng: A person who volunteers without pay, with the term used mainly in Taiwan.

Definition in Chinese

义工是指凭个人意愿参加公益或社区活动、提供无偿劳动或服务的人员称谓。yì gōng shì zhǐ píng gè rén yì yuàn cān jiā gōng yì huò shè qū huó dòng tí gōng wú cháng láo dòng huò fú wù de rén yuán chēng wèi

Word origin

The compound 义 (yì, "righteousness") + 工 (gōng, "labor") joins a moral purpose with practical work, yielding the modern term for an unpaid public-service worker.

Usage tips

  • Chinese uses 义工 (yìgōng, "volunteer worker") to name a person's role, while 做义工 (zuò yìgōng, "do volunteer work") describes taking part in the activity.

Opposites

  • 职员zhí yuánstaff membernoun
  • 专业人员zhuān yè rén yuánprofessionalnoun

Related words

  • 义工组织yì gōng zǔ zhīvolunteer organizationnoun
  • 义工活动yì gōng huó dòngvolunteer activitynoun

Word lists with this word