💎 Work & Health - 工作与健康 (gōng zuò yǔ jiàn kāng) - Professional Life & Daily Wellness
Master essential vocabulary and expressions for discussing work, professions, health, and daily feelings in Chinese, building confidence for professional and personal conversations.
Chinese lesson from Wednesday, July 9, 2025
🎯 Professional Life & Daily Wellness
Learn to express your profession, workplace, feelings, and health status in Chinese. These fundamental conversation topics will help you navigate professional settings and daily interactions with confidence and cultural awareness.
Perfect for beginners and essential concepts
📚 Key Phrase: 今天好热 (jīn tiān hǎo rè)
Grammar Focus
1. Daily Feelings & Weather: 今天 + Adjective
今天 + [Adjective]
jīn tiān + [Adjective]
今天 (jīn tiān) = today + descriptive adjective
jīn tiān + [Adjective]
今天 (jīn tiān) = today + descriptive adjective
• 今天好热 (jīn tiān hǎo rè) = Today is very hot
• 好 (hǎo) here intensifies the adjective, meaning "very" or "quite"
• Common pattern for daily observations and feelings
• 好 (hǎo) here intensifies the adjective, meaning "very" or "quite"
• Common pattern for daily observations and feelings
今天好热
Today is very hot
2. Emotional States: 今天我很 + Emotion
今天我很 + [Emotion]
jīn tiān wǒ hěn + [Emotion]
很 (hěn) = intensifier + emotional adjective
jīn tiān wǒ hěn + [Emotion]
很 (hěn) = intensifier + emotional adjective
• 今天我很开心 (jīn tiān wǒ hěn kāi xīn) = Today I'm very happy
• 今天我很高兴 (jīn tiān wǒ hěn gāo xìng) = Today I'm very glad
• 很 is essential before adjectives in Chinese predicate structures
• 今天我很高兴 (jīn tiān wǒ hěn gāo xìng) = Today I'm very glad
• 很 is essential before adjectives in Chinese predicate structures
3. Expressing Preferences: 我(很)喜欢 + Object
我 + (很) + 喜欢 + [Object]
wǒ + (hěn) + xǐ huan + [Object]
喜欢 (xǐ huan) = to like + object of preference
wǒ + (hěn) + xǐ huan + [Object]
喜欢 (xǐ huan) = to like + object of preference
• 我喜欢我的工作 (wǒ xǐ huan wǒ de gōng zuò) = I like my job
• 我很喜欢我现在的工作 (wǒ hěn xǐ huan wǒ xiàn zài de gōng zuò) = I really like my current job
• 的 (de) indicates possession: 我的 (my), 现在的 (current)
• 我很喜欢我现在的工作 (wǒ hěn xǐ huan wǒ xiàn zài de gōng zuò) = I really like my current job
• 的 (de) indicates possession: 我的 (my), 现在的 (current)
我很喜欢我现在的工作
I really like my current job
4. Work Questions: 你做什么工作？
你 + 做 + 什么 + 工作？
nǐ + zuò + shén me + gōng zuò?
做 (zuò) = to do + 什么 (shén me) = what + 工作 (gōng zuò) = work
nǐ + zuò + shén me + gōng zuò?
做 (zuò) = to do + 什么 (shén me) = what + 工作 (gōng zuò) = work
• 你做什么工作？ = What job do you do?
• Standard question pattern for asking about someone's profession
• 什么 (what) is the interrogative word for asking about type or nature
• Standard question pattern for asking about someone's profession
• 什么 (what) is the interrogative word for asking about type or nature
5. Profession Identity: 我是 + Profession
我是 + [Classifier] + [Profession]
wǒ shì + [Classifier] + [Profession]
是 (shì) = copulative verb "to be" + profession with classifier
wǒ shì + [Classifier] + [Profession]
是 (shì) = copulative verb "to be" + profession with classifier
• 我是一个工程师 (wǒ shì yí gè gōng chéng shī) = I am an engineer
• 一个 (yí gè) = classifier for people and professions
• 是 identifies permanent states or characteristics
• 一个 (yí gè) = classifier for people and professions
• 是 identifies permanent states or characteristics
6. Workplace Location: 在 + Place + 工作
我在 + [Place] + 工作
wǒ zài + [Place] + gōng zuò
在 (zài) = locative preposition + place + 工作 (gōng zuò) = work
wǒ zài + [Place] + gōng zuò
在 (zài) = locative preposition + place + 工作 (gōng zuò) = work
• 我在学校工作 (wǒ zài xué xiào gōng zuò) = I work at a school
• 我在医院工作 (wǒ zài yī yuàn gōng zuò) = I work at a hospital
• 在 indicates location where an action takes place
• 我在医院工作 (wǒ zài yī yuàn gōng zuò) = I work at a hospital
• 在 indicates location where an action takes place
7. Location Questions: 你在哪里工作？
你在哪里 + [Action]？
nǐ zài nǎ lǐ + [Action]?
哪里 (nǎ lǐ) = where (question word for location)
nǐ zài nǎ lǐ + [Action]?
哪里 (nǎ lǐ) = where (question word for location)
• 你在哪里工作？ = Where do you work?
• 哪里 asks for specific location information
• Standard pattern for location-based questions
• 哪里 asks for specific location information
• Standard pattern for location-based questions
今天好热
jīn tiān hǎo rè
Today is very hot
Hoy hace muchísimo calor
词汇 Vocabulary Practice
Practice writing the phrases from today's Chinese lesson!
今天好热
jīn tiān hǎo rè
English:
Today is very hot
Español:
Hoy hace muchísimo calor
今天我很开心
jīn tiān wǒ hěn kāi xīn
English:
Today I'm very happy
Español:
Hoy estoy muy feliz
今天我很高兴
jīn tiān wǒ hěn gāo xìng
English:
Today I'm very glad
Español:
Hoy estoy muy contento
我喜欢我的工作
wǒ xǐ huan wǒ de gōng zuò
English:
I like my job
Español:
Me gusta mi trabajo
我很喜欢我现在的工作
wǒ hěn xǐ huan wǒ xiàn zài de gōng zuò
English:
I really like my current job
Español:
Me gusta mucho mi trabajo actual
你做什么工作？
nǐ zuò shén me gōng zuò
English:
What job do you do?
Español:
¿En qué trabajas?
我是一个工程师
wǒ shì yí gè gōng chéng shī
English:
I am an engineer
Español:
Soy un ingeniero
你在哪里工作？
nǐ zài nǎ lǐ gōng zuò
English:
Where do you work?
Español:
¿Dónde trabajas?
我在学校工作
wǒ zài xué xiào gōng zuò
English:
I work at a school
Español:
Trabajo en una escuela
我在医院工作
wǒ zài yī yuàn gōng zuò
English:
I work at a hospital
Español:
Trabajo en un hospital
我要去看医生
wǒ yào qù kàn yī shēng
English:
I want to go see a doctor
Español:
Quiero ir al médico
我今天病了
wǒ jīn tiān bìng le
English:
I am sick today
Español:
Hoy estoy enfermo
我在建筑公司
wǒ zài jiàn zhù gōng sī
English:
I work at a construction company
Español:
Trabajo en una empresa de construcción
文化 Cultural Insights
💎 Work and health expressions in Chinese culture reflect deep social values about professional identity, personal well-being, and community relationships. The question 你做什么工作？ (What work do you do?) is fundamental in Chinese social interactions, as profession significantly influences social status and relationships. The detailed responses about workplace location (我在学校工作, 我在医院工作) show how Chinese culture values specific, clear communication about professional roles. Health discussions are remarkably open in Chinese culture - expressions like 我今天病了 (I'm sick today) and 我要去看医生 (I want to see a doctor) are shared naturally without stigma. The emotional expressions 今天我很开心 (Today I'm very happy) and 今天我很高兴 (Today I'm very glad) demonstrate how Chinese speakers regularly share daily emotional states as part of social bonding. The preference expressions 我喜欢我的工作 (I like my job) and 我很喜欢我现在的工作 (I really like my current job) reflect the cultural importance of work satisfaction and career contentment. The weather observation 今天好热 (Today is very hot) shows how environmental conditions are naturally woven into conversation and often precede discussions about mood, health, or daily activities. These patterns reveal a culture that values open communication about work, health, and personal feelings as essential elements of social harmony and community support.
