Translation guide
The English term "public service" covers a wide range of meanings, from government employment and essential utilities to volunteer work and broadcasting. This guide helps learners choose the right Japanese expression based on the specific meaning.
Working for the government or a public agency, often as a career.
The standard term for a government employee or civil servant. Covers national and local government workers.
彼は公務員として働いています。
He works as a public servant.
Refers to public duties or official business, often used in phrases like 'public service work'.
公務で出張しています。
I'm on a business trip for public service.
Literally 'working at a government office', used to describe employment in public administration.
官公庁勤務の経験があります。
I have experience working in public service.
Services like electricity, water, gas, transportation, etc., provided for public use.
The direct translation, used for services provided by the government or public entities for the benefit of the community.
公共交通機関は重要な公共サービスです。
Public transportation is an important public service.
Unpaid work done for the benefit of the community or society.
The most common term for volunteer work or community service.
週末にボランティアをしています。
I do volunteer work on weekends.
Formal term for social service or community service, often used in official contexts.
Contribution to the local community, often used in corporate social responsibility contexts.
会社の地域貢献活動の一環です。
It's part of the company's community service activities.
Non-commercial broadcasting funded by the public, such as NHK.
The standard term for public broadcasting, like NHK.
NHKは日本の公共放送です。
NHK is Japan's public broadcasting service.
An organization or department that provides public services.
Public institution or agency, covering government offices and public corporations.
公共機関に問い合わせてください。
Please contact the public service agency.
Government office or agency, often used in formal contexts.
The direct translation '公共サービス' is not always natural. Use more specific terms depending on context: 公務員 for civil servant, ボランティア for volunteer work, 公共放送 for public broadcasting, etc.
Borrowed from English 'lifeline', refers to essential utilities like electricity, gas, water, and communications.
地震でライフラインが止まった。
The lifelines (public services) stopped due to the earthquake.
Public utility enterprises, often used in legal or business contexts.
この会社は公益事業を運営しています。
This company operates public utility services.
社会奉仕活動に参加した。
I participated in community service activities.
官庁への提出書類です。
These are documents for submission to the public service office.