民工

• Pinyin: mín gōng
• Hanzi breakdown: 民 = people/civilians; 工 = work/labor. Civilian workers, now specifically migrant laborers.

Meaning

Migrant worker; rural laborer who moves to cities for work.

Short for 农民工 (rural migrant worker). Refers to people from rural areas who move to cities for construction, manufacturing, or service jobs. A significant social phenomenon in modern China, with millions of migrant workers contributing to urban development while often facing challenges like separation from family and limited urban benefits.

Examples

1. 每年春节前，火车站都会挤满回乡过年的民工。 Every year before Spring Festival, train stations are packed with migrant workers heading home for the holiday.
2. 这座高楼的背后是无数民工的辛勤付出。 Behind this tall building is the hard work of countless migrant workers.
3. 政府出台了新政策，保障民工按时拿到工资。 The government has introduced new policies to ensure migrant workers receive their wages on time.

Usage Guide

Context: labor, society, economics

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 民工为城市建设做出了巨大贡献。(Migrant workers have made huge contributions to urban construction.)
• 他在外地当民工已经十年了。(He's been working as a migrant laborer away from home for ten years.)

Don't Say

• 用民工作为贬义词 (While factually neutral, be aware that context matters — avoid condescending tones)

Origin & History

Compound of 民 (people) + 工 (work/worker). Originally referred to civilian laborers, now primarily means migrant workers.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Working class