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加班 (jiā bān) — to work overtime

Definition

Means to work overtime (staying past regular hours). Pairs naturally with 下班 ('get off work'): 加班 happens after 下班.

verb
to work overtime

Examples

  • 加班，。
    Míng tiān wǒ bù jiā bān, xiǎng zǎo diǎn huí jiā.
    I won't work overtime tomorrow; I want to go home early.
  • 。
    Zhè ge yuè wǒ jiā le yí gè bān.
    I worked one overtime shift this month.
  • ，。
    Tā jiā le sān tiān bān, hěn lèi.
    He worked three days of overtime and was very tired.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

加jiāadd
班bānshift

加 means add and 班 means a shift or work, together meaning to add extra work.

Characters in this word

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

加 pairs 力 and 口. In one explanation 力 is strength and 口 is the mouth, meaning exaggeration; in another 力 is plowing effort and 口 is breath or exclamation, meaning extra effort.

Open 加 →

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
HSK 3.0 Level 4HSK 2.0 Level 4Workplace & Office

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