How to say "profession" in Japanese

• 職業しょくぎょうJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounCovers 'profession' in the occupational sense — a job, occupation, or vocation. The usual word when stating or asking what someone does for a living, as on forms or in introductions.
  彼かれの職業しょくぎょうは弁護士べんごしです。↗

  He is a lawyer by profession.
• 公言こうげんCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbCovers 'profession' in the sense of an open declaration or avowal, as in a profession of faith. It is really the act of declaring something publicly, not an occupation.
  彼かれはそのことについて何なんも知しらないと公言こうげんした。↗

  He professed to know nothing about it.
• 稼業かぎょうCommon
  nounAlso covers the occupational sense, but leans toward the trade or business one lives by rather than a learned profession; think of it as one's trade or line of work.
• 商売しょうばいJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounColloquial, and really about trade or business; as 'profession' it fits only loosely, when casually speaking of one's line of work — 職業 is the safer occupational choice.

For 'profession' as an occupation, 職業 is the usual choice, 稼業 leans toward trade, and colloquial 商売 toward business; for 'profession' as an open declaration or avowal, use 公言.

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

• 職業しょくぎょうoccupation
• 公言こうげんdeclaration
• 稼業かぎょうtrade
• プロフェッションprofession
• 口前くちまえway of speaking
• 揚言ようげんopening declaration
• 専門職せんもんしょくprofessional job
• 告白こくはくprofession (of faith)
• 商売しょうばいoccupation