雇

僱

gù

户 + 隹

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

gù (verb) to employ; to hire

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 隹 represents the meaning and 户 represents the sound. Originally was the name of a type of bird. The current meaning is a phonetic loan.

Semantic: 隹 Phonetic: 户

About

雇 is a phono-semantic compound: 户 (door) provides the sound, while 隹 (short-tailed bird) originally gave the meaning. It first referred to migratory birds such as quail or doves. Through phonetic loan, the character lost its avian sense and took on the unrelated meaning of hiring, employing, or renting services. To clarify this new meaning, the human radical 亻 was later added to form 僱.

Etymology Hide

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他雇了一个保姆。

Tā gùle yīgè bǎomǔ.

He hired a nanny.

这家公司雇佣很多人。

Zhè jiā gōngsī gùyōng hěnduō rén.

This company hires many people.

她是被雇用的临时工。

Tā shì bèi gùyòng de línshí gōng.

She is a hired temporary worker.

雇主必须支付雇员薪水。

Gùzhǔ bìxū zhīfù gùyuán xīnshuǐ.

Employers must pay employees salaries.

我们打算雇一位专业顾问。

Wǒmen dǎsuàn gù yī wèi zhuānyè gùwèn.

We plan to hire a professional consultant.

他被公司解雇后很难过。

Tā bèi gōngsī jiěgù hòu hěn nánguò.

He was very sad after being fired by the company.

政府雇佣了大量失业人员。

Zhèngfǔ gùyōngle dàliàng shīyè rényuán.

The government hired a large number of unemployed people.

在雇佣合同中明确了双方责任。

Zài gùyōng hétóng zhōng míngquèle shuāngfāng zérèn.

The responsibilities of both parties are clarified in the employment contract.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 户

Component: 隹

雇