工作服 (gōngzuò fú) literally means 'work clothing' — combining 工 (gōng, 'work' or 'labor'), 作 (zuò, part of the compound 工作 meaning 'to work' or 'job'), and 服 (fú, 'clothing' or 'garment'). It refers specifically to standardized clothing worn by employees during their job duties, often designed for safety, identification, or professionalism. Unlike casual clothes or personal attire, a 工作服 is typically issued by an employer and may feature logos, colors, or materials suited to the occupation — such as lab coats for medical staff, high-visibility vests for construction workers, or chef jackets in kitchens.

This term emphasizes function and institutional affiliation rather than fashion. It’s commonly used in formal and semi-formal workplace contexts, including manufacturing, healthcare, hospitality, and transportation. While some people might loosely say 衣服 (yīfu, 'clothes') or 制服 (zhìfú, 'uniform'), 工作服 highlights the direct link between the garment and occupational activity — it’s not just any uniform, but one tied explicitly to performing a job.