值班

• Pinyin: zhí bān
• Hanzi breakdown: 值 = 亻(person) + 直 (straight), meaning worth/on duty; 班 = 王 + 刂 (knife) + 王, meaning shift

Meaning

To be on duty; to work a shift. Being assigned to work during a specific time period.

Common in workplaces, hospitals, and security. Common phrases: 值夜班 (night shift), 值班室 (duty room), 轮流值班 (take turns on duty). A verb-object compound that can be split.

Examples

1. 今天晚上谁值班？ Who is on duty tonight?
2. 医院里总是有医生值班。 There are always doctors on duty at the hospital.
3. 春节期间，我要在公司值班三天。 During Spring Festival, I have to be on duty at the company for three days.

Usage Guide

Context: work, hospital, security

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 今天我值班。(I'm on duty today.)
• 值班的人在哪里？(Where is the person on duty?)

Don't Say

• 我值班工作 (值班 already implies working — just say 我值班)

Origin & History

Compound of 值 (to be on duty, worth) and 班 (shift, class). To be on shift.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal