Translation guide
The English word 'task' covers a wide range of work, duties, and assignments. In Japanese, the best translation depends on the nature of the task—whether it's a routine job, a mission, a piece of homework, or a burdensome chore. This guide helps you choose the most natural expression.
やるべき仕事があります。
I have a task to do.
これは重要な任務です。
This is an important task.
A piece of work to be done, often as part of one's job or responsibility.
The most common and versatile word for 'work' or 'task'. It can refer to any job, duty, or assignment.
今日の仕事はこれで終わりです。
That's it for today's tasks.
彼に新しい仕事を頼んだ。
I assigned him a new task.
Refers to manual or operational work, often a specific process or operation. Common in technical or industrial contexts.
この作業は明日までに終わらせてください。
Please finish this task by tomorrow.
A loanword from English, used especially in business, IT, and project management. Sounds modern and specific.
今日のタスクをリストアップした。
I listed today's tasks.
A task given to students or as part of a course.
The standard word for an assignment, homework, or a problem to solve. Used in academic and sometimes professional settings.
週末までにこの課題を提出してください。
Please submit this task by the weekend.
数学の課題が難しい。
The math task is difficult.
Specifically homework. Use this when the task is to be done at home.
A significant task, often with a sense of purpose or duty.
A formal word for a mission, duty, or assigned task, often used in military, police, or organizational contexts.
彼は重要な任務を任された。
He was entrusted with an important task.
A mission or calling, often with a strong sense of personal or moral duty. More abstract than 任務.
A task that is unpleasant, tiring, or annoying.
Literally 'troublesome work'. A natural way to describe a task you don't want to do.
それは面倒な仕事だ。
That's a tedious task.
Odd jobs, chores, or miscellaneous tasks. Often used for minor, unskilled work.
彼は雑用ばかりやらされている。
He's always given menial tasks.
A unit of work in software, scheduling, or to-do lists.
The standard term in IT and business. Used in apps, project management tools, and technical contexts.
このタスクの優先度を上げてください。
Please raise the priority of this task.
Often used in apps and casual lists. Written in English or katakana.
ToDoリストにタスクを追加した。
I added a task to my to-do list.
仕事 (shigoto) is the broadest term for work or tasks in daily life and business. 作業 (sagyou) emphasizes the process or manual aspect, often used in factories or IT operations. タスク (tasuku) is a modern loanword common in project management and tech, but may sound out of place in traditional or formal settings.
While タスク is widely understood, using it for everyday chores or traditional duties can sound unnatural. Stick to 仕事 or 用事 for general tasks.
買い物は今日の仕事の一つです。
Shopping is one of today's tasks.
やらなければならない仕事がたくさんあります。
I have a lot of tasks to complete.
彼女はその作業を素早く終えた。
She finished the task quickly.
宿題を忘れました。
I forgot my homework task.
This is my task (mission).