就职

• Pinyin: jiù zhí
• Hanzi breakdown: 就 = 京 (tall place) + 尤 (phonetic) — to assume; 职 = 耳 (ear) + 只 (phonetic) — duty, post, official position

Meaning

To take office; to be inaugurated; to formally assume a position.

Specifically refers to the formal act of assuming an important position, often accompanied by a ceremony or public announcement. More ceremonial in tone than 就任 — 就职 suggests the public-facing, official moment of taking up a role (e.g. a presidential inauguration, a CEO appointment ceremony). Common in political news, corporate announcements, and formal occasions.

Examples

1. 新总统在国会大厦前正式就职，数十万民众自发聚集，见证这一历史时刻。 The new president formally took office in front of the Capitol, as hundreds of thousands of citizens gathered spontaneously to witness this historic moment.
2. 他的就职演讲措辞简洁有力，清晰阐明了未来四年的施政方向，赢得广泛好评。 His inaugural speech was concise and forceful, clearly laying out the policy direction for the next four years, earning widespread praise.
3. 公司为新任首席技术官举办了简短的就职仪式，正式欢迎他加入领导团队。 The company held a brief inauguration ceremony for the new Chief Technology Officer, officially welcoming him to the leadership team.

Usage Guide

Context: politics, business, official ceremonies, news

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 市长今天正式就职，并发表了题为共建美好城市的就职演讲。(The mayor officially took office today and delivered an inaugural address titled 'Building a Better City Together'.)
• 她就职后的第一项举措是削减行政开支，将资金重新投入教育领域。(Her first move after taking office was to cut administrative spending and redirect funds back into education.)

Don't Say

• 我明天就职新工作。(就职 implies a formal official or senior role — for starting a regular job, use 入职、上班、报到 instead)

Origin & History

就 (to go to, to assume) + 职 (post, duty, office). Together: to formally take up one's official duty. A compound used in government and corporate contexts for formal appointments.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal