Translation guide
This guide covers how to express the state of being employed in Japanese, from formal employment status to casual ways of saying you have a job.
Expressing that someone is employed or has a job in a neutral sense.
A common, natural way to say 'is employed' or 'works for a company'. Literally 'is serving' at a workplace.
彼は銀行に勤めています。
He is employed at a bank.
Means 'is working' and implies being employed. More general than 勤めている, can refer to any kind of work.
彼女は今、東京で働いています。
She is currently working in Tokyo.
Specifically means 'has found employment' or 'is employed' after a job search. Often used for new graduates or career changes.
大学を卒業して、すぐに就職しました。
I graduated from university and immediately got a job.
A formal noun meaning 'employment'. Used in official contexts, like contracts or economic discussions.
雇用の安定が重要です。
Employment stability is important.
Stating that someone works for a particular employer.
The standard pattern for 'is employed by [company]'. Use the particle に to mark the employer.
兄はトヨタに勤めています。
My older brother is employed by Toyota.
Means 'works at [company]'. Slightly more casual than 勤めている and focuses on the place of work.
友達はグーグルで働いています。
My friend works at Google.
Describing the type of employment arrangement.
A full-time, permanent employee. This is the standard 'regular employee' status in Japan.
彼は正社員として働いています。
He works as a full-time employee.
Part-time worker. Often used for housewives or students working shorter hours.
Part-time job, often for students or side jobs. Abbreviated as バイト in casual speech.
Distinguishing between working for someone else and working for oneself.
Literally 'being employed (by someone)'. Clearly indicates working for an employer.
雇われている身なので、自由はあまりありません。
Since I'm employed by someone, I don't have much freedom.
Self-employed. The opposite of being employed by a company.
父は自営業で、小さな店を経営しています。
My father is self-employed and runs a small shop.
Using the term in official documents or discussions about labor.
Passive form of 雇用する (to employ). Used in formal or legal contexts to mean 'is employed'.
彼は正式に雇用されています。
He is formally employed.
A formal term for 'employee' or 'employed person'. Used in legal or statistical contexts.
被雇用者の権利を守る法律があります。
There are laws that protect the rights of employees.
The English gerund 'being employed' does not have a single direct equivalent in Japanese. Instead, use verbs like 勤める or 働く in their progressive forms (勤めている, 働いている) to express the state. Using a noun like 雇用 directly can sound unnatural in casual conversation.
勤める (つとめる) implies working for an organization, often with a sense of service or belonging. 働く (はたらく) is more general and simply means 'to work'. Use 勤める when emphasizing the employer, and 働く when focusing on the activity or location.
A contract employee, usually on a fixed-term contract. Not a permanent position.
今は契約社員ですが、正社員を目指しています。
I'm currently a contract employee, but I'm aiming to become a permanent employee.
My mother works part-time at a supermarket.
大学生のとき、コンビニでアルバイトをしていました。
When I was a university student, I worked part-time at a convenience store.