‘供职’ is a formal verb meaning ‘to hold office’ or ‘to serve in a post’, typically referring to working for an organization, institution, or government body. The character 供 (gōng) conveys the idea of offering service or providing support, while 职 (zhí) means ‘duty’, ‘post’, or ‘position’. Together, they emphasize formal, official employment—especially in contexts implying responsibility, status, or institutional affiliation.

This term is commonly used in written Chinese, official documents, biographies, news reports, and formal introductions. It carries a respectful, somewhat elevated register and is rarely used in casual daily speech. You’ll often see it with prepositions like ‘于’ (e.g., 供职于某大学) or in passive constructions highlighting one’s professional affiliation rather than day-to-day tasks.