仕事・社会

上司じょうしに仕事しごとの進捗しんちょくを報告ほうこくした。

I reported my progress on the work to my boss.

Usage 上司 is anyone above you at work, a relative term, not a job title like 部長 or 社長. 上司 and 部下 mark rank; 先輩 and 後輩 mark who joined first.

Remember it 上 (above) + 司 (to administer) → the one administering from above.

部下ぶかの育成いくせいが管理職かんりしょくの重要じゅうような仕事しごとだ。

Developing their staff is an important part of a manager's job.

Usage 部下 is someone who reports to you: 部下を持つ (have people under you), 部下を育てる. It is neutral in Japanese. The pair is 上司 ↔ 部下.

Remember it 部 (section) + 下 (below) → those below you in the section.

新商品しょうひんの企画きかくをチームチームでまとめた。

Our team put together the plan for a new product.

Usage 企画 is planning a project or event, with a creative angle: 企画書 (proposal), 企画部 (planning department), 企画を立てる. 計画 (けいかく) is a plan in general.

Remember it 企 (to undertake) + 画 (to draw, plan) → drawing up something to undertake.

会議かいぎで先月せんげつの売上うりあげを報告ほうこくした。

I reported last month's sales at the meeting.

Usage 報告する = to report: 報告書 (report), 中間報告 (interim report). Japanese offices teach new staff 報連相 (ほうれんそう): 報告, 連絡 (contact), 相談 (consult).

Remember it 報 (to inform) + 告 (to announce) → informing and announcing.

会議かいぎの資料しりょうを事前じぜんに配布はいふした。

The meeting materials were handed out in advance.

Usage 資料 is materials or data for work or research: 資料を作る (make handouts or slides), 参考資料. 書類 (しょるい) is paperwork and forms; 文献 is academic literature.

Remember it 資 (resources) + 料 (material) → resource material.

取引先とりひきさきと新あたらしい契約けいやくを結むすんだ。

We signed a new contract with our client.

Usage 契約を結ぶ = to conclude a contract (literally, to tie it). 契約書 (contract document), 契約を解除する (cancel a contract), 契約社員 (contract employee, as opposed to 正社員).

Remember it 契 (pledge) + 約 (promise) → both halves mean promise; together they bind.

海外かいがいの企業きぎょうと取引とりひきを始はじめることになった。

We've decided to start doing business with an overseas company.

Usage 取引 is a business deal or transaction: 取引する, 取引先 (client, business partner), 株の取引 (stock trading). 取引先 is heard constantly in Japanese offices.

Remember it 取る (to take) + 引く (to pull) → give and take.

新あたらしい商品しょうひんの販売はんばいを開始かいしした。

We started selling the new product.

Usage 販売 is selling as a business activity: 販売員 (sales staff), 通信販売 (mail order), 販売促進 (sales promotion). 売る is the plain verb.

Remember it 販 (to trade) + 売 (to sell) → trading and selling.

顧客こきゃくのニーズに応こたえることが最優先さいゆうせんだ。

Meeting customers' needs is our top priority.

Usage 顧客 is the formal, written word for customers: 顧客満足 (customer satisfaction), 顧客管理 (customer management). Staff say お客様 (おきゃくさま) to their faces.

Remember it 顧 (to look back on, care for) + 客 (guest) → the guest you keep looking after.

品質ひんしつ管理かんりを徹底てっていすることで信頼しんらいを得えた。

We gained people's trust by being thorough about quality control.

Usage 品質 is the quality of products: 品質管理 (quality control), 品質保証 (quality assurance), 高品質 (high quality). 質 alone is quality in general: 質が高い.

Remember it 品 (goods) + 質 (substance) → what the goods are really made of.

テレビCMシーエムで商品しょうひんを宣伝せんでんした。

We advertised the product with a TV commercial.

Usage 宣伝 is promoting or advertising something: 宣伝する, 宣伝効果 (advertising impact). 広告 (こうこく) is a paid ad itself. 自己宣伝 = self-promotion.

Remember it 宣 (to proclaim) + 伝 (to spread) → proclaiming and spreading the word.

海外かいがい市場しじょうへの参入さんにゅうを検討けんとうしている。

We're considering entering overseas markets.

Usage Read しじょう, it is a market in the economic sense: 市場調査 (market research), 市場規模 (market size). Read いちば, it is a physical marketplace, like a fish market.

Remember it 市 (city, market) + 場 (place) → the reading decides whether it's an idea or a location.

不況ふきょうの影響えいきょうで多くのおおくの企業きぎょうが倒産とうさんした。

Many companies went bankrupt because of the recession.

Usage 不況 = recession, a slump: 不況に陥る (fall into recession), 不況が続く. Its opposite is 好況 (こうきょう, boom). 不景気 is the everyday equivalent.

Remember it 不 (not) + 況 (conditions) → conditions that are not good.

雇用こよう機会きかいを増やすふやすための政策せいさくが必要ひつようだ。

Policies are needed to increase job opportunities.

