One of the most common questions you’ll get from people in China is “What’s your job?” (你做什么工作? – nǐ zuò shén me gōng zuò?) To answer, you simply say “I’m a…”(我是… – wǒ shì) plus your job title.

我是老师

To help you out, here are 25 common job titles in Chinese:

• accountant (会计 – kuài jì)

• actor (演员 – yǎn yuán)

• agent (代理商 – dài lǐ shāng)

• artist (艺术家 – yì shù jiā)

• assistant (助理 – zhù lǐ)

• boss (老板 – lǎo bǎn)

• business person (商人 – shāng rén)

• chef (厨师 – chú shī)

• designer (设计师 – shè jì shī)

• doctor (医生 – yī shēng)

• engineer (工程师 – gōng chéng shī)

• freelancer (自由职业 – zì yóu zhí yè)

• lawyer (律师 – lǜ shī)

• manager (经理 – jīng lǐ)

• musician (音乐家 – yīn yuè jiā)

• nurse (护士 – hù shì)

• photographer (摄影师 – shè yǐng shī)

• police officer (警察 – jǐng chá)

• receptionist (招待员 – zhāo dài yuán)

• sales person (售货员 – shòu huò yuán)

• scientist (科学家 – kē xué jiā)

• secretary (秘书 – mì shū)

• teacher (老师 – lǎo shī)

• waiter (服务员 – fú wù yuán)

• writer (作家 – zuò jiā)

Get a little practice by watching these YouTube videos:

Here are some of the job titles mentioned above plus others.

This silly cartoon shows you common jobs and explains them in Chinese.

Take it to the next level with this video that teaches you how to answer other questions about your job.

Try to practice by answering these questions:

What’s your job?
你做什么工作?
nǐ zuò shén me gōng zuò

Where do you work?
你在哪里工作？
nǐ zài nǎ lǐ gōng zuò

Do you like your job?
你喜欢你的工作吗？
nǐ xǐ huān nǐ de gōng zuò ma