作業|さぎょうsagyou[1]atamadaka (head-high)

JLPT N3approx.Common
Definitions
  1. noun, suru verb, intransitive verbwork; operation; task
    私がいない間まも作業さぎょうを続つづけなさい。↗
    Carry on working while I'm away.
Conjugation
Dictionary form作業する(さぎょうする)
Polite (masu)作業します(さぎょうします)
Negative (nai)作業しない(さぎょうしない)
polite (masen)作業しません(さぎょうしません)
classical zu / nu作業せず・作業せぬ(さぎょうせず・さぎょうせぬ)
Past (ta)作業した(さぎょうした)
polite (mashita)作業しました(さぎょうしました)
Past negative (nakatta)作業しなかった(さぎょうしなかった)
polite (masen deshita)作業しませんでした(さぎょうしませんでした)
Te form作業して(さぎょうして)
Potential作業できる(さぎょうできる)
Passive作業される(さぎょうされる)
Causative作業させる(さぎょうさせる)
Causative passive作業させられる(さぎょうさせられる)
Conditional (ba)作業すれば(さぎょうすれば)
tara作業したら(さぎょうしたら)
Volitional作業しよう(さぎょうしよう)
polite (mashou)作業しましょう(さぎょうしましょう)
Imperative作業しろ(さぎょうしろ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym仕事しごとNeutralThe broadest word for work or a job, as in 「仕事に行く」; 「作業」 narrows to a concrete piece of work carried out step by step, whether physical or mental.
  • Synonym業務ぎょうむWrittenWritten/formal prose for professional business duties — used for companies, government offices, hospitals alike, as in 「業務連絡」. 「作業」 is a concrete, step-by-step task.
  • SynonymタスクNeutralLoanword for a task to be completed, as in 「タスク管理」; mostly workplace and computer use. 「作業」 is the work being done.
  • SynonymワークNeutralLoanword for work; also short for 「ワークブック」, a workbook of exercises. 「作業」 is a concrete piece of work, physical or mental, done step by step.
  • Related課題かだいWrittenWritten/formal prose for an assignment or issue to tackle, as in 「夏休みの課題」; 「作業」 is the actual carrying out of work, not the task that is set.
  • Related任務にんむWrittenWritten/formal prose for a mission or task one is assigned, as in 「任務を遂行する」; 「作業」 is the concrete work itself.
  • Related職務しょくむWrittenWritten/formal prose for the duties of one's post, as in 「職務を遂行する」; 「作業」 is a specific piece of work done by procedure, not the duties of a post.
  • Related役目やくめNeutralNeutral word for a duty or role one must fulfill, as in 「役目を果たす」; it stresses the obligation, while 「作業」 is the work itself.
  • Related任にんWrittenWritten/formal prose for duty or responsibility, mostly confined to set phrases like 「任に就く」.
  • Related勤めつとめNeutralNeutral word for a job or going to work, as in 「勤めに出る」; stresses holding a post at a workplace, not the work itself.
  • Relatedお勤めおつとめFormalPolite term for one's work, or for reading sutras before a Buddha, as in 「お勤めご苦労様」; more deferential than plain 「作業」.
  • Relatedお役目おやくめFormalPolite, old-fashioned term for public duty, as in 「お役目ご苦労」; it names an official role rather than the concrete work of 「作業」.
  • Related課業かぎょうWrittenWritten/formal prose for schoolwork or assigned lessons; less common, stressing study tasks you are given rather than the actual work process of 「作業」.
  • Related職分しょくぶんWrittenWritten/formal prose for one's proper duty or calling, as in 「職分を尽くす」; stresses the duties one ought to fulfill.
  • Antonym休憩きゅうけいNeutralThe opposite of 「作業」: a rest or break, as in 「休憩時間」; stresses pausing partway through work or study.
  • Antonym余暇よかWrittenWritten/formal prose for leisure time away from work, as in 「余暇活動」; the opposite of 「作業」.

For a concrete piece of work done by a set procedure — physical or mental — 「作業」 is the default. Use 「仕事」 for work in general, 「業務」 for company business, 「タスク」 and 「任務」 for tasks, 「課題」 for assignments, 「役目」 or 「職務」 for duties, and 「休憩」 for a break from it.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 体からだや頭脳ずのうを使つかい、一定いっていの手順てじゅんに従したがって仕事しごとをすること。また、その仕事しごと。
  2. 集団しゅうだんで行おこなう清掃せいそうや整地せいちなどの活動かつどう。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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