Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
傭 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
yōngto hire, to employ; commission; servantzg, 13 strokes, radical 亻, Very Hard
yōng(yong1) T1
  1. 1to hire, to employ; commission; servant
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
yōng(yong1)

The character 傭 (yōng) refers to the act of hiring or employing someone, often with a focus on labor or service. It is commonly used in contexts involving employment, commissions, or hiring domestic help, emphasizing the relationship between the employer and the hired worker.

Strokes13RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, hiring domestic help or servants is still prevalent in many urban areas, reflecting the traditional values of family and service. The concept of employment is often closely tied to social status and relationships.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'young' person (yōng) who is eager to 'hire' others to help with their tasks. The character 傭 looks like a person carrying a heavy load, symbolizing the work done for those who hire them.

Meanings of 傭

yōng(yong1)
1to hire, to employ; commission; servant
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 傭

Simplified
13Strokes
Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 傭

JasonAmy

Podcast:

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 傭

Quick Contrast

雇 (gù) — use 傭 (yōng) when emphasizing the ongoing relationship between employer and worker, while 雇 (gù) focuses more on the act of hiring itself.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a 'young' person (yōng) who is eager to 'hire' others to help with their tasks. The character 傭 looks like a person carrying a heavy load, symbolizing the work done for those who hire them.

Usage Notes

Learners should be cautious not to confuse 傭 with similar-sounding characters. It is more commonly used in formal contexts like labor contracts or service agreements. Common collocations include '傭人' (yōngrén) meaning 'servant' and '雇傭' (gùyōng) meaning 'to hire.'

HSK Study Tips

Though 傭 is not in the HSK vocabulary lists, it is essential for learners interested in professional and service-related contexts. Students should focus on understanding its usage in employment scenarios and related terms.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, hiring domestic help or servants is still prevalent in many urban areas, reflecting the traditional values of family and service. The concept of employment is often closely tied to social status and relationships.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is confusing 傭 with similar characters, such as 佣 (yōng) which refers to commission. Learners might say '雇佣' (gùyōng) incorrectly when they mean to specify a type of employment.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 傭

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 傭

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

person

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 傭?

Decomposition of 傭

IDS Structure⿰亻庸
Full Character
=
ren2
left
yong1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 傭?

Write 傭

Practice writing stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Cultural Notes for 傭

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, hiring domestic help or servants is still prevalent in many urban areas, reflecting the traditional values of family and service. The concept of employment is often closely tied to social status and relationships.

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, the concept of hiring for personal services may carry different social implications, often viewed through the lens of independence versus reliance on others.

Word Family of 傭

Words Containing This Character10
雇佣gùyōngto employ雇傭
佣金commission
女佣(female) maid女傭
yōngto hire
佣人servant傭人
佣兵mercenary傭兵
佣工servant傭工
帮佣servant幫傭
佣妇maid傭婦
佣钱commission佣錢
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 雇佣 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 傭

傭 (yōng) emphasizes service or labor for hire, while 雇 (gù) is a broader term for hiring in general.