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.
Bookshelves occupy half of this room.
Literally 'to take', but commonly used for taking up space or time, especially in casual contexts.
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'.
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.
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'.
The sofa occupies most of the room.
Work occupies most of my day.
This sofa occupies too much space.
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.
This room is currently occupied.
Stronger term implying occupation by force or protest, similar to 'occupy' in a political sense. Not for normal living.
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.
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.
He occupies an important post.
The children occupy me (keep me busy).
An idiomatic expression meaning 'to be occupied' or 'to have one's hands full'. Literally 'cannot take one's hands off'.
I'm occupied right now.
Means 'to engross' or 'to absorb', used when something occupies someone's mind completely.
The game occupied him completely.
The enemy army occupied the city.
Often used for occupying a building or facility as a form of protest or demonstration.
Protesters occupied the city hall.
その国は隣国に占領された。
The country was occupied by its neighbor.
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).
Occupy a seat for me. (Save a seat.)