打工 dǎgōng to work a temporary or casual job
to work a temporary or casual job; (of students) to have a job outside of class time, or during vacation
How to remember 打工: 打 hit + 工 work = to work a temporary or casual job.
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How it is used
- Separable verb-object for working a temporary, casual, or part-time job - 在餐厅打工 (zài cāntīng dǎgōng), work part-time at a restaurant.
- Implies lower-status or non-career work, common for students and migrant laborers; 工作 (gōngzuò) is the neutral, career-agnostic word for 'to work/a job'.
- 打了两年工 (dǎ le liǎng nián gōng) - worked casual jobs for two years.