Secretary is a noun referring to a person who assists executives or organizations with administrative tasks—such as managing schedules, handling correspondence, organizing meetings, and maintaining records. The character 秘 (mì) means 'secret' or 'confidential', and 书 (shū) means 'book' or 'document'; together, 秘书 literally evokes the idea of someone entrusted with confidential documents and official communication.

This term is widely used in formal workplace settings across China and other Chinese-speaking regions. A 秘书 may work for a company executive, government official, or academic leader. While traditionally associated with support roles, modern usage emphasizes professionalism, discretion, and organizational skill. Unlike English 'secretary', which can sometimes carry outdated gendered connotations, 秘书 is gender-neutral and commonly used for both men and women in contemporary contexts.