在岗 (zài gǎng) — to be on duty, to be at one's post | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

在岗 means being actively on duty at your post (the opposite is 离岗 'off duty'). Often used in workplace, military, or security contexts.

verb

to be on dutyto be at one's post

Examples

在岗，。
Tā jīn tiān zài gǎng, bù néng lái cān jiā jù huì.
He is on duty today and can't come to the party.
，。
Wǒ yǐ jīng zài le yì zhěng tiān de gǎng, lèi huài le.
I've been on duty for a whole day and I'm exhausted.
，。
Tā qù nián zài guò jǐ gè yuè de gǎng, dàn hòu lái cí zhí le.
He was on duty for a few months last year, but later he quit.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

在 gives being at, and 岗 gives post, so the word means being at one's post.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

才才cái
士士shì

The early form of 在 used 才 for its sound; a second sound part 士 was added later, and that 士 became the 土 seen in 在.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 崗; 岗 is its simplified writing.

山岡崗

Meaning part形符xíngfú

山山shānmountain

Sound part声符shēngfú

岡

岡gāng崗gǎng

Same sound today

The traditional form 崗 uses 山 to show a hill or mountain and 岡 to carry the sound; the simplified 岗 is a later shorthand.

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