志愿者

• Pinyin: zhì yuàn zhě
• Hanzi breakdown: 志 = 士 (scholar) + 心 (heart); 愿 = 原 (source) + 心 (heart); 者 = a suffix meaning 'person' or 'one who'

Meaning

Volunteer. A person who offers their time and effort to help others without payment.

Refers specifically to a person who volunteers. Widely used in modern Chinese society, especially in the context of community service, disaster relief, major events, and social welfare. Volunteering has become increasingly popular and visible in China, particularly since the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Often seen in phrases like 志愿者服务 (volunteer service) and 招募志愿者 (recruit volunteers).

Examples

1. 这次活动需要招募五十名志愿者。 This event needs to recruit fifty volunteers.
2. 她在医院当了三个月的志愿者。 She volunteered at the hospital for three months.
3. 志愿者们帮助老人打扫了房间。 The volunteers helped the elderly clean their rooms.

Usage Guide

Context: community, social welfare, events

Tone: positive

Do Say

• 我想报名当志愿者。(I want to sign up to be a volunteer.)
• 志愿者们做了很多有意义的工作。(The volunteers did a lot of meaningful work.)

Don't Say

• 我是公司的志愿者。(Don't call paid employees 志愿者 — use 员工 or 工作人员; 志愿者 specifically means unpaid volunteer)

Origin & History

志愿 (aspiration, voluntary) + 者 (person/one who). Together they mean 'one who volunteers,' i.e., a volunteer.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal