Translation guide
The English word 'staff' can refer to employees, a stick or pole, or a musical staff. This guide focuses on the most common meaning: a group of employees. Japanese uses different words depending on the context, such as company employees, store clerks, or members of a team.
Referring to the people who work for a business, institution, or department as a collective group.
A common loanword from English, used for staff in various contexts like events, restaurants, or teams. It often implies a group of people working together on a specific task or in a service role.
The staff for this event are very kind.
We are hiring staff.
Refers specifically to employees of a company. It emphasizes the employment relationship and is commonly used in business contexts.
He is an employee of a major company.
The company staff trip is next month.
Used for staff in public institutions like schools, government offices, or hospitals. It has a more formal tone than スタッフ.
Please ask a city hall staff member.
The school staff kindly assisted me.
Specifically means a store clerk or shop assistant. Use this when referring to staff in a retail setting.
I asked a staff member about the size.
A formal term for employees, often used in legal or official contexts. It can sound stiff in casual conversation.
Protect the rights of employees.
Referring to a long stick used for walking, as a weapon, or as a symbol of authority.
A walking stick or cane. Also used in fantasy contexts for magic staffs.
My grandfather walks with a staff.
A general word for a stick, pole, or rod. Can be used for a staff-like object but is less specific.
Loanword for 'stick', used in sports or specific items like a selfie stick. Not typically used for a walking staff.
The set of five horizontal lines on which musical notes are written.
スタッフ is a casual loanword often used for part-time or event staff. 社員 refers to full-time company employees. 職員 is for public sector or institutional staff. Choose based on the work context.
The café staff are mostly young people.
He is a bank employee.
The library staff helped me.
When 'staff' means a group of employees, do not use 杖 or 棒. Those words only refer to physical sticks. Using them for people would be confusing.
He is holding a long staff.
スティック状のパンを買った。
I bought a stick-shaped bread.
Learn how to read the staff.