HSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, radical 隹, rank #1695, Hard
gù(gu4) T4
1employment; to hire, to employ
2to rent
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March 24, 2026
雇(僱)gù(gu4)
The character 雇 (gù) refers to the concept of hiring or employing someone for work. It is commonly used in business contexts where employers seek to recruit employees or when discussing labor contracts. Understanding this term is essential for navigating employment discussions in Mandarin.
Strokes12Radical隹Frequency#1695DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the relationship between employer and employee is often viewed as a long-term partnership, where loyalty is highly valued. The concept of 雇 reflects the importance of stability and mutual respect in the workplace.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person holding a sign that says 'We Hire!' (雇) while standing under a large umbrella (the radical for 'rain' in the character 雇). The umbrella represents support and protection that comes with employment. The pronunciation 'gù' can remind you of the word 'good' as in 'a good job hired.'
Meanings of 雇
gù(gu4)
1employment; to hire, to employ
2to rent
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 雇
雇Simplified
僱Traditional
12Strokes
隹Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#1695Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 雇
Podcast: 雇
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AI Study Notes for 雇
Quick Contrast
雇 (gù, to hire) vs 聘 (pìn, to employ) — use 雇 for hiring specific workers, while 聘 is often used for formal employment or professional positions.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person holding a sign that says 'We Hire!' (雇) while standing under a large umbrella (the radical for 'rain' in the character 雇). The umbrella represents support and protection that comes with employment. The pronunciation 'gù' can remind you of the word 'good' as in 'a good job hired.'
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 雇 (gù) with the similar sounding but differently toned characters. It is used in both formal and informal contexts, often paired with terms like 雇主 (gùzhǔ - employer) and 雇员 (gùyuán - employee). Pay attention to the tone as mispronouncing it could lead to misunderstandings.
HSK Study Tips
While 雇 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it is relevant for learners at HSK 4 and above, especially those focusing on business Mandarin. Students should connect it with other employment-related vocabulary like 工作 (gōngzuò - work) and 职业 (zhíyè - profession).
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the relationship between employer and employee is often viewed as a long-term partnership, where loyalty is highly valued. The concept of 雇 reflects the importance of stability and mutual respect in the workplace.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 雇 (gù) with the word for 'to hire' in different tones, such as 雇 (gù) and 估 (gū). An incorrect example would be using 估 (gū) in place of 雇 when discussing employment. Correct usage is always 雇 (gù) for hiring.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 雇
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六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声å—)~80-90% of characters
Explanation
Phonosemantic compound. 隹 represents the meaning and 户 represents the sound. Originally was the name of a type of bird. The current meaning is a phonetic loan.
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Grammar Patterns of 雇
雇 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 5
Complete the Sentence
____主以种族或国籍为由歧视员工是非法的。
Discrimination by employers on the grounds of race and nationality was illegal.
Example Sentences for 雇 (10)
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1
雇主以种族或国籍为由歧视员工是非法的。
gù zhǔ yǐ zhǒng zú huò guó jí wéi yóu qí shì yuán gōng shì fēi fǎ de。
Discrimination by employers on the grounds of race and nationality was illegal.
2
男雇员以4比1的多数票接受了工资条件。
nán gù yuán yǐ4 41 bǐ 1 de duō shù piào jiē shòu le gōng zī。
The men voted by a four-to-one majority to accept the pay offer.
3
符合条件的雇员有96%接受了这个条件。
fú hé tiáo jiàn de gù yuán yǒu96% 96% jiē shòu le zhè gè tiáo。
96 per cent of the eligible employees took up the offer.
4
有一名雇员起诉她非法解聘。
yǒu yī míng gù yuán qǐ sù tā fēi fǎ jiě pìn。
One of her employees sued her for wrongful dismissal.
Many are employed in the prison's wood and metalwork factories.
9
雇佣有经验、了解房地产业的人。
gù yōng yǒu jīng yàn、 、 le jiě fáng dì chǎn yè de。
Hire someone with experience, someone who knows about real estate.
10
当过兵的人大概是雇主们寻找的宝贝了。
dāng guò bīng de rén dà gài shì gù zhǔ mén xún zhǎo de bǎo bèi le。
Ex-forces personnel could be the manna from heaven employers are seeking.
Cultural Notes for 雇
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the relationship between employer and employee is often viewed as a long-term partnership, where loyalty is highly valued. The concept of 雇 reflects the importance of stability and mutual respect in the workplace.
Word Family of 雇
Compounds1
僱gu4to hire, to employ
Words Containing This Character8
雇gùto employ
解雇jiěgùto fire解僱
雇佣gùyōngto employ雇傭
雇员gùyuánemployee雇員
雇主gùzhǔemployer
雇用to employ僱用
受雇hired受僱
贫雇农poor peasants (in Marxism)貧雇農
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 僱 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 雇
雇 (gù) and 雇佣 (gùyōng) are related but used differently. 雇 is often used in a more general sense to mean 'to hire', while 雇佣 specifically refers to the employment relationship and can imply a more formal arrangement.
雇 (gù) is classified as an HSK level 7 word. This level indicates that it is more advanced vocabulary and is typically learned by students who have a solid grasp of the Chinese language.
雇 (gù) means 'to hire' or 'to employ'. It can refer to the act of hiring someone for a job or engaging in employment. The character can also mean 'to rent', indicating a relationship of hiring or employing services or individuals.
You can use 雇 (gù) in sentences like '我雇了一个新员工' (Wǒ gùle yīgè xīn yuángōng), which means 'I hired a new employee'. It is used to express the action of hiring someone for work or service.
雇 (gù) generally refers to hiring someone for a job, particularly in a more informal or temporary sense, while 聘 (pìn) is used for formal employment or to hire someone with specific qualifications.
Yes, you can say '我雇了一名新员工' (Wǒ gùle yī míng xīn yuángōng) meaning 'I hired a new employee.'
雇 is commonly used in both spoken and written Mandarin, especially in business contexts.
