noun HSK 5
Traditional 郵差
mailman · postman · mail carrier
Meaning
邮差 refers to a person whose job is to deliver mail and packages to homes and businesses. It's a compound word combining '邮' (mail) and '差' (errand/task). This is a common term in Taiwan and some other Chinese-speaking regions, while 邮递员 is more standard in mainland China.
Usage
邮差 is the typical term used in Taiwan and Hong Kong for a postal worker who delivers mail. In mainland China, 邮递员 is more commonly used, though 邮差 is understood everywhere. The term is neutral in register and can be used in both spoken and written contexts.
Examples
- 01邮差每天早上九点来送信。.The mailman comes to deliver letters at nine o'clock every morning.
- 02那个邮差在这个社区工作了二十年。.That mailman has worked in this neighborhood for twenty years.
Characters
Measure words
- 个一个邮差
- 位一位邮差
Common collocations
- 邮差送信the mailman delivers letters
- 等邮差to wait for the mailman
Origin
The word combines 邮 (mail/postal) with 差, which historically referred to someone sent on an official errand or assignment. Together they literally mean 'mail errand person' or 'one assigned to postal duties.'