下班 (xià bān) — to finish work, to get off work

Definition

Means 'to get off work / finish work for the day.' Pairs naturally with 上班 ('go to work') and 下课 ('finish class'); 加班 means working extra hours.

verb
to finish workto get off work
Easily confused

Examples

  • 下班。
    Wǒ xià wǔ wǔ diǎn xià bān.
    I get off work at 5 PM.
  • 。
    Tā xià le bān huí jiā.
    After getting off work, he goes home.
  • 下班？
    Nǐ jīn tiān xià bān ma?
    Do you get off work today?

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

下xiàleave
班bānshift

下 expresses leaving and 班 the work shift, giving the sense of leaving work.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

下 is drawn as a short horizontal line below a long curved line.

Open 下 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 珏珏juépieces of jade
  • 刀刀dāoknife

班 shows 珏, pieces of jade, and 刀, a knife, cutting them into pieces.

Open 班 →
Appears in
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