竞聘 (jìng pìn) is a compound verb meaning 'to apply competitively for a position'—typically in formal organizational or institutional settings such as government agencies, state-owned enterprises, or universities. The character 竞 (jìng) means 'to compete' or 'to vie', while 聘 (pìn) means 'to hire' or 'to appoint'; together, they convey the idea of competing against others to be selected and hired for a specific post. It implies a structured, often public process involving evaluations, interviews, and sometimes written exams.

This term is used almost exclusively in professional or administrative contexts—not for everyday jobs like restaurant waitstaff or freelance gigs—but for leadership roles, managerial positions, or technical posts where merit-based selection is emphasized. It reflects China’s broader emphasis on fair, transparent personnel systems in public-sector organizations. While not inherently bureaucratic-sounding, it carries a formal, official tone and is rarely used in casual speech.