工会

• Pinyin: gōng huì
• Hanzi breakdown: 工 = worker/labour; 会 = 人 + 云 (people gathering)

Meaning

Trade union; labour union. An organisation of workers formed to protect their rights and interests.

In China, unions operate under the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (全国总工会). The role differs from Western unions — focused more on welfare and education than collective bargaining.

Examples

1. 工会为员工争取了更好的福利待遇。 The union fought for better benefits for employees.
2. 公司工会每年组织员工旅游活动。 The company union organizes employee trips every year.
3. 他被选为工会代表，负责反映工人诉求。 He was elected as a union representative and is responsible for conveying workers’ demands.

Usage Guide

Context: labour relations, workplace, policy

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 职工可以通过工会渠道反映劳动权益问题。(Employees can raise labour rights issues through union channels.)
• 工会在企业和员工之间发挥着沟通桥梁的作用。(The union acts as a communication bridge between the enterprise and its employees.)

Don't Say

• 工会 when referring to industry associations — use 行业协会; 工会 specifically represents workers, not businesses

Origin & History

工 (worker) + 会 (association/meeting)

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Working class