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农民工 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
农民工nóngmíngōngmigrant workersHSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #81434, Very Hard
nóngmíngōng(nong2min2gong1)nong min gong T2
  1. 1migrant workers
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March 24, 2026

农民工(農民工)nóngmíngōng(nong2min2gong1)

农民工 (nóngmín gōng) refers to rural migrant workers in China who leave their hometowns to seek employment in urban areas. This term captures the socio-economic dynamics of labor migration, often highlighting the challenges and contributions of these workers in the urban economy.

Strokes14Frequency#81434DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

The phenomenon of 农民工 is integral to China's rapid urbanization, representing the shift from an agrarian society to an industrial one. Many local festivals and government policies address the unique challenges faced by these workers, reflecting their importance in modern Chinese society.

Memory tip

Imagine a farmer (农) leaving the fields to become a worker (工) in a bustling city, carrying the essence of the countryside with them. The character 农 (nóng) looks like a field, while 工 (gōng) resembles tools or machinery, symbolizing the transition from agriculture to industry.

Meanings of 农民工

nóngmíngōng(nong2min2gong1)
1migrant workers
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About 农民工

农民工Simplified
農民工Traditional
14Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedBCT✓CEFRC2

Podcast: 农民工

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Podcast: 农民工

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AI Study Notes for 农民工

Quick Contrast

农民 (farmer) vs 劳动者 (laborer) — use 农民工 to emphasize the migrant aspect and urban employment context, while 农民 refers specifically to those engaged in agriculture.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 农民工; incorrect tones can lead to misunderstandings. This term is generally used in a neutral or slightly formal register, focusing on labor and economic discussions. Common collocations include '农民工权益' (rights of migrant workers) and '农民工工资' (wages of migrant workers).

HSK Study Tips

Although 农民工 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it relates to social issues covered in HSK Level 4 and above. Students should focus on understanding its context within urbanization and labor dynamics, which can be linked to related terms like '城市' (city) and '就业' (employment).

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 农民工 with other terms like 外来工 (wàilái gōng), which refers to non-local workers, including those from other provinces. Remember, 农民工 specifically highlights the rural background of the workers.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 农民工

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Component Characters

农nóngpeasant
HSK 56 strokes冖
View full entry
民mínthe people
HSK 45 strokes民
View full entry
工gōngwork
HSK 33 strokes工
View full entry

How to say migrant workers in Chinese

“migrant workers” in Chinese is农民工nóngmíngōng

农民工 (nóngmín gōng) refers to rural migrant workers in China who leave their hometowns to seek employment in urban areas. This term captures the socio-economic dynamics of labor migration, often highlighting the challenges and contributions of these workers in the urban economy.

When to use 农民工

Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 农民工; incorrect tones can lead to misunderstandings. This term is generally used in a neutral or slightly formal register, focusing on labor and economic discussions. Common collocations include '农民工权益' (rights of migrant workers) and '农民工工资' (wages of migrant workers).

农民工 or something close to it

农民 (farmer) vs 劳动者 (laborer) — use 农民工 to emphasize the migrant aspect and urban employment context, while 农民 refers specifically to those engaged in agriculture.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 农民工 with other terms like 外来工 (wàilái gōng), which refers to non-local workers, including those from other provinces. Remember, 农民工 specifically highlights the rural background of the workers.

Write 农民工

农
民
工

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Frequently Asked Questions about 农民工

农民工 specifically refers to migrant workers from rural areas, while 普通工人 is a general term for ordinary workers, regardless of their background.

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