🎯 Advanced Work & Health Communication Mastery
Practice complex conversations combining professional topics, health concerns, and emotional expression. Master workplace interactions, health discussions, and daily life conversations with cultural sensitivity and natural fluency.
For students ready to dive deeper
📖 Reading Practice
📖 工作与健康对话 - Work & Health Conversations
你做什么工作？我是一个工程师。
你在哪里工作？我在学校工作。
我很喜欢我现在的工作，你呢？
今天好热，我今天病了。
我要去看医生，医院在哪里？
我在医院工作，我可以帮你。
今天我很开心，因为我喜欢我的工作。
我在建筑公司，工作很忙。
📝 Vocabulary from this reading:
工程师
gōng chéng shī
Engineer
现在
xiàn zài
Now, current
医生
yī shēng
Doctor
建筑
jiàn zhù
Construction, building
公司
gōng sī
Company
帮
bāng
To help
因为
yīn wéi
Because
忙
máng
Busy
📚 Additional Learning Content
💎 Cultural Context: Work Culture & Health in Chinese Society
Understanding work and health expressions in Chinese requires cultural awareness of professional relationships, health consciousness, and social expectations. These patterns reflect deep cultural values about career development, workplace harmony, and personal well-being in Chinese-speaking communities.
Professional Identity & Social Status
Work as Social Identity
Professional roles carry significant social weight
Workplace Hierarchy
Location and company type indicate social position
Professional roles carry significant social weight
• 你做什么工作？ is a common introductory question
• 我是一个工程师 establishes professional identity and social status
• Work discussions often happen early in relationships
Workplace Hierarchy
Location and company type indicate social position
• 我在医院工作 suggests healthcare profession (respected field)
• 我在学校工作 indicates education sector (traditionally honored)
• 我在建筑公司 shows specific industry involvement
Health Consciousness & Expression
Health as Daily Concern
Health status is frequently discussed in Chinese culture
Weather & Mood Connection
Chinese culture links weather to personal feelings
Health status is frequently discussed in Chinese culture
• 我今天病了 is direct and commonly shared
• 我要去看医生 shows proactive health management
• Health discussions are normal in workplace and social contexts
Weather & Mood Connection
Chinese culture links weather to personal feelings
• 今天好热 often precedes mood or energy discussions
• Weather observations are common conversation starters
• Physical comfort affects reported emotional states
Emotional Expression & Work Satisfaction
Workplace Happiness
Job satisfaction is openly discussed
Daily Emotional States
Chinese culture encourages emotional expression
Job satisfaction is openly discussed
• 我喜欢我的工作 expresses career contentment
• 我很喜欢我现在的工作 emphasizes current job satisfaction
• Work happiness is seen as life quality indicator
Daily Emotional States
Chinese culture encourages emotional expression
• 今天我很开心 shares daily mood openly
• 今天我很高兴 expresses specific gladness
• Emotional sharing builds social connections
作业 Homework & Practice
📝 Homework for next class:
1. 💼 Work Conversations: Practice asking and answering questions about jobs, workplaces, and professional satisfaction
2. 🌡️ Health Expressions: Use today's patterns to describe health status, medical needs, and physical comfort
3. 😊 Daily Feelings: Express daily emotions and moods using 很 and 好 intensification patterns
4. 🏢 Workplace Vocabulary: Create sentences describing different work environments (学校, 医院, 公司)
5. 💝 Preference Expressions: Practice expressing likes and dislikes about work and daily activities
6. 🔄 Conversation Integration: Combine work, health, and emotion topics in natural dialogues
💡 Real-life Challenge: Use these expressions in professional networking or healthcare situations - they're essential for workplace integration and personal well-being discussions!
Practice Checklist:
Ready for More?
Continue your Chinese learning journey with live classes on TikTok. Join thousands of students learning Mandarin every day!
Join Live Classes