How to say "apprenticeship" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 見習いみならいnounThe common, general word: someone learning a trade or job by observing and helping a skilled person. It can also mean a probationary period, so it is usually the safest choice for 'apprenticeship'.
- 勤め奉公つとめぼうこうnounA less common word for apprenticeship, cast as serving a master or employer while learning the trade; the nuance is personal service rather than a simple training arrangement.
- 丁稚奉公でっちぼうこうnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbA four-character compound for the traditional arrangement in which a young person serves in a merchant's shop or household to learn the trade; less common, and tied to that service-based system.
- 年季奉公ねんきぼうこうnounCovers apprenticeship as service bound for a fixed term of years — the sense of 'indenture' or 'indentured servitude' — rather than informal learning on the job.
- 修習しゅうしゅうnounA less common word that really denotes training or practical study of a skill; it is seldom the word you want for 'apprenticeship' as a position serving under a master.
Use 「見習い」 for the everyday sense of learning a trade under someone; 「勤め奉公」 and 丁稚奉公 for traditional service-based apprenticeships; 年季奉公 for term-bound indenture; 修習 mainly for training itself.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
