Translation guide
The English verb 'occupy' has several distinct meanings: to fill or take up space/time, to live in or use a place, to hold a position or role, to keep someone busy, and to take control of a place by force. This guide organizes Japanese expressions by these practical meanings.
To fill or use an amount of space, area, or time.
Used when something takes up a certain proportion of space, time, or a total amount. Often used with percentages or fractions.
この部屋の半分を本棚が占めている。
Bookshelves occupy half of this room.
仕事が一日の大半を占める。
Work occupies most of my day.
Literally 'to take', but commonly used for taking up space or time, especially in casual contexts.
このソファは場所を取りすぎる。
This sofa occupies too much space.
Means 'to block' or 'to fill up' a space, often implying that the space becomes unavailable for other uses.
To reside in or use a building, room, seat, etc.
The standard verb for living in a place. Use に住む for 'live in'.
To have a particular job, office, or rank.
Used for assuming or holding a position, especially in formal contexts. Often に就く.
To engage someone's attention or time; to keep occupied.
Causative form of 忙しい (busy), meaning 'to keep someone busy'.
子供たちは私を忙しくさせる。
The children occupy me (keep me busy).
To enter and take control of a place, especially by military force or protest.
The standard term for military occupation or taking control of a territory.
敵軍がその都市を占領した。
The enemy army occupied the city.
占める (shimeru) is a general verb for taking up space, time, or a proportion. 占領する (senryō suru) specifically means military occupation of a territory. 占拠する (senkyo suru) is used for occupying a building or facility, often in protests. Do not use 占領する for everyday 'occupy a seat'.
ソファが部屋の大部分を占めている。
The sofa occupies most of the room.
その国は隣国に占領された。
The country was occupied by its neighbor.
That task occupies a lot of time.
Baggage is occupying the hallway.
彼は東京に住んでいる。
He occupies a house in Tokyo. (He lives in Tokyo.)
Means 'to use' and is appropriate for occupying a room, seat, or facility temporarily.
この部屋は現在使用されています。
This room is currently occupied.
Stronger term implying occupation by force or protest, similar to 'occupy' in a political sense. Not for normal living.
学生たちが建物を占拠した。
The students occupied the building.
彼は社長の地位に就いている。
He occupies the position of company president.
Means 'to serve as' or 'to hold a post', focusing on the role or duty.
彼女は会長を務めている。
She occupies the role of chairperson.
Can be used for holding a position, but less common than 就く or 務める. Often implies a sense of 'taking up' the role.
彼は重要なポストを占めている。
He occupies an important post.
An idiomatic expression meaning 'to be occupied' or 'to have one's hands full'. Literally 'cannot take one's hands off'.
今手が離せない。
I'm occupied right now.
Means 'to engross' or 'to absorb', used when something occupies someone's mind completely.
そのゲームは彼を夢中にさせた。
The game occupied him completely.
Often used for occupying a building or facility as a form of protest or demonstration.
デモ隊が市役所を占拠した。
Protesters occupied the city hall.
Students occupied the auditorium.
Avoid directly translating 'occupy a seat' as 席を占める (seki o shimeru). Instead, use natural phrases like 席を取る (seki o toru) or 座る (suwaru).
席を取っておいて。
Occupy a seat for me. (Save a seat.)
Students occupied the auditorium.
Avoid directly translating 'occupy a seat' as 席を占める (seki o shimeru). Instead, use natural phrases like 席を取る (seki o toru) or 座る (suwaru).
席を取っておいて。
Occupy a seat for me. (Save a seat.)