稼業|かぎょうkagyou[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. nountrade; business; occupation; profession; job

• Synonym商売しょうばいNeutralCovers running a trade or shop and can mean any occupation; 「稼業」 stresses the trade you live by and often sounds self-deprecating.
• Synonym生業なりわいWrittenA written/formal-prose word for the work that feeds you; 「稼業」 is more colloquial and usually appears as 「〜稼業」.
• SynonymビジネスNeutralA loanword for business in modern commercial settings; 「稼業」 stresses the trade one lives by, often as 「〜稼業」.
• Related仕事しごとNeutralThe most general word for work or a job; 「稼業」 stresses that the trade is what you earn your bread by.
• Related職業しょくぎょうNeutralThe formal term for one's occupation, e.g. on application forms; 「稼業」 is more casual and often self-deprecating.
• Related営業えいぎょうNeutralMeans doing business or a company's sales side; 「稼業」 is a trade you make your living by.
• Related商業しょうぎょうWrittenA written/formal word for commerce as an industry; 「稼業」 is one person's or one family's livelihood.
• Related商いあきないWrittenA native Japanese word for trading, also for sales or turnover; 「稼業」 broadly means any trade you live by.
• Related事業じぎょうNeutralAn enterprise run for profit or social aims, as in 「事業を起こす」; 「稼業」 is the trade you make a living by.
• Related実業じつぎょうWrittenA written/formal word for industry such as production and trade, as in 「実業家」; 「稼業」 is a personal trade.

For work in general, say 「仕事」; on forms or in formal contexts, 「職業」. Use 「稼業」 for the trade you live by, often with a wry, self-deprecating tone as in 「サラリーマン稼業」. 商売 covers buying and selling; ビジネス is modern business; 事業 is an enterprise.

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

1. 生活せいかつを維持いじするための仕事しごと。なりわい。