‘称职’ (chèn zhí) is an adjective meaning 'competent' or 'fit for one's post.' Literally, 称 (chèn) means 'to match' or 'to be commensurate with,' and 职 (zhí) means 'duty' or 'position.' Together, they express the idea that a person’s abilities, conduct, and performance fully match the requirements of their role—whether in work, school, or community responsibilities. It emphasizes adequacy and appropriateness rather than excellence alone.

This word is commonly used in formal or evaluative contexts: performance reviews, job recommendations, leadership assessments, or discussions about responsibility. It often appears in phrases like ‘是否称职’ (Is [someone] competent?) or ‘一名称职的教师’ (a competent teacher). Unlike casual terms like ‘能干’ (capable), 称职 carries a sense of meeting objective standards tied to a specific position or duty.