キャリア

also: キャリヤ · キャリアー · キャリヤー

キャ

リ

ア

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

Meanings

1

noun

career; occupation

Refers to one's profession or working life, often with a sense of long-term development.

彼かの女じょはキャリアを積つむために転てん職しょくした。
She changed jobs to build her career.

2

noun

personal history

; professional experience

Used when talking about someone's background or work history, e.g., in a CV or biography.

彼かれのキャリアは多た岐きにわたっている。
His professional experience covers a wide range of fields.

3

noun

elite government official; career bureaucrat

Specifically refers to a government employee who has passed the highest-level civil service examination; a prestigious career track in Japanese bureaucracy.

彼かれは国こっ家か公こう務む員いんのキャリアとして入にゅう省しょうした。
He joined the ministry as a career bureaucrat.

Written forms

キャリアUsage98%
Standard katakana spelling for this loanword.
キャリアーUsage2%
search-only kana form
Search-only variant with long vowel; not a common practical spelling.
キャリヤUsage<1%
search-only kana form
Search-only variant; not a common practical spelling.
キャリヤーUsage<1%
search-only kana form
Search-only variant; not a common practical spelling.

Similar words

経けい歴れき
経歴 is a more formal, native Japanese term for personal history or career, often used in resumes. キャリア is a loanword with a broader, more modern feel, and can also refer to the concept of a career path.
職しょく歴れき
職歴 specifically means work history or employment record, while キャリア can encompass overall professional development and personal background.

Etymology

Loanword from English 'career'.