How to Say “I am working overtime” in Chinese
Work and study · HSK 3
"I am working overtime" in Chinese is 我在加班 (Wǒ zài jiābān). 加班 (jiābān) is maybe the single most-used word in Chinese office life. It's a verb-object compound; 加 (add) + 班 (shift); so it splits: 加了两个小时班 = 'worked two hours overtime'.
Primary translation
我在加班
Wǒ zài jiābān
Variants by register
Formal
我正在加班
Wǒ zhèngzài jiābān
Casual
我加班呢
Wǒ jiābān ne
When to use it
加班 (jiābān) is maybe the single most-used word in Chinese office life. It's a verb-object compound; 加 (add) + 班 (shift); so it splits: 加了两个小时班 = 'worked two hours overtime'. This word is culturally loaded. The infamous 996 (9am to 9pm, 6 days a week) debate made 加班 a lightning-rod term, and younger workers now joke about 躺平 (lying flat) as a pushback. If your Chinese friend texts 在加班 at 10pm, 'sorry to hear that' (辛苦了, xīnkǔ le) is the expected reply; don't congratulate them on their work ethic. Use 在 before the verb to mark ongoing action: 我在加班 = 'I'm (currently) working overtime'.
Example sentences
对不起，今晚不能去，我在加班。
Duìbùqǐ, jīnwǎn bùnéng qù, wǒ zài jiābān.
Sorry, I can't go tonight; I'm working overtime.
这周我天天加班，累死了。
Zhè zhōu wǒ tiāntiān jiābān, lèi sǐ le.
I've worked overtime every day this week, I'm exhausted.
加班有加班费吗？
Jiābān yǒu jiābān fèi ma?
Is there overtime pay?