Usage 雇用 is employment from the employer's or economic side: 雇用を生む (create jobs), 雇用保険 (employment insurance), 終身雇用 (lifetime employment). 雇う (やとう) = to hire.

Remember it 雇 (to hire) + 用 (to use) → hiring someone to work.

工場こうじょうが閉鎖へいさされて多くのおおくの人ひとが失業しつぎょうした。

The factory closed and many people lost their jobs.

Usage 失業する = to lose your job: 失業者 (the unemployed), 失業率 (unemployment rate), 失業保険 (unemployment benefits).

Remember it 失 (to lose) + 業 (work) → losing your work.

今年は業績ぎょうせきが良よかったので賞与しょうよがたくさん出でた。

The company did well this year, so we got a big bonus.

Usage 賞与 is the formal word for a bonus, usually paid twice a year in Japan, in summer and winter. In conversation, ボーナス.

Remember it 賞 (prize, reward) + 与 (to give) → a reward given.

締め切りしめきりに間まに合あわせるために残業ざんぎょうした。

I worked overtime to meet the deadline.

Usage 残業する = to work overtime: 残業代 (overtime pay), 残業続き (overtime day after day). サービス残業 is unpaid overtime, a grim use of サービス meaning free.

Remember it 残 (to remain) + 業 (work) → the work left over after hours.

夏季かき休暇きゅうかに家族かぞくと旅行りょこうした。

I went on a trip with my family during the summer vacation.

Usage 休暇 is formal leave from work: 休暇を取る (take leave), 夏季休暇 (summer holiday), 有給休暇 (paid leave), 育児休暇 (parental leave). 休み is any break.

Remember it 休 (rest) + 暇 (free time) → free time for rest, made official.

有給ゆうきゅうを使つかって病院びょういんに行いった。

I used a day of paid leave to go to the hospital.

Usage 有給 is short for 有給休暇, paid leave: 有給を取る, 有給消化 (using up paid leave). Japanese law requires employees to take at least five days a year.

Remember it 有 (to have) + 給 (pay, salary) → with pay.

20年間ねんかん勤つとめた会社かいしゃを退職たいしょくした。

I left the company where I had worked for 20 years.

Usage 退職 is leaving a job, whether resigning or retiring: 退職金 (severance pay), 定年退職 (retirement at the mandatory age). 辞職 is resigning from a post; 解雇 (かいこ) is being dismissed.

Remember it 退 (to withdraw) + 職 (post) → withdrawing from your post.

給料きゅうりょうを上あげるために転職てんしょくを決意けついした。

I decided to change jobs to raise my salary.

Usage 転職 is moving to a new employer: 転職する, 転職活動 (job hunting while employed). 異動 is a transfer within the same company.

Remember it 転 (to turn, shift) + 職 (job) → shifting jobs.

法律ほうりつを守まもることはすべての市民しみんの義務ぎむだ。

Obeying the law is the duty of every citizen.

Usage 法律 = law: 法律を守る (obey the law), 法律に違反する (break the law), 法律を改正する (amend a law). 法律上 = legally.

Remember it 法 (law, method) + 律 (rule) → two rule words together.

国民こくみんは選挙せんきょに参加さんかする権利けんりを持もっている。

Citizens have the right to take part in elections.

Usage 権利 = a right: 権利を主張する (assert your rights), 権利がある. It pairs with 義務 (duty): 権利と義務. Related: 人権 (human rights), 著作権 (copyright).

Remember it 権 (authority) + 利 (benefit) → the benefit you are entitled to.

税金ぜいきんを払はらうことは国民こくみんの義務ぎむだ。

Paying taxes is a citizen's duty.

Usage 義務 is a duty or obligation: 義務を果たす (fulfill a duty), 義務づける (make mandatory), 義務教育. 責任 (せきにん) is responsibility, what you answer for.

Remember it 義 (righteousness) + 務 (task) → the task that righteousness demands.

すべての人ひとは法ほうの下もとに平等びょうどうだ。

All people are equal under the law.

Usage 平等 = equality: 男女平等 (gender equality), 平等に扱う (treat equally). 公平 (こうへい) is fairness, treating people impartially. Note the reading: びょう, not へい.

Remember it 平 (level, flat) + 等 (equal) → leveled to the same grade.

人種じんしゅや性別せいべつによる差別さべつをなくすべきだ。

We should eliminate discrimination based on race or gender.

Usage 差別 is discrimination, always negative: 人種差別 (racism), 差別をなくす. 区別 (くべつ) is a neutral distinction: 公私の区別 (keeping work and private life separate).

Remember it 差 (difference) + 別 (to separate) → separating people because of differences.

人権じんけんを尊重そんちょうすることが民主主義みんしゅしゅぎの基本きほんだ。

Respecting human rights is the foundation of democracy.

Usage 人権 = human rights: 人権を守る, 人権侵害 (human rights violation), 基本的人権 (fundamental human rights).

Remember it 人 (person) + 権 (right) → the rights of a person.

日常にちじょう業務ぎょうむをこなしながら新あたらしい企画きかくを進すすめた。

I pushed ahead with a new project while handling my daily work.

