Translation guide
This guide covers how to express the concept of losing one's job in Japanese, from being fired or laid off to quitting or a job ending naturally. It includes common verbs, nouns, and euphemisms, with notes on formality and context.
Expressing that someone was fired from their job, often due to performance or conduct.
Literally 'to become neck', this is the most common and colloquial way to say 'to be fired'. It can be used in casual conversation.
He was fired for being late too often.
A formal term meaning 'to be dismissed' or 'to be discharged'. Used in official contexts or news.
The company dismissed employees due to poor performance.
Noun form of 'firing'. Often used in phrases like クビだ (You're fired!) or クビを切る (to fire someone).
Today my boss told me I'm fired.
A very formal and somewhat dated term for dismissal, often used in legal or business documents.
He was dismissed for misconduct.
Expressing job loss due to company restructuring, downsizing, or economic reasons, not personal fault.
From 'restructuring', this is the most common term for being laid off. It implies the company is cutting jobs.
My father was laid off and it was tough for the family.
A formal term for 'layoff' or 'redundancy dismissal', often used in legal or business contexts.
Expressing voluntarily leaving a job.
The most common verb for 'to quit' a job. Can be used in casual and polite forms.
I plan to quit my job next month.
A formal term for 'to resign' or 'to retire' from a job. Used in official announcements.
He resigned for personal reasons.
Literally 'to submit a resignation letter'. A common phrase for formally resigning.
I handed in my resignation to the department head.
Expressing that a job ended because a contract expired or a project finished, without negative connotation.
Expressing job loss in a softer or indirect way, often to avoid bluntness.
Literally 'to lose one's job'. A neutral and somewhat formal expression.
Many people lost their jobs due to the recession.
A casual way to say 'job disappears' or 'lose one's job'. Can be used in everyday speech.
The company went bankrupt and I lost my job.
A humorous or ironic way to say 'to be relieved of one's duties' or 'to be let go'. Literally 'to be released from service'.
首になる is casual and commonly used in daily conversation. 解雇される is formal and often appears in written documents or news. Use 首になる with friends, and 解雇される in official contexts.
Do not translate 'lose one's job' directly as 仕事をなくす without context; it can sound unnatural. Instead, use 職を失う for a neutral tone or specify the reason (fired, laid off, etc.).
Due to the recession, many companies carried out layoffs.
Means 'workforce reduction' or 'downsizing'. Often used as a reason for layoffs.
The company announced workforce reductions.
The project ended and I was let go (relieved of my duties).