kuàijì: 会计 - Accountant, Accounting

• Keywords: kuaiji, kuàijì, 会计, Chinese for accountant, Chinese for accounting, accounting in China, bookkeeping in Chinese, business Chinese, HSK 4 vocabulary, find an accountant in China, how to say accountant in Chinese.
• Summary: The Chinese word 会计 (kuàijì) is a fundamental business term that serves a dual role, meaning both the profession of “accounting” and the person who is an “accountant.” Whether you're studying business, working in a Chinese company, or simply need to get an expense reimbursed, understanding `kuàijì` is essential. This entry breaks down its meaning, cultural significance as a stable career, and practical daily use in the modern Chinese workplace.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): kuài jì
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: A person who is an accountant, or the field of accounting.
• In a Nutshell: `会计` is a straightforward and professional term for the person or department that manages a company's financial records. Think of it as the go-to word for anything related to bookkeeping, financial reporting, and expense claims in a Chinese business context. It can refer to your colleague down the hall (“the accountant”) or the major you study at university (“accounting”).

• 会 (kuài): While this character is most commonly pronounced `huì` (to be able to, to meet), in this specific word, it takes the pronunciation `kuài`. Its meaning here is “to gather,” “to assemble,” or “to calculate.” It implies bringing together various financial data.
• 计 (jì): This character means “to calculate,” “to count,” or “a plan.” It is composed of the radicals for “speech” (言) and “ten” (十), suggesting a complete or thorough calculation.

Together, 会计 (kuàijì) literally translates to “gather and calculate,” a perfect and concise description of the core function of accounting.

In Chinese culture, the role of an `会计` is traditionally viewed with high regard, often associated with stability, precision, and trustworthiness. For many years, a job as an accountant was considered a “铁饭碗 (tiě fànwǎn),” or an “iron rice bowl”—a secure job for life. This perception is rooted in a cultural preference for stable, predictable career paths over more risky, entrepreneurial ventures. While in Western culture, accounting might sometimes be stereotyped as a dry or unexciting profession, in China, the emphasis is placed firmly on its indispensability and reliability. An accountant is a gatekeeper of resources and a pillar of a company's compliance and order. This role is crucial in China's highly regulated business environment, where adherence to official standards and procedures, particularly regarding taxes and invoices (`发票 fāpiào`), is paramount. The `会计` is not just a numbers person; they are a guardian of the company's legitimacy.

`会计` is a high-frequency word in any Chinese office environment.

• Referring to the Person: It's common to refer to the accountant simply as `会计`. For example, “You need to give the receipts to the accountant.” (你要把发票给会计。)
• Referring to the Department: Companies have an `会计部 (kuàijì bù)` or Accounting Department.
• Job-Seeking and Academics: People will say `我是一名会计 (Wǒ shì yī míng kuàijì)` (I am an accountant) or `我大学学的是会计 (Wǒ dàxué xué de shì kuàijì)` (I studied accounting in university).
• Daily Office Tasks: The most common interaction for non-finance staff is getting expenses reimbursed (`报销 bàoxiāo`), a process handled entirely by the `会计`.

The term is neutral and formal, suitable for all professional situations.

