====== shìyèxīn: 事业心 - Career-mindedness, Professional Drive, Ambition ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** 事业心, shìyèxīn, career-minded, ambition in Chinese, professional drive, dedicated to career, Chinese work ethic, meaning of shiyexin, Chinese business culture, job ambition
  * **Summary:** 事业心 (shìyèxīn) is a crucial Chinese term describing a person's professional drive, ambition, and dedication to their career. More than just being "ambitious," it reflects a deep-seated sense of responsibility and a commitment to building a successful professional life. Having a strong 事业心 is a highly valued trait in Chinese culture, often sought by employers and considered a key indicator of a person's reliability and potential for success.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** shìyèxīn
  * **Part of Speech:** Noun
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 6
  * **Concise Definition:** The dedication, ambition, and sense of responsibility one has towards their career or enterprise.
  * **In a Nutshell:** 事业心 is the "heart" or "mind" (`心`) you put into your "career" or "undertaking" (`事业`). It's not a fleeting interest but a sustained internal drive to achieve professional goals. A person with 事业心 is proactive, takes their job seriously, and constantly thinks about how to advance and improve in their field. It's a fundamental measure of a person's character in a professional context.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **事 (shì):** Matter, affair, business, work. It refers to the things one does.
  * **业 (yè):** Profession, industry, enterprise. It elevates `事` from a simple "matter" to a more significant "undertaking" or line of work.
  * **心 (xīn):** Heart, mind, spirit. Pictographically, it's a simple drawing of the heart. It represents one's innermost thoughts, feelings, and drive.
When combined, **事业 (shìyè)** means "career" or "enterprise." Adding **心 (xīn)** transforms it into the "heart for one's career"—the internal motivation, passion, and ambition that fuels professional success.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
In Chinese culture, 事业心 is not just a personal quality; it's a social virtue. It is deeply intertwined with one's sense of responsibility towards their family. A successful career isn't just for personal fulfillment—it's a way to provide for parents, support a spouse and children, and bring honor to the family name. Therefore, a person with a strong 事业心 is seen as reliable, mature, and a pillar of their family and community.
A useful comparison is with the Western concept of being "ambitious." In the West, ambition can sometimes carry a negative connotation, suggesting a person might be ruthless, selfish, or willing to step on others to get ahead. **事业心, however, is almost exclusively positive.** It implies diligence, perseverance, and a constructive desire to build something meaningful. It's less about a cutthroat "climb to the top" and more about a steady, responsible dedication to one's professional path. Lacking 事业心 can be seen as a significant character flaw, suggesting a lack of direction, maturity, or responsibility.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
事业心 is a common and important term in everyday life, especially in professional and personal evaluations.
  * **In the Workplace:** During job interviews, expressing that you have a strong `事业心` is a major plus. Employers use this term to find candidates who are not just looking for a paycheck, but are truly invested in growing with the company. A manager might praise an employee by saying, "他很有事业心" (He is very career-minded).
  * **In Relationships:** It is one of the most desirable traits in a potential partner, particularly for men. A woman might say she is looking for a man with `事业心` because it signals stability, security, and a promising future. Conversely, "他没有事业心" (He lacks professional drive) is a common reason for ending a relationship.
  * **General Connotation:** The term is overwhelmingly positive. It's a compliment that speaks to a person's character, work ethic, and future potential.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 他这个人**事业心**很强，一心只想把公司做好。
    * Pinyin: Tā zhè ge rén **shìyèxīn** hěn qiáng, yīxīn zhǐ xiǎng bǎ gōngsī zuò hǎo.
    * English: He is a very career-driven person; his only focus is on making the company successful.
    * Analysis: This is a classic example of praise, highlighting someone's strong focus and dedication to their work. `很强 (hěn qiáng)` means "very strong."
  * **Example 2:**
    * 我们公司招聘时，非常看重应聘者的**事业心**。
    * Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī zhāopìn shí, fēicháng kànzhòng yìngpìnzhě de **shìyèxīn**.
    * English: When our company recruits, we place great importance on a candidate's professional drive.
    * Analysis: This shows how the term is used in a formal business context. `看重 (kànzhòng)` means "to value" or "to regard as important."
  * **Example 3:**
    * 我希望我未来的男朋友有责任感，有**事业心**。
    * Pinyin: Wǒ xīwàng wǒ wèilái de nánpéngyou yǒu zérèngǎn, yǒu **shìyèxīn**.
    * English: I hope my future boyfriend has a sense of responsibility and is career-minded.
    * Analysis: A very common sentiment in a dating context, linking `事业心` with `责任感 (zérèngǎn)`, or "sense of responsibility."
  * **Example 4:**
    * 他虽然很聪明，但是没什么**事业心**，每天就知道玩。
    * Pinyin: Tā suīrán hěn cōngmíng, dànshì méi shénme **shìyèxīn**, měitiān jiù zhīdào wán.
    * English: Although he's smart, he doesn't have much professional ambition and just wants to have fun every day.
    * Analysis: This is a criticism. The lack of `事业心` is presented as a negative trait that undermines his intelligence.
  * **Example 5:**
    * 为了家庭，她暂时放下了自己的**事业心**。
    * Pinyin: Wèile jiātíng, tā zànshí fàngxià le zìjǐ de **shìyèxīn**.
    * English: For the sake of her family, she temporarily set aside her career ambitions.
    * Analysis: This sentence illustrates the common cultural conflict between career and family obligations, particularly for women.
  * **Example 6:**
    * 年轻人有**事业心**是好事，但也要注意身体。
    * Pinyin: Niánqīngrén yǒu **shìyèxīn** shì hǎo shì, dàn yě yào zhùyì shēntǐ.
    * English: It's a good thing for young people to have professional drive, but they must also pay attention to their health.
    * Analysis: This sentence offers a balanced perspective, acknowledging the virtue of `事业心` while warning against its potential to cause burnout.
  * **Example 7:**
    * 他的**事业心**驱使他不断学习新技能。
    * Pinyin: Tā de **shìyèxīn** qūshǐ tā bùduàn xuéxí xīn jìnéng.
    * English: His professional drive compels him to continuously learn new skills.
    * Analysis: This shows `事业心` as a motivating force (`驱使 qūshǐ` - to drive/compel) for self-improvement.
  * **Example 8:**
    * 你觉得是**事业心**重要还是家庭重要？
    * Pinyin: Nǐ juéde shì **shìyèxīn** zhòngyào háishì jiātíng zhòngyào?
    * English: Do you think professional ambition is more important, or is family more important?
    * Analysis: A common philosophical question used to understand a person's values.
  * **Example 9:**
    * 毕业之后，他的**事业心**越来越强了。
    * Pinyin: Bìyè zhīhòu, tā de **shìyèxīn** yuèláiyuè qiáng le.
    * English: After graduating, his professional drive grew stronger and stronger.
    * Analysis: This shows that `事业心` is not a static trait but something that can develop over time.
  * **Example 10:**
    * 一个没有**事业心**的团队是无法取得成功的。
    * Pinyin: Yī ge méiyǒu **shìyèxīn** de tuánduì shì wúfǎ qǔdé chénggōng de.
    * English: A team without professional drive cannot achieve success.
    * Analysis: Here, the concept is applied not just to an individual, but to a collective group or team.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **False Friend: "Ambition" vs. 事业心 (shìyèxīn)**
    * The most common mistake is to equate `事业心` directly with the English word "ambition." While related, "ambition" can be neutral or negative. For example, "His blind ambition was his downfall." You would almost never say this about `事业心`. `事业心` is a virtue rooted in diligence and responsibility.
  * **Crucial Distinction: 事业心 (shìyèxīn) vs. 野心 (yěxīn)**
    * This is a critical nuance for learners. `野心 (yěxīn)` also translates to "ambition," but it literally means "wild heart." It carries a strong negative connotation of unchecked, selfish, and potentially ruthless ambition. It's the kind of ambition that leads to betrayal and conspiracy.
    *   //Correct:// 他很有**事业心**，工作很努力。(Tā hěn yǒu **shìyèxīn**, gōngzuò hěn nǔlì.) - He is very career-minded and works hard. (High praise)
    *   //Incorrect (in a positive context):// 他很有**野心**，工作很努力。 (Tā hěn yǒu **yěxīn**, gōngzuò hěn nǔlì.) - While grammatically possible, this sentence is jarring. It implies his hard work is fueled by a dangerous, self-serving ambition, making it a warning rather than a compliment.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[野心]] (yěxīn) - "Wild ambition." The negative, often treacherous counterpart to `事业心`.
  * [[上进心]] (shàngjìnxīn) - The desire to improve oneself; self-motivation. A close synonym, but more general. You can have an `上进心` for hobbies or personal growth, while `事业心` is specific to career.
  * [[责任感]] (zérèngǎn) - Sense of responsibility. Seen as a core component and a direct result of having a strong `事业心`.
  * [[抱负]] (bàofù) - Aspiration; ambition. This is a more formal and grand term, often referring to a life-long goal or a noble aspiration, like changing society.
  * [[敬业]] (jìngyè) - To be dedicated to one's work; professional. This is the //behavior// or //attitude// that demonstrates one's `事业心`. `敬业` is an adjective or verb, while `事业心` is a noun.
  * [[工作狂]] (gōngzuòkuáng) - Workaholic. This can be seen as the negative extreme of `事业心`, where professional drive becomes an unhealthy obsession.
  * [[有为青年]] (yǒuwéi qīngnián) - A promising young person. A youth who has a strong `事业心` is often described this way.
  * [[事业]] (shìyè) - Career; undertaking; enterprise. The root word from which `事业心` is derived.