处长

• Pinyin: chù zhǎng
• Hanzi breakdown: 处 = 夂 (foot) + 几 (table), department; 长 = pictograph of long hair, chief

Meaning

Department director; division chief; section chief. A mid-level administrative position.

A title for the head of a 处 (department/division/section) in Chinese government and institutional hierarchy. Equivalent to a director or division chief level. Common in government agencies, universities, and large organizations.

Examples

1. 李处长负责人事工作，你有问题可以找他。 Director Li is in charge of human resources — you can go to him if you have questions.
2. 他在单位干了二十年，终于升到了处长。 He worked at the organization for twenty years before finally being promoted to division chief.
3. 会议由办公室处长主持。 The meeting was presided over by the office director.

Usage Guide

Context: workplace, government, institutional

Tone: respectful

Do Say

• 请问处长在吗？(Excuse me, is the director in?)
• 这份报告需要处长签字。(This report needs the director's signature.)

Don't Say

• 注意'处长'是特定级别的称呼，不能乱用 (Note that 处长 is a specific rank title — don't use it inappropriately)

Origin & History

Combines 处 (department/division) with 长 (head/chief), meaning the head of a department.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal