If you're learning Mandarin for travel, business, education, or relocation, building a strong foundation in jobs in Chinese is a must. Names of occupations appear frequently in conversations, documents, visa applications, and work-related contexts. This guide organizes over 260 professional titles into categories, helping you learn Chinese vocabulary for jobs efficiently.

From common job roles to modern careers in media and science, this comprehensive list supports students, expats, and professionals using Chinese in real life. You’ll also find sentence patterns to introduce your job clearly and accurately, which is a vital skill in interviews or networking.

I. Jobs in Chinese Vocabulary Across All Professions
II. Common Sentence Patterns for Introducing Your Jobs in Chinese
III. Conclusion

260+ Jobs in Chinese: Complete Occupation Vocabulary List

I. Jobs in Chinese Vocabulary Across All Professions

Each profession of jobs in Chinese is listed with its Chinese characters, pinyin, and English meaning. Organized by field, this list helps you expand fluency and navigate job-related conversations with confidence.

1. Common Professions of Jobs in Chinese

Common professions form the foundation of everyday career discussions, representing occupations you encounter regularly in daily life. These fundamental job titles appear frequently in conversations, media, and social interactions, making them essential vocabulary for any Mandarin learner seeking practical communication skills.

No.	Jobs in Chinese	Pinyin	English Meaning
1	会计	kuàijì	Accountant
2	演员	yǎnyuán	Actor
3	分析师	fēnxīshī	Analyst
4	建筑师	jiànzhùshī	Architect
5	艺术家	yìshùjiā	Artist
6	助理	zhùlǐ	Assistant
7	经纪人	jīngjìrén	Agent / Broker
8	企业主	qǐyèzhǔ	Business owner
9	厨师	chúshī	Chef
10	公司职员	gōngsī zhíyuán	Company employee
11	电脑工程师	diànnǎo gōngchéngshī	Computer engineer
12	顾问	gùwèn	Consultant
13	设计师	shèjìshī	Designer
14	医生 / 大夫	yīshēng / dàifu	Doctor
15	工程师	gōngchéngshī	Engineer
16	工人	gōngrén	Factory worker
17	农民	nóngmín	Farmer
18	自由职业	zìyóu zhíyè	Freelancer
19	家庭主妇	jiātíng zhǔfù	Homemaker
20	口译	kǒuyì	Interpreter
21	律师	lǜshī	Lawyer
22	经理	jīnglǐ	Manager
23	商人	shāngrén	Merchant / Businessperson
24	音乐家	yīnyuèjiā	Musician
25	护士	hùshì	Nurse
26	办公人员	bàngōng rényuán	Office clerk
27	摄影师	shèyǐngshī	Photographer
28	警察	jǐngchá	Police officer
29	程序员	chéngxù yuán	Programmer
30	公务员	gōngwùyuán	Civil servant
31	房地产经纪人	fángdìchǎn jīngjìrén	Real estate agent
32	接待员	jiēdài yuán	Receptionist
33	科学家	kēxuéjiā	Scientist
34	秘书	mìshū	Secretary
35	店主	diànzhǔ	Shop owner
36	营业员	yíngyèyuán	Salesperson
37	软件开发师	ruǎnjiàn kāifāshī	Software developer
38	军人	jūnrén	Soldier
39	专家	zhuānjiā	Specialist / Expert
40	运动员	yùndòngyuán	Athlete
41	老师 / 教师	lǎoshī / jiàoshī	Teacher
42	翻译	fānyì	Translator
43	志愿者	zhìyuànzhě	Volunteer
44	服务员	fúwùyuán	Waiter / Server
45	白领	báilǐng	White-collar worker
46	作家	zuòjiā	Writer
47	理发师	lǐfàshī	Hairdresser
48	保洁	bǎojié	Cleaner
49	门卫	ménwèi	Doorman / Gatekeeper
50	司机	sījī	Driver
51	空中乘务员	kōngzhōng chéngwùyuán	Flight attendant
52	外卖员	wàimàiyuán	Food delivery person
53	花匠	huājiàng	Gardener
54	快递员	kuàidìyuán	Courier / Deliveryman
55	和尚	héshàng	Monk
56	保姆	bǎomǔ	Nanny
57	飞行员	fēixíngyuán	Pilot
58	保安	bǎo’ān	Security guard
59	摊贩	tānfàn	Street vendor
60	裁缝	cáiféng	Tailor

These roles are among the first learners encountered when studying occupation in Chinese. They often appear on forms and in introductions.

2. Professions in Entertainment, Arts, and Creative Fields

Creative professions showcase the artistic and cultural dimensions of Chinese society, reflecting the importance of entertainment and artistic expression in modern Chinese culture. These jobs in Chinese encompass traditional and contemporary creative pursuits that shape cultural production and public entertainment.

No.	Jobs in Chinese	Pinyin	English Meaning
1	美工	měigōng	Visual designer / Decorative artist
2	漫画家	mànhuàjiā	Cartoonist
3	小丑	xiǎochǒu	Clown
4	作曲家	zuòqǔjiā	Composer
5	舞蹈演员	wǔdǎo yǎnyuán	Dancer
6	司仪	sīyí	Master of ceremonies (MC) / Event host
7	主持人	zhǔchí rén	Program host / Presenter
8	时装设计师	shízhuāng shèjìshī	Fashion designer
9	导演	dǎoyǎn	Director
10	室内设计师	shìnèi shèjìshī	Interior designer
11	魔术师	móshùshī	Magician
12	模特	mótè	Model
13	画家	huàjiā	Painter / Artist
14	钢琴家	gāngqínjiā	Pianist
15	制作人	zhìzuòrén	Producer
16	编剧	biānjù	Screenwriter / Scriptwriter
17	歌手	gēshǒu	Singer
18	街头艺人	jiētóu yìrén	Street performer
19	作者	zuòzhě	Author / Writer
20	诗人	shīrén	Poet
21	设计师	shèjìshī	Designer
22	化妆师	huàzhuāngshī	Makeup artist
23	剧作家	jùzuòjiā	Playwright / Dramatist

As online content grows across Asia, many learners pick up titles like “主播” as part of modern careers in Chinese language media.

3. Office and Business-Related Jobs in Chinese

Office and business roles represent the corporate backbone of the modern Chinese economy, encompassing positions from entry-level administrative work to executive leadership. Understanding these job titles proves crucial for anyone engaging with Chinese business culture or seeking employment in Chinese-speaking professional environments.

No.	Jobs in Chinese	Pinyin	English Meaning
1	客户经理	kèhù jīnglǐ	Account Manager
2	代理商	dàilǐshāng	Agent / Distributor
3	审计	shěnjì	Auditor
4	买家	mǎijiā	Buyer / Purchaser
5	出纳	chūnà	Cashier
6	首席执行官	shǒuxí zhíxíngguān	Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
7	首席财务官	shǒuxí cáiwùguān	Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
8	客服	kèfú	Customer Service Representative
9	部门经理	bùmén jīnglǐ	Department Manager
10	总监	zǒngjiān	Director / Supervisor
11	分销商	fēnxiāoshāng	Distributor
12	企业家	qǐyèjiā	Entrepreneur
13	总经理	zǒngjīnglǐ	General Manager
14	实习生	shíxíshēng	Intern
15	生产商	shēngchǎn shāng	Manufacturer / Producer
16	市场经理	shìchǎng jīnglǐ	Marketing Manager
17	市场专员	shìchǎng zhuānyuán	Marketing Specialist
18	接线员	jiēxiànyuán	Switchboard Operator
19	合伙人	héhuǒ rén	Business Partner
20	私人助理	sīrén zhùlǐ	Personal Assistant
21	总裁	zǒngcái	President / Chairman
22	产品经理	chǎnpǐn jīnglǐ	Product Manager
23	项目经理	xiàngmù jīnglǐ	Project Manager
24	公关代表	gōngguān dàibiǎo	Public Relations (PR) Officer
25	零售商	língshòushāng	Retailer
26	销售经理	xiāoshòu jīnglǐ	Sales Manager
27	卖家	màijiā	Seller / Vendor
28	证券经纪人	zhèngquàn jīngjìrén	Stockbroker
29	主管	zhǔguǎn	Supervisor
30	供应商	gōngyìng shāng	Supplier
31	电话销售	diànhuà xiāoshòu	Telemarketer
32	培训生	péixùnshēng	Trainee
33	副总裁	fù zǒngcái	Vice President
34	批发商	pīfā shāng	Wholesaler

This vocabulary is critical for handling the Chinese unit of measurement weight in business logistics and supply chains.

4. Media, Journalism, and Publishing Jobs in Chinese

Media professions shape public discourse and information dissemination in Chinese-speaking societies, playing vital roles in news production, content creation, and cultural communication. These jobs in Chinese require strong language skills and cultural awareness, making them particularly relevant for advanced Mandarin learners pursuing careers in Chinese language.

No.	Jobs in Chinese	Pinyin	English Meaning
1	主播	zhǔbō	Broadcaster / Live streamer / Anchor
2	播音员	bōyīn yuán	Announcer / Radio host
3	专栏作家	zhuānlán zuòjiā	Columnist
4	撰稿人	zhuàn gǎo rén	Contributor / Manuscript writer
5	编辑	biānjí	Editor
6	插画师	chāhuà shī	Illustrator
7	小说家	xiǎoshuōjiā	Novelist
8	记者	jìzhě	Reporter / Journalist
9	剧作家	jùzuòjiā	Playwright
10	诗人	shīrén	Poet
11	出版人	chūbǎn rén	Publisher
12	网页设计师	wǎngyè shèjì shī	Web designer

Media professionals often interact with business and culture, making their job titles important in international projects.

5. Construction and Manufacturing Industry Roles

Construction and manufacturing sectors drive infrastructure development and industrial production throughout Chinese-speaking regions, representing essential components of economic growth. These technical occupations require specialized skills and knowledge, reflecting China's position as a global manufacturing powerhouse.

No.	Chinese Term	Pinyin	English Meaning
1	铁匠	tiějiàng	Blacksmith
2	焊工	hàngōng	Welder
3	木工	mùgōng	Carpenter
4	土木工程师	tǔmù gōngchéngshī	Civil Engineer
5	建筑工人	jiànzhù gōngrén	Construction Worker
6	电工	diàngōng	Electrician
7	工头	gōngtóu	Foreman
8	检验员	jiǎnyàn yuán	Inspector
9	机修工	jīxiū gōng	Mechanic
10	管道工	guǎndào gōng	Plumber
11	勘测员	kāncè yuán	Surveyor
12	技术支持专员	jìshù zhīchí zhuānyuán	Technical Support Specialist
13	技术员	jìshù yuán	Technician

Labor-related roles may also use Chinese measurement length when handling materials.

6. Education and Science Jobs in Chinese

Education and scientific careers represent the intellectual foundation of society, encompassing roles from primary education through advanced research. These professions command significant respect in Chinese culture, reflecting the traditional emphasis on scholarship and knowledge transmission across generations.

No.	Jobs in Chinese	Pinyin	English Meaning
1	生物学家	shēngwù xuéjiā	Biologist
2	植物学家	zhíwù xuéjiā	Botanist
3	化学家	huàxué jiā	Chemist
4	经济学家	jīngjì xuéjiā	Economist
5	研究生	yánjiūshēng	Graduate student
6	地质学家	dìzhì xuéjiā	Geologist
7	动物学家	dòngwù xuéjiā	Zoologist
8	发明家	fāmíng jiā	Inventor
9	幼教	yòujiào	Kindergarten teacher
10	语言学家	yǔyán xuéjiā	Linguist
11	数学家	shùxué jiā	Mathematician
12	气象学家	qìxiàng xuéjiā	Meteorologist
13	哲学家	zhéxué jiā	Philosopher
14	物理学家	wùlǐ xuéjiā	Physicist
15	教授	jiàoshòu	Professor
16	研究员	yánjiūyuán	Researcher
17	学者	xuézhě	Scholar
18	校长	xiàozhǎng	Principal / Headmaster
19	社会学家	shèhuì xuéjiā	Sociologist
20	学生	xuéshēng	Student
21	大学生	dàxuéshēng	University student
22	助教	zhùjiào	Teaching assistant
23	家教	jiājiào	Private tutor

These academic titles help when applying for study or working in education across Chinese-speaking countries.

7. Tourism, Hotel, and Hospitality Jobs

Hospitality and tourism careers serve the growing travel and service sectors in Chinese-speaking regions, providing essential support for domestic and international visitors. These customer-facing roles require strong interpersonal skills and cultural sensitivity, making occupation in Chinese particularly important for effective service delivery.

No.	Jobs in Chinese	Pinyin	English Meaning
1	门童	méntóng	Doorman
2	礼宾员	lǐbīn yuán	Concierge / Guest Services Attendant
3	活动策划师	huódòng cèhuàshī	Event Planner
4	酒店经理	jiǔdiàn jīnglǐ	Hotel Manager
5	管家	guǎnjiā	Butler / House Manager
6	导游	dǎoyóu	Tour Guide
7	旅行顾问	lǚxíng gùwèn	Travel Consultant
8	婚礼策划师	hūnlǐ cèhuàshī	Wedding Planner

With rising tourism, these roles are essential in learning Chinese vocabulary for jobs tied to hospitality.

8. Government-Related Occupations

Government positions represent public service careers that shape policy, administration, and civic governance across Chinese-speaking societies. These roles carry particular significance in Chinese culture, where government service has historically commanded high social status and respect.

No.	Jobs in Chinese	Pinyin	English Meaning
1	大使	dàshǐ	Ambassador
2	主席	zhǔxí	Chairperson / President (of a meeting or organization)
3	海关官员	hǎiguān guānyuán	Customs Officer
4	侦探	zhēntàn	Detective / Spy / Intelligence Agent
5	外交官	wàijiāo guān	Diplomat
6	消防员	xiāofáng yuán	Firefighter
7	政府官员	zhèngfǔ guānyuán	Government Official
8	市长	shìzhǎng	Mayor
9	警官	jǐngguān	Police Officer / Police Inspector
10	政治家	zhèngzhì jiā	Politician
11	社工	shègōng	Social Worker
12	参议员	cānyì yuán	Senator
13	发言人	fāyán rén	Spokesperson
14	交警	jiāojǐng	Traffic Police Officer
15	城管	chéngguǎn	Urban Management Officer

Used in formal documents and government meetings.

9. Healthcare Professions

Healthcare professions encompass the diverse medical and wellness occupations essential for public health and individual wellbeing. These careers require extensive training and certification, reflecting the critical importance of medical expertise in serving communities throughout Chinese-speaking regions.

No.	Jobs in Chinese	Pinyin	English Meaning
1	美容师	měiróng shī	Beautician / Esthetician
2	正脊师	zhèngjǐ shī	Chiropractor
3	牙医	yáyī	Dentist
4	按摩师	ànmó shī	Massage Therapist
5	营养师	yíngyǎng shī	Nutritionist / Dietitian
6	眼科医生	yǎnkē yīshēng	Ophthalmologist / Eye doctor
7	护理人员	hùlǐ rényuán	Nursing staff / Care worker
8	儿科医生	érkē yīshēng	Pediatrician
9	药剂师	yàojì shī	Pharmacist
10	内科医生	nèikē yīshēng	Internal medicine doctor
11	外科医生	wàikē yīshēng	Surgeon
12	心理医生	xīnlǐ yīshēng	Psychologist / Psychiatrist (clinical)
13	心理学家	xīnlǐ xuéjiā	Psychologist (academic/research)
14	中医	zhōngyī	Traditional Chinese Medicine Doctor (TCM)
15	兽医	shòuyī	Veterinarian

Helpful in emergency situations or international health systems.

10. Legal and Law-Related Occupations

Legal professions maintain justice systems and provide legal counsel throughout Chinese-speaking jurisdictions, representing specialized careers requiring advanced education and certification. Understanding these Chinese vocabulary for jobs proves essential for anyone engaging with legal systems or pursuing careers in Chinese language within legal contexts.

No.	Jobs in Chinese	Pinyin	English Meaning
1	律师	lǜshī	Lawyer
2	法官	fǎguān	Judge
3	法律顾问	fǎlǜ gùwèn	Legal Advisor
4	调解员	tiáojiě yuán	Mediator
5	法医	fǎyī	Forensic Doctor
6	律师助理	lǜshī zhùlǐ	Paralegal / Lawyer’s Assistant
7	检察官	jiǎnchá guān	Prosecutor
8	公诉人	gōngsùrén	Public Prosecutor

Used in police reports, embassy support, or legal application documents.

11. Jobs in the Sports Industry

Sports industry careers encompass athletic performance, coaching, management, and support roles that sustain competitive sports and recreational activities. These professions reflect the growing importance of sports and physical fitness in contemporary Chinese society.

No.	Jobs in Chinese	Pinyin	English Meaning
1	运动员	yùndòng yuán	Athlete
2	棒球运动员	bàngqiú yùndòngyuán	Baseball player
3	篮球运动员	lánqiú yùndòngyuán	Basketball player
4	拳击手	quánjī shǒu	Boxer
5	教练	jiàoliàn	Coach
6	解说员	jiěshuō yuán	Sports commentator / Announcer
7	健身教练	jiànshēn jiàoliàn	Fitness instructor
8	足球运动员	zúqiú yùndòngyuán	Soccer player / Footballer
9	冰球运动员	bīngqiú yùndòngyuán	Ice hockey player
10	救生员	jiùshēng yuán	Lifeguard
11	私人教练	sīrén jiàoliàn	Personal trainer
12	体育老师	tǐyù lǎoshī	Physical education teacher
13	裁判	cáipàn	Referee

Useful in fitness apps, health clubs, or competitions.

12. Food and Restaurant Professions

Food service careers represent essential occupations supporting the vibrant culinary culture throughout Chinese-speaking regions. These roles span from fine dining establishments to casual eateries, reflecting the central importance of food culture in Chinese society.

No.	Jobs in Chinese	Pinyin	English Meaning
1	烘焙师	hōngbèi shī	Baker
2	咖啡师	kāfēi shī	Barista
3	调酒师	tiáojiǔ shī	Bartender
4	酿酒师	niàngjiǔ shī	Brewer / Distiller
5	厨师长	chúshī zhǎng	Head Chef
6	领班	lǐngbān	Shift Leader / Head Waiter
7	糕点师	gāodiǎn shī	Pastry Chef
8	餐厅经理	cāntīng jīnglǐ	Restaurant Manager
9	店长	diànzhǎng	Store Manager
10	服务员	fúwùyuán	Waiter / Waitress
11	收银员	shōuyín yuán	Cashier

Common when working in service industries or studying culinary Mandarin.

13. Other Professions

Additional occupations span diverse sectors and specialized fields, completing your comprehensive vocabulary for discussing careers in Chinese language contexts. These varied professions reflect the complexity and diversity of modern economies in Chinese-speaking regions.

No.	Jobs in Chinese	Pinyin	English Meaning
1	渔夫	yúfū	Fisherman
2	管理员	guǎnlǐ yuán	Administrator / Manager
3	邮递员	yóudì yuán	Mail carrier / Postman
4	修理工	xiūlǐ gōng	Repair technician
5	船员	chuányuán	Sailor / Crew member
6	宇航员	yǔhángyuán	Astronaut
7	博主	bó zhǔ	Blogger
8	代驾	dài jià	Private driver (designated driver)
9	网红	wǎng hóng	Internet influencer
10	游戏玩家	yóuxì wánjiā	Gamer / Game tester
11	代购	dàigòu	Purchasing agent / Shopping proxy
12	陪练	péiliàn	Home tutor / Study companion
13	视频博主	shìpín bó zhǔ	Vlogger (video blogger)
14	声优	shēngyōu	Voice actor
15	油管博主	yóuguǎn bó zhǔ	YouTuber
16	化妆师	huàzhuāngshī	Makeup artist
17	造型师	zàoxíngshī	Stylist
18	搜索引擎优化	sōusuǒ yǐnqíng yōuhuà	SEO Specialist (Search Engine Optimization)

