解雇|かいこkaiko[1]atamadaka (head-high)
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Definitions
- noun, suru verb, transitive verbdismissal (of an employee); discharge; firing; layoff
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 解雇する（かいこする） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 解雇します（かいこします） |
| Negative (nai) | 解雇しない（かいこしない） |
| polite (masen) | 解雇しません（かいこしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 解雇せず・解雇せぬ（かいこせず・かいこせぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 解雇した（かいこした） |
| polite (mashita) | 解雇しました（かいこしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 解雇しなかった（かいこしなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 解雇しませんでした（かいこしませんでした） |
| Te form | 解雇して（かいこして） |
| Potential | 解雇できる（かいこできる） |
| Passive | 解雇される（かいこされる） |
| Causative | 解雇させる（かいこさせる） |
| Causative passive | 解雇させられる（かいこさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 解雇すれば（かいこすれば） |
| tara | 解雇したら（かいこしたら） |
| Volitional | 解雇しよう（かいこしよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 解雇しましょう（かいこしましょう） |
| Imperative | 解雇しろ（かいこしろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- SynonymくびCasualColloquial for being fired, as in 「首になる」or「首を切る」. More casual than 「解雇」; the literal meaning is neck.
- Synonym首切りくびきりCasualColloquial for dismissals or layoffs, often on a large scale, with a negative feel. The original meaning is decapitation.
- Synonym免職めんしょくWrittenWritten style: removal from office, as in 「懲戒免職」. Mostly a disciplinary measure applied to civil servants.
- Synonym解職かいしょくWrittenWritten style: removal from a post, close to 「解任」 and mostly seen in official documents. 「解雇」 focuses on ending the employment relationship.
- Synonym馘首かくしゅWrittenWritten style for dismissal; the original meaning is decapitation. Rare today — in everyday speech use 「解雇」or「首」.
- Related解任かいにんWrittenWritten style: removing someone from a particular post, as in 「監督を解任」. Targets a specific position; the person does not necessarily leave the company.
- Related罷免ひめんFormalFormal: removal of a public official by an appointer or by voters, as in 「大臣を罷免する」. The targets are mostly officials and legislators.
- Relatedお役御免おやくごめんCasualColloquial: being relieved of a post, and also a thing being retired once it has served its purpose, as in 「お役御免になる」. Often said with a jocular tone.
- Relatedお払い箱おはらいばこCasualColloquial: being thrown out, said of people as well as things, as in 「お払い箱になる」; broader than 「解雇」 and more contemptuous.
- Related免官めんかんWrittenWritten style: dismissal from an official post; the target is limited to officials and the word sounds old-fashioned. Not used for ordinary employees.
- Related免黜めんちゅつWrittenWritten style: dismissal with an archaic flavor; rare in modern usage. Say 「罷免」or「免職」instead.
- Antonym採用さいようNeutralHiring people; the opposite of 「解雇」 in the sense of taking on staff. Can also mean adopting an opinion or method.
- Antonym雇用こようNeutralEmploying people; the opposite of 「解雇」, which ends the employment relationship, as in 「雇用を守る」.
Use 「解雇」 for an employer ending an employment relationship, as in 「不当解雇」 or 「整理解雇」. Colloquially say 「首になる」; for civil servants use 「免職」, for officials 「罷免」. Casual 「お払い箱」 and 「お役御免」 also cover discarded things, while written terms like 「免官」 or 「免黜」 are narrow or dated. 「採用」 and 「雇用」 are the opposites.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
