上班
shàngbān
go to work / start work
上班 is the everyday verb for going to work or being at work. It pairs naturally with time expressions and is essential for daily routines.
Example sentences
我每天早上八点上班。
Wǒ měitiān zǎoshang bā diǎn shàngbān.
I go to work at 8 am every day.
你今天上班吗？
Nǐ jīntiān shàngbān ma?
Are you working today?
How to use 上班 in practice
上班 is a daily life item that is easiest to learn inside a complete sentence. Read it with the pinyin shàngbān, then connect it to the meaning “go to work / start work” before trying to use it from memory. The examples on this page show the phrase in context: 我每天早上八点上班。 / 你今天上班吗？.
When you practice 上班, do not stop at recognition. Say one example aloud, swap in a new person, place, object, or time word, and then use the phrase in a short answer. This turns a glossary entry into real Mandarin output and exposes word-order or pronunciation mistakes quickly.
Common learner mistake
A common learner mistake is to memorize 上班 only as “go to work / start work” and then translate word by word from English. Instead, learn the whole chunk with the words around it. Notice which nouns, verbs, measure words, or polite markers appear before and after the phrase, and copy that pattern in your own sentence.
Mini practice prompt
Practice prompt: open Workplace office phrases guide, start a short conversation, and use 上班 naturally in your first or second reply. If the sentence feels awkward, compare it with the examples above and try again with a smaller sentence.
Memory tip: review 上班 tomorrow by covering the English meaning, reading only shàngbān, and producing a sentence before checking the examples. Active recall helps this word survive beyond one reading session.
Practice related pages
FAQ
What is the opposite of 上班?
下班 means to get off work or finish work. 你几点下班? means what time do you get off work?
How can I remember 上班 faster?
Say 上班 inside a full sentence, change one detail, and repeat it in a realistic prompt. The combination of sound, meaning, and context is stronger than memorizing the translation alone.
Can I use 上班 in conversation practice?
Yes. Start with the example sentence, then use 上班 in a short AI conversation so you can see whether the surrounding word order and tone feel natural.
Published by AI Chinese Coach