Translation guide
A desk used for work, typically in an office or at home. Japanese distinguishes between the physical desk itself and the workspace or desk where one works.
A piece of furniture with a flat surface for working, often with drawers.
General word for a desk, used for both work and study. Commonly used in offices and schools.
I bought a new work desk.
Please tidy up your desk.
Loanword from English, often used for office desks. Slightly more modern or business-like feel.
The office work desk is spacious, isn't it?
Specifically a clerical desk, often used in administrative offices. More formal or technical.
We work with our clerical desks lined up.
The specific desk assigned to a person in an office, often including the surrounding area.
The entire setup where one works, including computer, monitors, etc.
Loanword for a computer workstation. Often used in IT or design contexts.
We set up a new workstation.
Literally 'work desk', often implying a desk used for hands-on tasks or crafts, but can be used for a computer desk.
I have my computer on my work desk.
机 (つくえ) is the native Japanese word and is more general, used for any desk including study desks. デスク is a loanword and often implies an office desk or a more modern style. In many contexts they are interchangeable, but デスク can sound slightly more business-like.
In Japanese office culture, it's common to say 自分の席 (my seat) or 私の机 (my desk) rather than just 'work desk'. The concept of a personal workspace is often tied to the seat rather than the furniture itself.