How to say "businessman" in Japanese

• ビジネスマンCommon
  nounCovers the general sense of 'businessman' — a man who works in business, especially in an office job. This loanword is the default choice when you simply mean a businessman without emphasizing ownership or entrepreneurship.
  彼かれは一介いっかいのビジネスマンにすぎない。↗

  He is nothing but a businessman.
• 実業家じつぎょうかJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounRefers to someone engaged in business as a principal — a businessperson, entrepreneur, or captain of industry — rather than a salaried employee. Use it when 'businessman' suggests founding, owning, or actively running business ventures.
  トムは実業家じつぎょうかになるのに向むいている。↗

  Tom is fit to become a businessman.
• 事業家じぎょうかCommon
  nounHighlights an enterprising person who undertakes business projects; the gloss 'industrialist' reflects this emphasis on ventures and enterprises. It suits someone described as an enterprising businessman, and is less natural for an ordinary office worker.
  あの大だい事業家じぎょうかは息子むすこそれぞれに１００万いちれいれいまんドルを残のこした。↗

  The tycoon endowed each son with a million dollars.
• 営業マンえいぎょうマンCommon
  nounPrimarily means a salesman or sales representative; 'businessman' is only a secondary gloss. For the plain sense of 'businessman' this is seldom the word you want — reserve it for someone whose job is sales.
  営業マンえいぎょうまんだって、リストラ予備軍よびぐんに配属はいぞくされないように必死ひっしな訳わけです。↗

  After all, even salesmen are desperate to avoid being targeted for downsizing.

「ビジネスマン」 is the neutral everyday term; 実業家 emphasizes running or founding businesses; 事業家 stresses enterprising undertakings; 「営業マン」 is really a salesman, so use it only for that role.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• ビジネスマンbusinessman
• 実業家じつぎょうかbusinessperson
• 事業家じぎょうかenterprising man
• 営業マンえいぎょうマンsalesman
• 実務家じつむかbusinessman