HSK · Level 49
120 words
Chinese word
白领
Pronunciation
Pinyinbái lǐng
Meaning
- nounwhite-collar worker
Example
他作为白领，每天早九晚五上班。tā zuò wéi bái lǐng měi tiān zǎo jiǔ wǎn wǔ shàng bān
As a white-collar worker, he works from nine to five every day.
More examples
很多公司会为白领提供培训和福利。hěn duō gōng sī huì wèi bái lǐng tí gōng péi xùn hé fú lì
Many companies provide training and benefits for white-collar workers.
Core concept
A person whose work is mainly done at a desk through documents, computers, management, or professional skills rather than physical labor.
Common phrases
白领阶层bái lǐng jiē céng
white-collar class
进入白领行业jìn rù bái lǐng háng yè
enter the white-collar industry
白领工作bái lǐng gōng zuò
white-collar work
Similar words
上班族shàng bān zú: A person who goes to work at regular times, typically at a company, as part of a daily work routine.
公司职员gōng sī zhí yuán: A company employee who carries out work for a department.
职员zhí yuán: An ordinary employee working in a business or organization.
文员wén yuán: An office clerk whose main duties involve paperwork, filing, or entering data.
Definition in Chinese
在公司或机关里从事管理、办公室或专业工作的职员，通常指非体力劳动的雇员。zài gōng sī huò jī guān lǐ cóng shì guán lǐ bàn gōng shì huò zhuān yè gōng zuò de zhí yuán tōng cháng zhǐ fēi tǐ lì láo dòng de gù yuán
Word origin
白领 (báilǐng, "white-collar worker") is a calque of English white-collar, based on the traditional image of office employees wearing white shirt collars.
Usage tips
- The term can cover ordinary office staff and highly trained professionals, so it does not imply a management position.
Other meanings
- clerical workernoun
Opposites
- 蓝领lán lǐngblue-collar workernoun
- 体力劳动者tǐ lì láo dòng zhěmanual workernoun
Related words
- 白领化bái lǐng huàbecome white-collarverb