When combined, 施工 (shīgōng) literally translates to “to carry out work,” perfectly capturing its meaning as the execution phase of an engineering or construction project.
In modern China, 施工 (shīgōng) is more than just a technical term; it's a powerful symbol of the nation's breathtakingly rapid development over the past four decades. The constant presence of signs bearing these two characters in every city is a visual reminder of the “China Speed” (中国速度 - Zhōngguó sùdù), the country's ability to complete massive infrastructure projects in record time. In the West, a sign like “Under Construction” is a simple, temporary notice of inconvenience. In China, while it serves the same practical purpose, the sheer scale and ubiquity of 施工 projects tie the word to a grander narrative of national progress, modernization, and ambition. Seeing 施工 doesn't just mean a new road is being built; it's a tangible piece of a larger story of a nation transforming itself. It represents both the pride in this progress and, for local residents, the daily reality of noise, dust, and disruption that comes with living in a perpetual state of “becoming.”
施工 (shīgōng) is used in formal, official, and public contexts. You will rarely hear it in casual conversation unless someone works in the industry.
For English speakers, the biggest challenge is knowing when to use 施工 (shīgōng) versus other words that also mean “to build” or “construct.”