Chinese · Work & Business
办公室
bàngōngshì
Office
Beginnernoun
Definition
A room or building where people work at desks.
Example
经理在办公室开会。
The manager is in a meeting in the office.
Etymology
'办公室' (bàngōngshì) breaks down into '办' (bàn), meaning 'to handle' or 'to manage', '公' (gōng), meaning 'public', and '室' (shì), meaning 'room'. This term represents the space designated for business activities, evolving with the development of modern work environments.
How & Where It’s Used
'办公室' is primarily used in formal and professional contexts, found in both spoken and written language. It is universally understood in urban settings across China, with variations in regional terminology.