Translation guide
This guide covers how to express the state of being employed in Japanese, from formal employment status to casual ways of saying you have a job.
Expressing that someone is employed or has a job in a neutral sense.
A common, natural way to say 'is employed' or 'works for a company'. Literally 'is serving' at a workplace.
He is employed at a bank.
Means 'is working' and implies being employed. More general than 勤めている, can refer to any kind of work.
She is currently working in Tokyo.
Specifically means 'has found employment' or 'is employed' after a job search. Often used for new graduates or career changes.
I graduated from university and immediately got a job.
A formal noun meaning 'employment'. Used in official contexts, like contracts or economic discussions.
Employment stability is important.
Stating that someone works for a particular employer.
The standard pattern for 'is employed by [company]'. Use the particle に to mark the employer.
My older brother is employed by Toyota.
Means 'works at [company]'. Slightly more casual than 勤めている and focuses on the place of work.
My friend works at Google.
Describing the type of employment arrangement.
A full-time, permanent employee. This is the standard 'regular employee' status in Japan.
He works as a full-time employee.
Part-time worker. Often used for housewives or students working shorter hours.
Part-time job, often for students or side jobs. Abbreviated as バイト in casual speech.
Distinguishing between working for someone else and working for oneself.
Using the term in official documents or discussions about labor.
The English gerund 'being employed' does not have a single direct equivalent in Japanese. Instead, use verbs like 勤める or 働く in their progressive forms (勤めている, 働いている) to express the state. Using a noun like 雇用 directly can sound unnatural in casual conversation.
勤める (つとめる) implies working for an organization, often with a sense of service or belonging. 働く (はたらく) is more general and simply means 'to work'. Use 勤める when emphasizing the employer, and 働く when focusing on the activity or location.
A contract employee, usually on a fixed-term contract. Not a permanent position.
I'm currently a contract employee, but I'm aiming to become a permanent employee.
My mother works part-time at a supermarket.
When I was a university student, I worked part-time at a convenience store.
My father is self-employed and runs a small shop.
被雇用者の権利を守る法律があります。
There are laws that protect the rights of employees.