出世|しゅっせshusse[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N1approx.Common
Definitions
  1. noun, suru verb, intransitive verbsuccess in life; getting ahead; successful career; promotion; climbing the corporate ladder; eminence
    もちろん私は自みずからの努力どりょくで出世しゅっせするべきだという考かんがえに賛成さんせいです。↗
    Obviously I agree that you should advance in life through your own efforts.
Conjugation
Dictionary form出世する(しゅっせする)
Polite (masu)出世します(しゅっせします)
Negative (nai)出世しない(しゅっせしない)
polite (masen)出世しません(しゅっせしません)
classical zu / nu出世せず・出世せぬ(しゅっせせず・しゅっせせぬ)
Past (ta)出世した(しゅっせした)
polite (mashita)出世しました(しゅっせしました)
Past negative (nakatta)出世しなかった(しゅっせしなかった)
polite (masen deshita)出世しませんでした(しゅっせしませんでした)
Te form出世して(しゅっせして)
Potential出世できる(しゅっせできる)
Passive出世される(しゅっせされる)
Causative出世させる(しゅっせさせる)
Causative passive出世させられる(しゅっせさせられる)
Conditional (ba)出世すれば(しゅっせすれば)
tara出世したら(しゅっせしたら)
Volitional出世しよう(しゅっせしよう)
polite (mashou)出世しましょう(しゅっせしましょう)
Imperative出世しろ(しゅっせしろ)

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

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym昇進しょうしんNeutralPromotion within an organization or company; 「出世」 is broader, about rising in social standing and getting ahead in life.
  • Synonym栄進えいしんWrittenWritten/formal prose for a glorious promotion, often congratulatory; 「出世」 covers overall success in life, not just one step up.
  • Synonym栄達えいたつWrittenWritten/formal prose for attaining honor and distinction; 「出世」 is more common and more colloquial.
  • Related向上こうじょうNeutralImprovement or progress in level or quality; 「出世」 is about status, not ability or standards.
  • Related登用とうようWrittenWritten/formal prose for promoting and employing talented people; 「出世」 is the person's own rise, not someone elevating them.
  • Related昇級しょうきゅうNeutralMoving up a grade or rank, e.g. qualifications or dan ranks; distinct from 「昇給」 (pay raise); 「出世」 is overall social advancement.
  • Related昇任しょうにんWrittenWritten/formal prose with an official-document flavor, for rising to a particular post; 「出世」 is overall success and advancement.
  • Related栄転えいてんNeutralA transfer to a more prestigious post than before, so it implies moving; 「出世」 is about overall rise in status.
  • Related挙用きょようWrittenWritten/formal prose for picking someone out and promoting them; rare; 「出世」 is about the person's own rise.
  • Related経上がるへあがるWrittenRare verb for hair etc. standing up or rising; it does not mean career advancement — for getting ahead use 「出世」.
  • Related上進じょうしんWrittenWritten/formal prose for making progress or advancing; 「出世」 is specifically about status.
  • Antonym没落ぼつらくNeutralDecline and downfall of a family or class, as in 「没落貴族」; the opposite of 「出世」.
  • Antonym左遷させんNeutralDemotion to a lower post; the opposite of 「出世」, rising and getting ahead.
  • Antonym落ちぶれNeutralFalling into poverty and disgrace; the opposite of 「出世」, getting ahead in the world.

Use 「出世」 for getting ahead in life and rising in the world, as in 「出世払い」 and 「出世頭」. For promotion within an organization say 「昇進」; for a promotion that involves a transfer, 「栄転」; for elevating talented people, 「登用」. For downfall say 「没落」, for demotion 「左遷」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 出生しゅっしょうすること。
  2. (「しゅっせい」とも)衆生しゅじょうを救済きゅうさいするため仏ほとけがこの世よに出現しゅつげんすること。
  3. 出家しゅっけして仏道ぶつどうに入はいること。出世しゅっせ間かん。
  4. 公卿くぎょうの子弟していが比叡山ひえいざんに入はいって僧侶そうりょになること。
  5. 世の中よのなかにでて、高たかい地位ちいや身分みぶんを得えること。
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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