<p>I think you are right - "做事" is probably only used in some areas of China, especially some southern areas where ancient Chinese has an influence, and not as commonly as "工作" in this sense. I would say it is more colloquial than the latter, too - for example, I think an interviewer will more likely to ask "你之前在哪里工作？" than "你之前在哪里做事？"</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-26T15:18:59.627Z
2017-06-26T15:35:36.250Z
2017-06-26T15:35:36.250Z
elarry
<p>It is typically used in HK, Taiwan and rests of Mandarin speaking societies.</p>

<p>To streamline with planned economy policies(government assigns jobs), PRC government use 上岗, 工作岗位 to replace 做事. Since PRC adopt open market economy,  上岗 is used in conjunction with 做事， 工作， 上班. There is no special preference.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-26T15:18:38.240Z
2017-06-26T15:18:38.240Z
mootmoot
<p>To me 做事 looks like "do business" as opposed to 工作  as in "work".  工作 sounds more like "job" to me.  Just my two cents.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-02T07:15:20.740Z
What about 打工 compared to 工作?
Philipp
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-02T01:05:04.523Z
2017-09-02T01:05:04.523Z
IHeartPoodles
<p>My first book (1987 Edition from Taiwan) taught </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>你在那裡做事？ 我在中國大學教書。
  (Throughout the book the 口radical in 哪 was omitted.)</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Ever since, I have been looking out for 做事 in my textbooks from the PRC, but haven't once noticed it. Is it just uncommon in the PRC, or does it convey a humble tone, as - I am told - 教書 does?</p>

<difference>
Is 做事 just Taiwanese, or does it have a different flavour than 工作？
# Is 做事 just Taiwanese, or does it have a different flavour than 工作？

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-06-26)

My first book (1987 Edition from Taiwan) taught

> 你在那裡做事？ 我在中國大學教書。
> (Throughout the book the 口radical in 哪 was omitted.)

Ever since, I have been looking out for 做事 in my textbooks from the PRC, but haven't once noticed it. Is it just uncommon in the PRC, or does it convey a humble tone, as - I am told - 教書 does?

**Tags:** difference


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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-06-26. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

I think you are right - "做事" is probably only used in some areas of China, especially some southern areas where ancient Chinese has an influence, and not as commonly as "工作" in this sense. I would say it is more colloquial than the latter, too - for example, I think an interviewer will more likely to ask "你之前在哪里工作？" than "你之前在哪里做事？"


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### Answer by username_2 on 2017-06-26. Score: 1

It is typically used in HK, Taiwan and rests of Mandarin speaking societies.

To streamline with planned economy policies(government assigns jobs), PRC government use 上岗, 工作岗位 to replace 做事. Since PRC adopt open market economy, 上岗 is used in conjunction with 做事， 工作， 上班. There is no special preference.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2017-09-02. Score: 0

To me 做事 looks like "do business" as opposed to 工作 as in "work". 工作 sounds more like "job" to me. Just my two cents.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: What about 打工 compared to 工作?  

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