Translation guide
In Japanese, the concept of a 'full-time employee' is most commonly expressed as 正社員 (seishain), referring to a regular, permanent employee with full benefits and job security. Other terms exist for different employment types, but 正社員 is the standard equivalent.
A standard employee with a permanent contract, full benefits, and job security.
The most common and direct translation. Refers to a regular, permanent employee with full benefits, bonuses, and job security. This is the ideal employment status in Japan.
彼は大手企業の正社員です。
He is a full-time employee at a major company.
正社員として働きたいです。
I want to work as a full-time employee.
A more general term for 'employee' or 'company employee'. In context, it often implies a full-time, regular employee, but can also include contract or part-time workers depending on the company. Use 正社員 for clarity.
May not always specify full-time status; context-dependent.
彼はうちの社員です。
He is an employee at our company.
Used primarily in public sector or educational institutions for a regular, full-time staff member. Similar to 正社員 but for non-corporate settings.
彼女は市役所の正職員です。
She is a full-time employee at the city hall.
A person who works full-time hours but may not have permanent employee status (e.g., contract or dispatch).
A descriptive phrase meaning 'a person who works full-time'. It does not specify employment type, so it can include non-regular workers.
フルタイムで働く人は残業が多いです。
People who work full-time often have a lot of overtime.
A loanword from English, used in casual or business contexts to refer to a full-time worker, often in contrast to a part-timer (パートタイマー).
フルタイマーを募集しています。
We are hiring full-time workers.
Refers to full-time employment status, often used in official documents or job postings. It can be a noun or used as 常勤の (full-time).
Highlighting the permanent, non-temporary nature of the employment.
Literally 'lifetime employment employee'. This refers to the traditional Japanese employment system where employees are hired until retirement. It's a specific cultural concept.
終身雇用の社員は減っています。
The number of lifetime employees is decreasing.
In Japan, employment types are clearly distinguished. 正社員 (seishain) is a regular, permanent employee with full benefits. 契約社員 (keiyakushain) is a contract employee with a fixed term, often with fewer benefits. 派遣社員 (hakenshain) is a temporary staff dispatched from an agency. When translating 'full-time employee', ensure the context matches the intended employment type.
正社員と契約社員の違いは何ですか？
What is the difference between a regular employee and a contract employee?
The literal translation 'フルタイムの従業員' is not commonly used and sounds unnatural. Use 正社員 for permanent full-time roles, or フルタイムで働く人 for general full-time work.
彼女は3年間の契約社員を経て、やっと正社員になりました。
She finally became a full-time employee after three years of contract work.
正社員はパートタイマーより手厚い福利厚生を受けます。
Full-time employees receive better benefits than part-timers.
常勤の職員を探しています。
We are looking for full-time staff.