工业 (gōng yè) means 'industry' — referring to the sector of the economy that involves manufacturing, processing raw materials, and producing goods on a large scale. The character 工 (gōng) means 'work', 'labor', or 'craft', while 业 (yè) means 'profession', 'occupation', or 'enterprise'. Together, they literally convey 'work enterprise' or 'productive labor activity', capturing the organized, systematic nature of industrial production.

This term is commonly used in formal, academic, economic, and policy contexts — for example, when discussing national development, environmental impact, technological advancement, or regional economic planning. It contrasts with agriculture (农业) and services (服务业). Industrial zones, factories, heavy machinery, and mass production are all associated with 工业. It does not refer to individual crafts or small-scale workshops unless those are part of a larger industrial system.