How to say "job" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 仕事しごとnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbThe everyday word for job in the sense of work to be done or one's employment; it covers both the tasks themselves and having a job, and is the safest choice in most contexts.
- 職しょくnoun, noun (suffix)A compact noun for one's job, post or occupation; where 仕事 stresses the work itself, 職 points to the position of being employed.
- 職業しょくぎょうnounThe word for job as an occupation or profession — the category of work a person does; typical when filling in forms, stating what someone does, or asking about a person's line of work.
- 役回りやくまわりnounNot a way of talking about employment: it means the role or part assigned to someone within a group, often one they would rather not have; 'job' here is figurative.
- 働き口はたらきぐちnounA job or position viewed as a place of employment — an opening one finds or secures; it suits talk of someone seeking or landing a position rather than describing daily work.
Use 仕事 for work and tasks in general, 職 for the post one holds, 職業 for an occupation as a category, and reserve 「役回り」 for assigned roles and 「働き口」 for positions or openings.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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