ZHIZHI 知止 · LEARN CHINESE DAILY
业
industry; profession; study
yè
5 strokes · 一 — a rack of hanging bells — the apparatus of serious work · HSK 2
业 in traditional Chinese
業
Where 业 comes from
Originally the wooden frame that held ritual bells and chimes: heavy, serious apparatus. Grand undertakings borrowed the image — enterprise, profession, one's life work.
业 in Chinese culture
毕业 to graduate ('finish one's studies'), 工业 industry, 职业 profession, 作业 homework — the character follows you from school assignments to career. Buddhism uses 业 for karma: your deeds as your work.
Example
毕业 bìyè — to graduate
我明年大学毕业。
Wǒ míngnián dàxué bìyè.
I graduate from university next year.
How to remember it
A rack of BELLS to maintain — serious WORK, a PROFESSION.
作业 'homework' and 事业 'career' share 业 — school trains you for the same character you'll work under forever.
Same sound, different tones
Words unlocked by 业
毕业 bìyè
to graduate
职业 zhíyè
profession
Related characters
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