• Example 1:
  • 我们公司新来了一位会计。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī xīn lái le yī wèi kuàijì.
  • English: Our company just hired a new accountant.
  • Analysis: Here, `会计` refers to the person. `位 (wèi)` is a polite measure word for people.
• Example 2:
  • 你需要把这些发票交给会计去报销。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ xūyào bǎ zhèxiē fāpiào jiāo gěi kuàijì qù bàoxiāo.
  • English: You need to give these invoices to the accountant to get them reimbursed.
  • Analysis: A very common and practical sentence in a Chinese office. It shows the `会计` as the person responsible for reimbursement (`报销`).
• Example 3:
  • 我女儿在大学主修会计专业。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ nǚ'ér zài dàxué zhǔxiū kuàijì zhuānyè.
  • English: My daughter is majoring in accounting at the university.
  • Analysis: This example shows `会计` used as the field of study. `专业 (zhuānyè)` means “major” or “specialty.”
• Example 4:
  • 每个月底，会计都非常忙。
  • Pinyin: Měi ge yuèdǐ, kuàijì dōu fēicháng máng.
  • English: At the end of every month, the accountants are extremely busy.
  • Analysis: `会计` here can refer to a single accountant or the entire accounting staff. This reflects the reality of month-end closing procedures.
• Example 5:
  • 如果你对数字很敏感，可以考虑做一名会计。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ duì shùzì hěn mǐngǎn, kěyǐ kǎolǜ zuò yī míng kuàijì.
  • English: If you are sensitive to numbers, you could consider being an accountant.
  • Analysis: This sentence discusses accounting as a career choice, linking it to a personal skill.
• Example 6:
  • 这家公司的会计做得一团糟，需要审计。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī de kuàijì zuò de yītuánzāo, xūyào shěnjì.
  • English: This company's accounting is a mess and needs an audit.
  • Analysis: In this context, `会计` refers to the practice or system of accounting, not the person. `一团糟 (yītuánzāo)` is a great idiom for “a complete mess.”
• Example 7:
  • 他正在准备考注册会计师资格证。
  • Pinyin: Tā zhèngzài zhǔnbèi kǎo zhùcè kuàijìshī zīgézhèng.
  • English: He is preparing for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) qualification exam.
  • Analysis: This shows the base word `会计` as part of a more advanced term, `会计师 (kuàijìshī)`, which means “accountant” in a more professional, certified sense.
• Example 8:
  • 你能帮我问一下会计，我的报销什么时候能下来吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ néng bāng wǒ wèn yīxià kuàijì, wǒ de bàoxiāo shénme shíhòu néng xiàlái ma?
  • English: Can you help me ask the accountant when my reimbursement will be processed?
  • Analysis: A classic office question. `下来 (xiàlái)` is a common colloquial way to say something is approved or processed.
• Example 9:
  • 所有的财务决策都必须经过会计部。
  • Pinyin: Suǒyǒu de cáiwù juécè dōu bìxū jīngguò kuàijì bù.
  • English: All financial decisions must go through the Accounting Department.
  • Analysis: `会计部 (kuàijì bù)` means “Accounting Department,” showing how the core word forms compound nouns.
• Example 10:
  • 做会计需要非常细心和有耐心。
  • Pinyin: Zuò kuàijì xūyào fēicháng xìxīn hé yǒu nàixīn.
  • English: Being an accountant requires you to be very meticulous and patient.
  • Analysis: Here, `做会计 (zuò kuàijì)` means “to work as an accountant” or “to do accounting work.”

• Person vs. Field: The most common point of confusion is whether `会计` refers to the person or the field. Context is everything. To be more specific, you can use:
  • `会计师 (kuàijìshī)` - Certified/Public Accountant (a more professional title).
  • `会计学 (kuàijìxué)` - The academic field of accounting (the “-ology”).
  • `会计人员 (kuàijì rényuán)` - Accounting personnel/staff.
• Pronunciation Error: A frequent mistake for learners is pronouncing 会 as `huì` instead of `kuài`. The character `会` has multiple pronunciations, but in `会计`, it is always `kuài`. Pronouncing it `huìjì` is incorrect and will likely confuse native speakers.
• Accountant vs. Bookkeeper: In English, “accountant” and “bookkeeper” can have distinct roles and qualifications. In Chinese, `会计` is a broad term that can cover both general bookkeeping (`做账 zuòzhàng`) and higher-level accounting tasks. The term `出纳 (chūnà)` refers specifically to a cashier or teller who handles daily cash flow, a role often seen as junior to a `会计`.

• 会计师 (kuàijìshī) - A more formal title for a certified or senior accountant (CPA).
• 会计学 (kuàijìxué) - The academic subject of accounting.
• 财务 (cáiwù) - A broader term for “finance” or “financial affairs.” The Accounting Department (`会计部`) is often part of the Finance Department (`财务部`).
• 报销 (bàoxiāo) - To get reimbursed. This is the action most non-finance employees associate with the `会计`.
• 发票 (fāpiào) - Invoice/Receipt. The single most important document for all accounting and reimbursement in China.
• 做账 (zuòzhàng) - “To do the books”; the verb for performing bookkeeping tasks.
• 审计 (shěnjì) - To audit; an audit. The process of officially examining a company's accounts.
• 出纳 (chūnà) - Cashier; teller. The person who handles day-to-day cash transactions.
• 预算 (yùsuàn) - Budget. A plan for spending that the `会计` helps create and monitor.
• 税务 (shuìwù) - Tax affairs. A field closely related to accounting, as the `会计` is also responsible for tax compliance.