同事
tóng shì HSK 3

English Meaning

Categories

📚 Example Sentences

她是我的同事。
Tā shì wǒ de tóngshì.
She is my colleague.
我和同事一起工作。
Wǒ hé tóngshì yīqǐ gōngzuò.
I work together with my colleagues.
同事们都很好。
Tóngshìmen dōu hěn hǎo.
All the colleagues are very nice.
他是我的同事。
Tā shì wǒ de tóngshì.
He is my colleague.
同事们都很好。
Tóngshìmen dōu hěn hǎo.
All colleagues are very nice.

💡 Memory Tip

Break down the characters: 同 (tóng) means 'same' or 'together', and 事 (shì) means 'matter' or 'affair'. Think of it as 'people involved in the same affairs/work', which helps remember it as 'colleague'.

📝 Usage Notes

This word is neutral in formality and is used in both spoken and written Chinese across all contexts, such as offices, schools, or any workplace. It is commonly used in introductions, daily conversations about work, and professional settings.

📖 Grammar Points

同事 is typically used as a noun and can be modified by adjectives (e.g., 新同事) or possessives (e.g., 我的同事). It often appears in subject or object positions in sentences, such as '同事帮助我 (My colleague helps me)' or '我认识这位同事 (I know this colleague).'

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese workplace culture, 同事 relationships are important for harmony and teamwork. It's common to refer to colleagues by their surname with a title (e.g., 李同事) in formal situations, though first names or nicknames may be used informally among close coworkers.

🔄 Similar Words

同事 specifically refers to people working together in the same organization. It differs from 同僚 (tóngliáo), which is more formal and often used for officials or high-level professionals, and from 伙伴 (huǒbàn), meaning 'partner' or 'companion', which can be used more broadly outside of work.

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