Translation guide
The most common and neutral word for 'employee' is 従業員 (じゅうぎょういん). However, Japanese often uses more specific terms depending on the type of employment, company relationship, or context. This guide covers the most useful expressions for an English speaker.
To refer to a person who works for a company or organization in a general sense.
The standard, neutral term for 'employee' in a business context. It refers to people employed by a company or organization.
He is an employee of a major corporation.
Refers specifically to an employee of a company (会社). Often implies a regular, full-time employee with a direct employment relationship. It is commonly used when stating one's own position or referring to colleagues within the same company.
Literally 'company person', this is a common way to describe someone who works for a company as an employee, often used when talking about one's occupation in general. It emphasizes the fact of being a company employee rather than the specific company.
Often used for employees of public institutions, schools, hospitals, or government offices. It can also refer to staff members in a more formal sense.
To refer to someone who works part-time, on a contract basis, or in a non-permanent position.
Short for パートタイム (part-time). Refers to part-time workers, often housewives or students, with shorter hours than full-time employees. Commonly used in retail and service industries.
To refer to someone as a member of a staff or team, often in a service or collaborative context.
To refer to someone who works for the government or a public institution.
社員 (しゃいん) refers to an employee of a specific company, often used when the company is named or implied. 従業員 (じゅうぎょういん) is a broader term for any employee in a business context. 会社員 (かいしゃいん) describes one's occupation as a company employee, similar to 'office worker'.
I am a Sony employee.
The company has over 10,000 employees.
Improve employee benefits.
私はトヨタの社員です。
I am an employee of Toyota.
There is training for new employees.
My father is a company employee.
The life of a company employee is busy.
市役所の職員に聞いてください。
Please ask a city hall employee.
I work part-time at a supermarket.
Often shortened to バイト. Refers to part-time or casual work, typically done by students or as a side job. It implies a less formal employment relationship than パート.
When I was a university student, I worked part-time at a convenience store.
A contract employee, hired for a fixed term. Not a permanent employee but has a direct contract with the company.
He was hired as a contract employee.
A temporary employee dispatched from a staffing agency. They work at a client company but are employed by the agency.
Work at a major company as a temp employee.
A loanword from English, used widely for staff in shops, restaurants, events, or projects. It has a casual, inclusive feel and does not specify employment type.
The store staff are all kind.
We are recruiting event staff.
Specifically a shop assistant or salesclerk. Used for employees in retail stores.
Ask the shop assistant about the size.
A civil servant or public employee. This is the standard term for government workers at national or local levels.
She is a government employee.
I passed the civil service exam.
This factory has 500 employees.
He is a company employee and wears a suit every day.
When introducing yourself, it's more natural to say your company name and position or simply use 会社員 (かいしゃいん) rather than 従業員 (じゅうぎょういん). Saying 'I am an employee of X' as 'Xの従業員です' can sound overly formal or impersonal.
彼女はカフェでアルバイトをしています。
She is a part-time employee at a café.