上班

• Pinyin: shàng bān
• Hanzi breakdown: 上 = indicates upward direction or beginning; 班 = 王 (jade) + 刂 (knife), originally meaning to divide jade, now meaning a shift or class

Meaning

To go to work; to be at work. The standard expression for starting or being at one's job.

A verb-object compound used for going to work or being on duty. The opposite is 下班 (to get off work/finish work). Used in daily conversation about work schedules. Can be modified with time words, e.g. 早上八点上班 (start work at 8 AM).

Examples

1. 他每天八点上班。 He starts work at eight every day.
2. 我妈妈在医院上班。 My mother works at a hospital.
3. 明天不上班。 No work tomorrow.

Usage Guide

Context: work, daily routine

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 你几点上班？(What time do you start work?)
• 今天我不想上班。(I don't want to go to work today.)

Don't Say

• 我上班在公司。(Wrong word order — say 我在公司上班, placing the location before the verb)

Origin & History

A verb-object compound of 上 (to go to/start) and 班 (work shift/class), literally meaning 'to go on one's shift.'

Cultural Context

Generation: Working adults

Social background: Universal