<p>Actually, there's not so much difference. <code>工作上的东西,工作的东西</code>both mean something related to your work.</p>

<p>And <code>上</code>actually doesn't mean too much , Chinese language is not that strict as English, you don't have to understand every word.</p>

<p>More examples about <code>上</code></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>-孩子,你在看什么?(Son, what' are you viewing?)<br>
  -妈妈,我在看学习上的书(Mom, I am just viewing some academical books)</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-03-13T03:54:32.007Z
Chinese language is not that strict as English - I agree. But I don't think Chinese people will ever say something like `我在看学习上的书`. That is too weird.
AGamePlayer
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-03-13T03:57:48.350Z
@AwQiruiGuo Well, sometimes I said it. Yes, we often said `学习方面的书`.
Ave Maleficum
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-03-13T04:04:45.603Z
I'm just curious are you native? (please don't take it personally) I think in this particular case, a child would be more likely to say `妈妈，我在看书` or `妈妈，我在学习`. Personally when using `上`, I often use it with `事情` following, for example: `这些都是工作上的事情`.
AGamePlayer
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-03-12T09:44:45.940Z
2014-03-12T09:44:45.940Z
Ave Maleficum
<p><code>上</code> here means <code>about（相关）</code>.</p>

<p>Try to understand it like this: <code>那个是我工作相关的东西</code></p>

<p>If you omit <code>上</code>, it'd be understand as the item <code>used</code> for work rather than <code>about</code>.</p>

<p><code>那个是我工作的东西</code> sounds a bit like <code>那个是我工作用的东西</code>.</p>

<p>Anyway, both are rarely spoken for native Mandarin speakers. You'd better provide more context.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-03-08T11:12:18.313Z
That sounds right. Someone I know accidentally sent me an email and I asked what it was about.
thedoctar
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-03-08T11:32:42.957Z
I agree, not used so often, since someone who knows you typically knows what you do and you don't need to explain your work to them.
j5shi
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-03-09T01:06:36.540Z
Sometimes this happens. For example, you are a professional engineer at NASA, your family would surely ask you a lot when they see your equipments. In this case you may answer `那个是我工作用的东西` or `那个是我上班用的东西` rather than `那个是我工作上的东西`
AGamePlayer
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-03-12T22:14:47.280Z
I am not sure what you meant by 'both are rarely spoken'? Why would they be rarely spoken?
deutschZuid
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-03-08T10:47:54.283Z
2014-03-08T10:47:54.283Z
AGamePlayer
<blockquote>
  <p>那个是我工作上的东西</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Why is there a 上 in this sentence? How does it change the meaning? Ie, what's the difference between 工作的东西 and 工作上的东西? When should 工作上 be used as opposed to 工作?</p>

<meaning><usage>
In 那个是我工作上的东西, what is the difference between 工作上 and 工作?
# In 那个是我工作上的东西, what is the difference between 工作上 and 工作?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-03-08)

> 那个是我工作上的东西

Why is there a 上 in this sentence? How does it change the meaning? Ie, what's the difference between 工作的东西 and 工作上的东西? When should 工作上 be used as opposed to 工作?

**Tags:** meaning, usage

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-03-08. Score: 7 | Accepted answer

`上` here means `about（相关）`.

Try to understand it like this: `那个是我工作相关的东西`

If you omit `上`, it'd be understand as the item `used` for work rather than `about`.

`那个是我工作的东西` sounds a bit like `那个是我工作用的东西`.

Anyway, both are rarely spoken for native Mandarin speakers. You'd better provide more context.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: That sounds right. Someone I know accidentally sent me an email and I asked what it was about.  
> **username_3**: I agree, not used so often, since someone who knows you typically knows what you do and you don't need to explain your work to them.  
> **username_2**: Sometimes this happens. For example, you are a professional engineer at NASA, your family would surely ask you a lot when they see your equipments. In this case you may answer `那个是我工作用的东西` or `那个是我上班用的东西` rather than `那个是我工作上的东西`  
> **username_4**: I am not sure what you meant by 'both are rarely spoken'? Why would they be rarely spoken?  

---

### Answer by username_1 on 2014-03-12. Score: 0

Actually, there's not so much difference. `工作上的东西,工作的东西`both mean something related to your work.

And `上`actually doesn't mean too much , Chinese language is not that strict as English, you don't have to understand every word.

More examples about `上`

> -孩子,你在看什么?(Son, what' are you viewing?)  
> -妈妈,我在看学习上的书(Mom, I am just viewing some academical books)

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Chinese language is not that strict as English - I agree. But I don't think Chinese people will ever say something like `我在看学习上的书`. That is too weird.  
> **username_1**: @AwQiruiGuo Well, sometimes I said it. Yes, we often said `学习方面的书`.  
> **username_2**: I'm just curious are you native? (please don't take it personally) I think in this particular case, a child would be more likely to say `妈妈，我在看书` or `妈妈，我在学习`. Personally when using `上`, I often use it with `事情` following, for example: `这些都是工作上的事情`.  

---

