Translation guide
In Japanese, 'clerical work' is commonly expressed with the term 事務 (jimu), which broadly covers office administration, paperwork, and desk work. The most natural way to say 'do clerical work' is 事務をする (jimu o suru). For job titles or roles, 事務員 (jimuin) refers to a clerical worker or office clerk. This guide covers common expressions for general clerical tasks, office work, and related roles.
Expressing the concept of clerical work as a general activity or job function, such as 'I do clerical work' or 'She handles clerical tasks.'
The most common and neutral way to say 'do clerical work.' 事務 (jimu) means office work, paperwork, or administrative tasks. This phrase is suitable for describing one's job duties in conversation or writing.
私は会社で事務をしています。
I do clerical work at a company.
彼女は一日中事務をしている。
She does clerical work all day.
The noun 'clerical work' or 'office work.' Often used in compounds like 事務仕事 (jimu shigoto, clerical tasks) or 事務所 (jimusho, office). Can stand alone in contexts like job categories.
彼の仕事は事務です。
His job is clerical work.
事務の経験がありますか？
Do you have experience in clerical work?
Literally 'clerical tasks/work.' Emphasizes the work aspect, often used to distinguish from other types of work like sales or physical labor.
事務仕事が好きですか？
Do you like clerical work?
最近、事務仕事が増えた。
Lately, clerical work has increased.
A more formal or technical term for 'clerical operations' or 'administrative tasks.' Often used in business contexts or manuals.
事務作業を効率化する。
Streamline clerical work.
Referring to a person who does clerical work, such as 'She is a clerical worker' or 'We are hiring an office clerk.'
The standard term for a clerical worker or office clerk. Gender-neutral and widely used in job postings and everyday speech.
事務員を募集しています。
We are hiring a clerical worker.
彼は事務員として働いています。
He works as a clerical worker.
Refers to a clerical position or occupation. Often used in phrases like 事務職に就く (take a clerical job) or 事務職希望 (seeking clerical work).
事務職に応募した。
I applied for a clerical position.
Loanword 'staff' combined with 事務. Used in modern office settings, often in job titles like 事務スタッフ募集 (hiring clerical staff).
事務スタッフとして経験があります。
I have experience as clerical staff.
Focusing on the physical or digital paperwork aspect of clerical work, such as 'I have a lot of paperwork' or 'filing documents.'
Literally 'document work.' Emphasizes handling documents, forms, and paperwork. Common in office contexts.
書類仕事が山積みだ。
Paperwork is piled up.
今日は書類仕事を片付ける。
I'll take care of paperwork today.
Specifically 'document filing/organizing.' A subset of clerical work often mentioned in job descriptions.
書類整理が得意です。
I'm good at filing documents.
When clerical work overlaps with general administrative duties, such as 'administrative support' or 'office administration.'
Refers to general affairs or administrative tasks, often including clerical work but also things like office supply management. Common in job titles like 庶務課 (general affairs section).
庶務の仕事を担当しています。
I'm in charge of general administrative work.
Means 'administrative operations' or 'management tasks.' More formal and broader than 事務, often used in corporate settings.
事務 (jimu) is the most common term for clerical work, focusing on paperwork, data entry, and office support. 庶務 (shomu) includes clerical work but also covers general office affairs like supply management. 管理業務 (kanri gyōmu) is broader, referring to administrative or management operations, often at a higher level.
事務は書類作成やデータ入力が中心です。
Clerical work mainly involves document preparation and data entry.
庶務は備品管理も含みます。
General affairs also includes managing office supplies.
The English word 'clerical' can be translated as 事務の (jimu no), but in natural Japanese, it's often better to use 事務 as a noun or in compounds. For example, 'clerical error' is 事務的ミス (jimuteki misu), not a direct translation of 'clerical.'
管理業務に携わっています。
I'm involved in administrative work.