Translation guide
The work period during the night, typically in a job with rotating shifts. In Japanese, this is commonly expressed with specific compound nouns or descriptive phrases.
night shift (work period)
night shift (workers)
Referring to the night shift as a scheduled work time, often in contrast to day or evening shifts.
The most common and general term for night shift work, used in many workplaces like factories, hospitals, and offices.
I'm on the night shift this week.
The night shift is hard on the body.
A more casual, loanword-based phrase. 'シフト' means shift. Often used in part-time jobs or service industry.
I have a lot of night shifts this month.
Literally 'night watch' or 'night duty'. Used in contexts like security, nursing, or traditional roles. Less common than 夜勤.
I'm on night duty tonight.
Referring to the people who work during the night, as a collective.
夜勤 is the standard term used in formal and informal contexts, while 夜のシフト is more casual and often used in part-time jobs. 夜勤 implies a regular night work schedule, whereas 夜のシフト can refer to a single night shift assignment.