kòu gōngzī: 扣工资 - To Dock Pay, Salary Deduction

Keywords: kou gongzi, kòu gōngzī, 扣工资, dock pay, Chinese for salary deduction, cut salary China, reduce wages, have pay docked, penalty at work China, Chinese workplace culture, labor law China.

Summary: “扣工资 (kòu gōngzī)” is a common Chinese term that means to dock pay or make a salary deduction, usually as a penalty for an employee's mistake or infraction. Understanding this phrase is essential for anyone navigating the Chinese workplace, as it reflects a direct form of management and discipline. This page explores its meaning, cultural context, legal standing in China, and provides practical examples for how to use and understand it in everyday conversation.

Pinyin (with tone marks): kòu gōngzī

Part of Speech: Verb-Object Phrase

HSK Level: HSK 4

Concise Definition: To deduct money from an employee's salary as a form of punishment.

In a Nutshell: Imagine you're late for work, and your boss says they're taking 50 yuan out of your paycheck for that month. That action is “扣工资”. It's a specific, punitive deduction from your salary due to a specific error, like being late, breaking equipment, or failing to meet a target. It almost always carries a negative, disciplinary feeling.

扣 (kòu): The core meaning of this character is “to deduct,” “to button,” or “to detain.” Picture using a button (扣子 kòuzi) to fasten something shut, or “detaining” a portion of something. In this context, it means to “deduct” or “hold back” a part of the salary.

工 (gōng): This character means “work”