Translation guide
The English word "job" covers several distinct concepts in Japanese. This guide helps you choose the right word depending on whether you mean occupation, task, duty, or employment.
Referring to one's regular work or career, the kind of work one does for a living.
The most common and general word for "job" or "work". It can refer to one's occupation, tasks, or employment.
彼は新しい仕事を探している。
He is looking for a new job.
仕事は何ですか。
What is your job?
A more formal term for "occupation" or "profession". Often used on official forms or in formal contexts.
職業を教えてください。
Please tell me your occupation.
A suffix or standalone noun meaning "employment" or "post". Often used in compounds like 職を探す (look for a job) or 職に就く (get a job).
彼は職を失った。
He lost his job.
Referring to a specific task, assignment, or piece of work to be done, not necessarily one's career.
Again, 仕事 is the most natural word for a task or job to be done. Context clarifies whether it means occupation or task.
この仕事を明日までに終わらせなければならない。
I have to finish this job by tomorrow.
Refers to manual or routine work, operations, or tasks. Often used in technical or industrial contexts.
Refers to an errand or something one has to do. Not used for professional tasks.
Referring to a role, duty, or responsibility, often within an organization or as part of a position.
A duty, role, or function that one is expected to perform.
私の役目は会議の準備です。
My job is to prepare for the meeting.
A mission, duty, or assignment, often with a sense of official responsibility.
One's duty or obligation, often moral or social. Can also mean employment.
Referring to the state of being employed or a specific position within a company.
A position or job opening, often used when talking about finding employment.
いい勤め口が見つかった。
I found a good job.
As above, can mean a job or post. Often used in set phrases.
職を探す。
Look for a job.
Loanword from English, meaning a position or post within an organization.
仕事 (shigoto) is the everyday word for job or work. 職業 (shokugyō) is more formal and specifically means occupation. Use 仕事 in most conversations; use 職業 on forms or when asking about someone's profession formally.
English uses "job" in many idiomatic expressions (e.g., "good job!", "it's not my job"). These often require different Japanese expressions. For example, "good job" is よくやった (yoku yatta) or お疲れ様 (otsukaresama), not いい仕事.
This job is dangerous.
I have a little job to do. (errand)
His job is to protect the president.
親としての務めを果たす。
Fulfill one's job as a parent.
He took up a new job (position).