Usage 業務 is duties or operations in formal business Japanese: 業務内容 (job duties), 業務効率化 (improving efficiency), 業務時間外 (outside working hours). 仕事 is the everyday word.

Remember it 業 (business) + 務 (duty) → the duties of the business.

職務しょくむ記述書きじゅつしょに具体的ぐたいてきな仕事内容しごとないようを書かいた。

I wrote out the specific tasks in the job description.

Usage 職務 is the duties tied to a position: 職務を果たす (perform your duties), 職務経歴書 (a Japanese résumé of work history), 職務怠慢 (neglect of duty).

Remember it 職 (post, position) + 務 (duty) → the duties of your position.

人事じんじ部門ぶもんが採用さいようと評価ひょうかを担当たんとうしている。

The HR department is in charge of hiring and evaluations.

Usage 人事 is personnel matters, and the HR department: 人事部, 人事異動 (staff reshuffle), 人事評価 (performance review). 人事を尽くして天命を待つ = do your best and leave the rest to fate.

Remember it 人 (people) + 事 (affairs) → people affairs.

努力どりょくが認みとめられ、課長かちょうに昇進しょうしんした。

My efforts were recognized and I was promoted to section chief.

Usage 昇進する takes に for the new rank: 課長に昇進する. Don't confuse it with 昇給 (しょうきゅう, a pay rise). The opposite is 降格.

Remember it 昇 (to rise) + 進 (to advance) → rising and advancing.

不祥事ふしょうじを起おこして降格こうかくされた。

I caused a scandal and was demoted.

Usage 降格 = demotion: 降格される, 降格処分 (disciplinary demotion). In sports it is relegation: 二部に降格する. Its opposite is 昇進 or 昇格.

Remember it 降 (to descend) + 格 (rank) → coming down a rank.

4月しがつの人事じんじ異動いどうで大阪おおさか支社ししゃに転勤てんきんした。

In the April personnel reshuffle, I was transferred to the Osaka branch.

Usage 異動 is a transfer within the same organization: 人事異動, 部署を異動する. 転勤 (てんきん) is a transfer that requires moving to another city. Don't confuse with 移動 (いどう, moving around).

Remember it 異 (different) + 動 (to move) → moving to a different post.

親会社おやがいしゃから子会社こがいしゃに出向しゅっこうすることになった。

I'm being seconded from the parent company to a subsidiary.

Usage 出向 is a secondment: you stay on your company's books but work at another company, often a subsidiary. 出向先 = the company you're seconded to.

Remember it 出 (to go out) + 向 (toward) → going out toward another company.

労働組合ろうどうくみあいが賃上ちんあげを会社かいしゃに要求ようきゅうした。

The labor union demanded a pay raise from the company.

Usage 労働組合 is a labor union, often shortened to 労組 (ろうそ). 組合員 = union member; 春闘 (しゅんとう) is the annual spring wage negotiation.

Remember it 労働 (labor) + 組合 (association) → an association of workers.

ストライキストライキが起おきて、電車でんしゃが止とまった。

A strike broke out and the trains stopped.

Usage ストライキ (often スト) is an industrial strike: ストライキを起こす, ストライキ中. It never means a baseball strike or hitting something.

Remember it From English 'strike', in the labor sense only.

過労かろうが原因げんいんで倒たおれて入院にゅういんした。

I collapsed from overwork and was hospitalized.

Usage 過労 = overwork: 過労で倒れる (collapse from overwork). 過労死 (かろうし), death from overwork, is a serious social issue in Japan.

Remember it 過 (excessive) + 労 (labor) → excessive labor.

企業きぎょうはコンプライアンスコンプライアンスを徹底てっていしなければならない。

Companies must be thorough about compliance.

Usage コンプライアンス is compliance with laws and internal rules: コンプライアンス違反 (a compliance violation), コンプライアンス研修 (compliance training). Often shortened to コンプラ.

Remember it From English 'compliance'. Think: comply.

今年度こんねんどの業績ぎょうせきは前年比ぜんねんひ120%を達成たっせいした。

This fiscal year's results reached 120% of last year's.

Usage 業績 is a company's business results, or a person's professional achievements: 業績が上がる, 業績悪化 (declining results). 成績 is for school grades.

Remember it 業 (business) + 績 (achievements) → what the business achieved.

収益しゅうえきを最大化さいだいかするための戦略せんりゃくを立たてた。

We drew up a strategy to maximize earnings.

Usage 収益 is earnings or revenue: 収益を上げる, 収益性 (profitability). 利益 (りえき) is profit after costs; 売上 (うりあげ) is sales.

Remember it 収 (to take in) + 益 (benefit) → the benefit that comes in.

株主かぶぬし総会そうかいで経営方針けいえいほうしんが発表はっぴょうされた。

The management policy was announced at the shareholders' meeting.

Usage 株主 = shareholder: 株主総会 (shareholders' meeting), 大株主 (major shareholder), 株主優待 (shareholder perks, a very Japanese tradition of gifts to shareholders).

Remember it 株 (share) + 主 (owner) → the owner of shares.