II. Common Sentence Patterns for Introducing Your Jobs in Chinese

Mastering practical sentence patterns allows you to discuss your profession naturally in Chinese conversations, transforming vocabulary knowledge into functional communication skills. These essential patterns enable you to introduce yourself professionally, inquire about others' occupations, and engage in career-related discussions with confidence and cultural appropriateness.

No.	Chinese Sentence	Pinyin	English Meaning
1	你的职业是什么？你做什么工作？	Nǐ de zhíyè shì shénme? / Nǐ zuò shénme gōngzuò?	What is your occupation? / What do you do for a living?
2	你从事哪种工作？	Nǐ cóngshì nǎ zhǒng gōngzuò?	What kind of work do you do?
3	我的工作是…… 我当…… 我是……	Wǒ de gōngzuò shì… / Wǒ dāng… / Wǒ shì…	My job is… / I work as… / I am a…
4	你在这里工作多久了？	Nǐ zài zhèlǐ gōngzuò duōjiǔ le?	How long have you worked here?
5	你的工作忙吗？	Nǐ de gōngzuò máng ma?	Is your job busy?
6	我已经在这里工作……年了。	Wǒ yǐjīng zài zhèlǐ gōngzuò… nián le.	I’ve been working here for … years.
7	未来你想干嘛？	Wèilái nǐ xiǎng gàn ma?	What do you want to do in the future?
8	你还在你的老公司工作吗？	Nǐ hái zài nǐ de lǎo gōngsī gōngzuò ma?	Are you still working at your old company?
9	我现在的工作很好。	Wǒ xiànzài de gōngzuò hěn hǎo.	My current job is very good.
10	我公司的老板和员工都非常友好。	Wǒ gōngsī de lǎobǎn hé yuángōng dōu fēicháng yǒuhǎo.	My boss and colleagues are all very friendly.
11	我的工作很忙，但我仍然喜欢做这份工作。	Wǒ de gōngzuò hěn máng, dàn wǒ réngrán xǐhuān zuò zhè fèn gōngzuò.	My job is very busy, but I still enjoy doing it.
12	将来我想成为一名医生，给大家治病。	Jiānglái wǒ xiǎng chéngwéi yī míng yīshēng, gěi dàjiā zhì bìng.	I hope to become a doctor in the future to help people.
13	我的工资很稳定。	Wǒ de gōngzī hěn wěndìng.	My salary is quite stable.
14	我做的工作很轻松，不用加班。	Wǒ zuò de gōngzuò hěn qīngsōng, bùyòng jiābān.	My job is quite easygoing, and I don’t have to work overtime.
15	小时候，我很羡慕做律师的人，现在我就是一名律师了。	Xiǎoshíhòu, wǒ hěn xiànmù zuò lǜshī de rén, xiànzài wǒ jiùshì yī míng lǜshī le.	When I was young, I admired lawyers. Now I'm one myself.
16	我爸做生意，我妈在一所中学当英语老师。	Wǒ bà zuò shēngyì, wǒ mā zài yī suǒ zhōngxué dāng yīngyǔ lǎoshī.	My father runs a business, and my mother is an English teacher at a middle school.

Use these to talk about your careers in Chinese language learning or to network effectively in Mandarin-speaking environments.

III. Conclusion

Mastering jobs in Chinese gives you the confidence to engage in professional conversations and understand workplace culture across Chinese-speaking regions. This curated list of over 260 job titles, organized by sector and paired with sentence patterns, builds a strong foundation for career-related communication.

To internalize vocabulary, practice through real dialogues, read job postings, and listen to industry discussions. True mastery goes beyond memorization—it includes understanding cultural norms and professional context.

Jobs in Chinese: A Complete Guide to Common Occupation Vocabulary