海归

海歸

hǎiguī

noun

Meanings

1 returnee from overseas study or work
2 overseas-educated professional

Characters

Examples

他是从英国回来的海归博士。

Tā shì cóng Yīngguó huílái de hǎiguī bóshì.

He is a returnee PhD from the UK.

很多海归选择回国创业。

Hěn duō hǎiguī xuǎnzé huíguó chuàngyè.

Many returnees choose to come back and start businesses.

这家公司专门招聘海归人才。

Zhè jiā gōngsī zhuānmén zhāopìn hǎiguī réncái.

This company specifically recruits overseas-educated talent.

Tips

culture

A pun on 海龟 (sea turtle — same pronunciation). Emerged in the 1990s when reform-era graduates began returning from the US/UK/Japan. In the 2000s 海归 commanded a premium in the job market; by the 2020s the label has lost some shine, sometimes contrasted with 海待 (sea turtle still waiting for a job).

memory

海 (sea) + 归 (return) — literally 'returning from across the sea'. The sea turtle pun is so well-known that 海龟 is now common shorthand for 海归 in casual writing.

Stroke Order

海 hǎi

归 guī