How common it is
失业 appears often in everyday Chinese, so it is worth practicing early and reviewing often.
Pronunciation focus
Say shī yè slowly first, then repeat it in a short phrase. Listen for the tone shape.
Usage note
“失业”是指一个人没有工作了。比如，爸爸的公司关门了，他就失业了。
“shī yè” shì zhǐ yīgè rén méiyǒu gōngzuò le. Bǐrú, bàba de gōngsī guānmén le, tā jiù shī yè le.
"Be unemployed" means a person has no job. For example, if Dad's company closes, he becomes unemployed.
Context note
这个词用于谈论工作。小朋友可以理解如果大人没有工作，就是失业。但失业的人可以再找工作。
Zhège cí yòng yú tánlùn gōngzuò. Xiǎopéngyǒu kěyǐ lǐjiě rúguǒ dàrén méiyǒu gōngzuò, jiù shì shī yè. Dàn shī yè de rén kěyǐ zài zhǎo gōngzuò.
This word is used to talk about jobs. Children can understand that if an adult has no job, they are unemployed. But unemployed people can find new jobs.
5 examples
爸爸失业了，但他正在找新工作。
bà ba shī yè le， dàn tā zhèng zài zhǎo xīn gōng zuò。
Dad is unemployed, but he is looking for a new job.
失业后，妈妈去学习新技能。
shī yè hòu， mā ma qù xué xí xīn jì néng。
After being unemployed, Mom went to learn new skills.
很多人因为疫情失业了。
hěn duō rén yīn wèi yì qíng shī yè le。
Many people became unemployed because of the pandemic.
叔叔失业了，我们全家都支持他。
shū shu shī yè le， wǒ men quán jiā dōu zhī chí tā。
Uncle is unemployed, and our whole family supports him.
失业不是世界末日，可以重新开始。
shī yè bú shì shì jiè mò rì， kě yǐ chóng xīn kāi shǐ。
Being unemployed is not the end of the world; you can start over.
5 mini stories
小明的爸爸失业了。爸爸每天在家学习，准备找新工作。
xiǎo míng de bà ba shī yè le。 bà ba měi tiān zài jiā xué xí， zhǔn bèi zhǎo xīn gōng zuò。
Xiao Ming's dad is unemployed. Dad studies at home every day, preparing to find a new job.
小红的妈妈失业后，开了一家小商店。
xiǎo hóng de mā ma shī yè hòu， kāi le yì jiā xiǎo shāng diàn。
After Xiao Hong's mom became unemployed, she opened a small shop.
小刚的叔叔失业了，但他很快找到了新工作。
xiǎo gāng de shū shu shī yè le， dàn tā hěn kuài zhǎo dào le xīn gōng zuò。
Xiao Gang's uncle is unemployed, but he quickly found a new job.
小丽的邻居失业了。小丽送给他一束花，鼓励他。
xiǎo lì de lín jū shī yè le。 xiǎo lì sòng gěi tā yí shù huā， gǔ lì tā。
Xiao Li's neighbor is unemployed. Xiao Li gave him a bouquet of flowers to encourage him.
小华的爸爸失业后，全家一起省钱。
xiǎo huá de bà ba shī yè hòu， quán jiā yì qǐ shěng qián。
After Xiao Hua's dad became unemployed, the whole family saved money together.