---
title: "Caiyuan Meaning: 裁员 (cáiyuán) Means “to lay off staff”"
description: "裁员 (traditional 裁員, cáiyuán) means “to lay off staff; layoffs; downsizing”. Hear its tones, see what 裁 and 员 each mean and a real sentence that uses it."
canonical: "https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/caiyuan"
published: "2026-10-21"
updated: "2026-11-06"
author: "Mandarin The Wild"
---

[What does it mean in Chinese?](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning)

# What does 裁员 mean?

猫头鹰māotóuyīngowl

裁员 cáiyuán

## to lay off staff; layoffs; downsizing

## Its characters

1. 裁 cái to reduce
2. 员 yuán person

## In a sentence

这家公司今年可能要裁员。 This company may lay off staff this year.

[More about 裁员](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%A3%81%E5%91%98)

## More words with 裁 or 员

- [裁定 cáidìng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/caiding)
- [裁判 cáipàn](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/caipan)
- [成员 chéngyuán](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/chengyuan)
- [动员 dòngyuán](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/dongyuan)
- [队员 duìyuán](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/duiyuan)
- [飞行员 fēixíngyuán](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/feixingyuan)
- [公务员 gōngwùyuán](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/gongwuyuan)
- [官员 guānyuán](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/guanyuan)
- [会员 huìyuán](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/huiyuan)
- [人员 rényuán](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/renyuan)

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[How it compares with The Chairman’s Bao](https://mandarinthewild.com/compare/the-chairmans-bao)