Translation guide
Describes someone who is currently responsible for a task, position, or watch, such as a guard, receptionist, or staff member on shift.
Referring to an employee who is on shift and responsible for a specific role, like a receptionist, clerk, or attendant.
Common word for a person on duty in a rotating role, such as cleaning, reception, or monitoring. Often used with の人 or の者.
Who is the person on duty today?
Please switch when the person on duty arrives.
A staff member in charge of a specific task or area, like a station attendant or event staff. More formal than 当番.
Please ask the person on duty.
Literally 'person currently on duty/working'. Used when emphasizing that someone is actively working, e.g., a security guard or nurse.
Please don't talk to the person on duty.
A person assigned to keep watch, such as a security guard, night watchman, or sentry.
Standard term for a security guard on duty at buildings, events, etc.
A person on duty is standing at the entrance.
Refers to being on night duty or a person on night shift, especially in hospitals, fire stations, or security. Often used as 当直の人.
Literally 'watchman' or 'guard', often used for a person guarding a gate or property. Can sound old-fashioned or literary.
Someone assigned to a specific chore or responsibility on a rotating basis, like taking out trash or monitoring a meeting.
The person in charge of a particular task or area. Very common in business and daily life.
The person on duty for this matter is Mr. Yamada.
Specifically a person on daytime duty, often in schools or offices for tasks like cleaning or answering phones.
当番 emphasizes a rotating duty (often daily or weekly), while 担当者 refers to the person in charge of a specific ongoing responsibility, not necessarily rotating.
In Japanese, you can often just say 当番です (I'm on duty) or 警備員です (I'm the security guard) without explicitly saying 'person'. Context usually makes it clear.
当直の看護師を呼んでください。
Please call the nurse on duty.
門のところに番人がいる。
There is a person on duty at the gate.
今日の日直は私です。
I am the person on duty today.