勤工俭学

• Pinyin: qín gōng jiǎn xué
• Hanzi breakdown: 勤 = 堇 + 力 (diligent); 工 = 工 (work); 俭 = 亻 + 佥 (frugal/economical); 学 = 子 + 冖 + 爻 (study)

Meaning

Work-study programme; the practice of combining part-time work with one's studies to fund education economically.

A valued social concept in China encouraging students to support their education through part-time work, reflecting values of self-reliance and frugality. Government and university schemes often carry this name. Considered a character-building experience.

Examples

1. 许多家庭困难的学生通过勤工俭学顺利完成了大学学业。 Many students from financially struggling families have been able to complete college through work-study programs.
2. 学校专门设立了勤工俭学岗位，帮助有需要的同学减轻经济负担。 The school set up dedicated work-study positions to help students who need it reduce their financial burden.
3. 他在校期间坚持勤工俭学，不仅自给自足，还积累了宝贵的社会经验。 While in school, he stuck with work-study, becoming self-supporting and gaining valuable real-world experience.

Usage Guide

Context: education, student life, social policy

Tone: positive

Do Say

• 学校鼓励学生积极参与勤工俭学项目，以培养独立自主的生活能力。(The school encourages students to actively take part in work-study programmes to develop independent living skills.)
• 他通过勤工俭学不仅解决了学费问题，还提升了与人沟通的实践能力。(Through the work-study programme, he not only resolved his tuition issues but also improved his practical communication skills.)

Don't Say

• 我用勤工俭学的方式买了新手机 — use 兼职赚钱 for earning money in general; 勤工俭学 specifically means funding one's education through work, not general consumer spending

Origin & History

勤 (diligent) + 工 (work) + 俭 (frugal) + 学 (study) — diligently working to frugally fund one's studies

Cultural Context

Generation: Youth

Social background: Universal