矿工 (kuàng gōng) literally means 'mine worker' — 矿 (kuàng) refers to a mine or mineral deposit, and 工 (gōng) means 'worker' or 'laborer'. Together, they form a compound noun meaning 'miner', a person who extracts coal, metals, or other minerals from underground or open-pit mines. This term is neutral in register and commonly used in news reports, occupational contexts, and safety discussions.

The word emphasizes the labor-intensive, often hazardous nature of the work; it carries connotations of physical strength, endurance, and risk. While historically associated with coal mining in China, it now applies broadly to workers in any mineral extraction industry — including iron, copper, or rare-earth mining. It is not used for surface-level construction workers or factory staff; those are 建筑工人 (jiànzhù gōngrén) or 工厂工人 (gōngchǎng gōngrén), respectively.