Meaning and Usage
"同事" (tóngshì) means "colleague" or "co-worker," referring to people who work together in the same workplace. It is a common noun used in both formal and informal contexts.
Common Contexts
You will often hear "同事" when talking about teamwork, workplace relationships, or social interactions at work. For example, "和同事一起完成任务" (complete tasks with colleagues) or "同事之间的关系" (relationships among colleagues).
Collocations and Patterns
- 同事们 (colleagues, plural) – used to refer to a group of co-workers.
- 新来的同事 (new colleague) – to introduce someone new at work.
- 同事之间 (between colleagues) – to discuss interactions or relationships.
Nuances
Using "同事" implies a professional relationship rather than a personal one. It is neutral and polite, suitable for workplace conversations. Avoid confusing "同事" with "朋友" (friend), as colleagues may or may not be friends.
Tips
When talking about your colleagues, you can add descriptive words like "好" (good), "新来" (new), or "亲密" (close) to specify the relationship. Also, "同事" can be used in plural by adding "们" (men).