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干活儿 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
干活儿
gànhuór
to work
HSK 4, n, 14 strokes, rank #26584, Medium
干活儿
gànhuór
manual labor
HSK 4, n, 14 strokes, rank #26584, Medium
gànhuór(gan4huo2r5)gan huo r T4
1to work
2manual labor
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March 24, 2026
干活儿(幹活兒)gànhuór(gan4huo2r5)
干活儿 (gàn huór) refers to manual labor or work, often implying physical tasks that require effort. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts when discussing jobs that involve hands-on activities, distinguishing it from more intellectual or sedentary forms of work.
Strokes14Frequency#26584DifficultyMedium
Cultural note
In traditional Chinese culture, manual labor is often respected, especially in rural communities where agriculture is a primary occupation. The concept of 干活儿 reflects the value placed on hard work and craftsmanship in Chinese society.
Memory tip
Imagine a person (干) holding a tool (活) in their hands, ready to work hard. The character 干 looks like an abstract figure ready to perform a task, while 活 suggests lively action, reminding you that this labor is active and engaging.
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AI study notes for 干活儿
Quick Contrast
劳动 (láodòng) vs 工作 (gōngzuò): Choose 干活儿 for tasks involving physical effort, while 劳动 emphasizes the labor aspect, and 工作 is a broader term for any kind of work.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 干活儿 with just any type of work, as it specifically refers to manual labor. It is often used in informal settings but can be suitable for conversational and casual discussions about jobs. Additionally, remember that the tone on '儿' is important for clarity.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 5 word, 干活儿 connects well with other terms related to work and professions. Students should focus on its usage in different contexts and practice with related vocabulary like 工作 (gōngzuò) which means 'to work' in a more general sense.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse 干活儿 to refer to any job, but it should strictly denote manual labor. For example, saying '我在办公室干活儿' (I work in an office) is incorrect; instead, use '我在办公室工作'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 干活儿
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Knowing 干活儿 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
干活儿 (gàn huór) refers to manual labor or work, often implying physical tasks that require effort. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts when discussing jobs that involve hands-on activities, distinguishing it from more intellectual or sedentary forms of work.
When to use 干活儿
Be careful not to confuse 干活儿 with just any type of work, as it specifically refers to manual labor. It is often used in informal settings but can be suitable for conversational and casual discussions about jobs. Additionally, remember that the tone on '儿' is important for clarity.
干活儿 or something close to it
劳动 (láodòng) vs 工作 (gōngzuò): Choose 干活儿 for tasks involving physical effort, while 劳动 emphasizes the labor aspect, and 工作 is a broader term for any kind of work.
What learners get wrong
Learners often misuse 干活儿 to refer to any job, but it should strictly denote manual labor. For example, saying '我在办公室干活儿' (I work in an office) is incorrect; instead, use '我在办公室工作'.
Write 干活儿
干
活
儿
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Grammar patterns of 干活儿
干活儿 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 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
我们在烈日下____,很快就觉得渴 ( 极 ) 了.
Working in the sun soon gave us a ( powerful ) thirst.
Example sentences for 干活儿 (22)
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nto work13
1
我们在烈日下干活儿,很快就觉得渴 ( 极 ) 了.
wǒmen zài lièrì xià gànhuór, hěn kuài jiù juéde kě ( jí ) le.
Working in the sun soon gave us a ( powerful ) thirst.
2
“ 大伙儿干嘛今天都不干活儿啦?
“ dàhuǒr gān ma jīntiān dōu bù gànhuór la?
" Wherefore have all the people left their work to - day?
3
周末的时候，他常常去志愿者组织干活儿。
Zhōumò de shíhou, tā chángcháng qù zhìyuàn zhě zǔzhī gànhuór.
On weekends, he often goes to the volunteer organization to work.
