How to say "engineer" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- nounThe everyday word for an engineer as a profession; when talking about someone who designs or builds things professionally, this is usually the word you want.
- 技師ぎしnounCovers an engineer or technical officer, typically as an official job title; in everyday speech エンジニア is usually the natural choice instead.
- 技術者ぎじゅつしゃnounA broader term for a person with technical expertise, covering engineers, technicians, and craftspeople; it emphasizes technical skill rather than a specific job title.
- 機関士きかんしnounThe engineer who operates an engine on a train, ship, or aircraft; it does not refer to the engineering profession, so reserve it for this transport sense.
Use 「エンジニア」 for an engineer as a profession, 技術者 for technical experts broadly, 技師 for official engineering titles, and 機関士 only for the operator of a train, ship, or aircraft engine.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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