Translation guide
This guide covers how to express the state of being employed or having a job in Japanese, including common verbs, nouns, and natural phrasing.
Expressing that someone has a job or is currently working for a company.
The most common way to say someone is employed, using the verb 勤める (to work for). It implies a stable, ongoing employment.
彼は銀行に勤めている。
He is employed at a bank.
My older sister is employed at a university.
Literally 'is working'. This is a very natural way to say someone is employed, focusing on the act of working rather than the employment contract.
父は工場で働いている。
My father is employed at a factory.
彼女は週に三日だけ働いています。
She is employed only three days a week.
Means 'has found employment' or 'is employed', often used when talking about the result of a job search. Slightly more formal.
彼は卒業後すぐに就職した。
He became employed right after graduation.
現在、多くの若者が就職していない。
Currently, many young people are not employed.
Passive form of 雇用する (to employ). Used in formal or statistical contexts, like 'is employed by a company'. Sounds stiff in casual conversation.
彼はその会社に雇用されている。
He is employed by that company.
Expressing the action of finding employment or starting a job.
The standard verb for 'to get a job' or 'to find employment'. Used for entering the workforce or joining a company.
来年、大手企業に就職したい。
I want to be employed at a major company next year.
彼はやっと就職できた。
He was finally able to get employed.
Literally 'to find a job'. A more casual and direct way to say 'get employed'.
早く仕事を見つけなければ。
I need to get employed soon.
Passive of 雇う (to hire). Means 'to be hired'. Focuses on the employer's action.
彼は新しい会社に雇われた。
He was employed by a new company.
Specifying the job title or role someone holds.
Pattern: [role] として働いている. Means 'is working as a [role]'. Very natural and common.
彼はエンジニアとして働いている。
He is employed as an engineer.
彼女は通訳として働いています。
She is employed as an interpreter.
Pattern: [role] をしている. A more general way to say 'does [role]', often implying employment.
彼は教師をしている。
He is employed as a teacher.
Stating the employer.
Pattern: [company] に勤めている. The standard way to say 'is employed by [company]'.
彼はトヨタに勤めている。
He is employed by Toyota.
Pattern: [company] で働いている. More casual, emphasizes the workplace.
彼女はソニーで働いている。
She is employed at Sony.
勤める (つとめる) implies a stable employment relationship with a specific organization, often used with に. 働く (はたらく) focuses on the act of working and can be used with で for location. 勤める sounds more formal and is preferred when stating one's employer in polite contexts.
銀行に勤めています。
I am employed at a bank. (formal, emphasizing the employer)
銀行で働いています。
I work at a bank. (casual, emphasizing the workplace)
The English passive 'be employed' often sounds unnatural if directly translated into Japanese passive (雇用されている) in everyday speech. Use active verbs like 勤めている or 働いている instead, unless in a formal or statistical context.