shìyèxīn: 事业心 - Career-mindedness, Professional Drive, Ambition

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

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.

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 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.

• 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.

• 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.