专职

• Pinyin: zhuān zhí
• Hanzi breakdown: 专 = 一 + 寸 (exclusive); 职 = 耳 + 只 (position, job)

Meaning

Full-time; dedicated position. Working exclusively on one job or role rather than part-time.

Refers to someone whose sole occupation is a particular role, as opposed to part-time or concurrent positions. Common in organizational contexts to distinguish from 兼职 (part-time). Emphasizes exclusive dedication.

Examples

1. 她是一名专职教师。 She is a full-time teacher.
2. 公司聘请了专职律师处理法务。 The company hired a full-time lawyer to handle legal matters.
3. 他从兼职转为专职工作。 He switched from part-time to full-time work.

Usage Guide

Context: employment, organizational, official

Tone: professional

Do Say

• 该部门配备了三名专职工作人员。(The department is staffed with three full-time workers.)
• 他辞去其他工作，成为专职作家。(He quit his other jobs to become a full-time writer.)

Don't Say

• 专职学生 — students are not employed; use 全日制 for full-time students

Origin & History

专 (exclusive, dedicated) + 职 (position, job)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal