Definitions
(noun,verb)
work; labor
(noun)
skill; craft
(noun)
worker
(noun)
profession; trade
Etymology
Depicts a tool with a blade.
About
The character 工, meaning labor, skill, and the working class, has a simple geometric structure: a vertical stroke connected by two horizontal strokes at the top and bottom. This design originated as a pictograph of a carpenter's square, a vital tool for ensuring precise right angles in construction and woodworking. From depicting the tool itself, the character's meaning extended to the skilled craftsmen who used it, their trades, and the physical labor they performed. Today, 工 serves as a core component in vocabulary related to industry, engineering, factory production, manual work, and the general concept of applying effort to complete a task.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
他在工厂工作。
工人每天都很忙。
工程师设计大楼。
我在工业公司上班。
这个工程需要很多工人。
工人们正在修建一条新的公路。
如果你工作努力，你会得到奖金。
现代工业发展依赖于科技创新。