also: せいぎょう
Refers to one's regular work or profession, often with a nuance of a lifelong pursuit or something one is meant to do.
He makes his living by farming.
I want to make writing my calling.
livelihood; means of living
Focuses on the economic aspect: how one earns a living or sustains oneself.
Fishing is the main livelihood in this village.
生業 is a more literary or old-fashioned word for one's livelihood/trade, while 本業 is the everyday term for one's main line of work.
生業 is a literary word for one's means of livelihood, close in nuance to 稼業 but even more formal and often used in written or poetic contexts.
生業 is a more literary or old-fashioned word emphasizing one's occupation as a means of livelihood, while 職業 is the neutral, everyday term.
Standard kanji spelling for the common reading なりわい. High priority in news and frequency.
Alternate reading restricted to this kanji form. Less common than なりわい.
Rarely used kanji form for なりわい. More commonly read as かぎょう (family business).
The reading なりわい is a jukujikun (special kanji reading) derived from the classical Japanese verb なりはふ (to do as a living). The kanji 生業 literally mean 'life work'.