仕事・組織

大おおきな組織そしきでは、意思いし決定けっていに時間じかんがかかる。

In large organizations, decisions take a long time.

Usage 組織 = organization: 組織を作る, 組織的な (systematic), 組織図 (org chart). In biology, it means tissue: 筋肉組織 (muscle tissue).

Remember it 組 (to assemble) + 織 (to weave) → assembled and woven together.

来月らいげつから別べつの部署ぶしょに異動いどうすることになった。

I'm being transferred to a different department from next month.

Usage 部署 is your department or post: 部署を異動する, 担当部署 (the department in charge), 他部署 (another department).

Remember it 部 (section) + 署 (office) → a section office.

役職やくしょくに就つくと、責任せきにんも重おもくなる。

When you take on a managerial post, your responsibilities get heavier.

Usage 役職 is a managerial position: 役職に就く, 役職名 (title), 役職手当 (a management allowance). 役職者 are staff with titles like 課長 or 部長.

Remember it 役 (role) + 職 (post) → a post with a role.

肩書かたがきよりも実力じつりょくで評価ひょうかされたい。

I'd rather be judged on my abilities than my title.

Usage 肩書き is a title on a business card: 肩書きがある, 肩書きにこだわる (care about titles). It can also mean social status.

Remember it 肩 (shoulder) + 書き (writing) → the writing printed at the shoulder of your name.

大学だいがく卒業そつぎょうと同時どうじに、商社しょうしゃに就職しゅうしょくしました。

I got a job at a trading company as soon as I graduated from university.

Usage 就職する takes に for the company joined: 会社に就職する. 就職活動 (就活, しゅうかつ) is Japan's job-hunting season.

Remember it 就 (to take up a position) + 職 (occupation) → taking up a post.

新卒しんそつ採用さいようの面接めんせつが始はじまりました。

Interviews for new graduate hiring have started.

Usage 新卒採用 is Japan's system of hiring whole cohorts of new graduates at once. 採用する also means to adopt an idea: 提案を採用する.

Remember it 採 (to pick) + 用 (to use) → picking someone to put to use.

来週らいしゅう面接めんせつがあるので、準備じゅんびをしっかりしています。

I have an interview next week, so I'm preparing thoroughly.

Usage 面接を受ける = to have an interview (literally to receive one). A media interview is インタビュー, a different word entirely.

Remember it 面 (face) + 接 (to make contact) → meeting face to face.

応募おうぼする前まえに履歴書りれきしょを準備じゅんびしてください。

Please prepare a résumé before applying.

Usage The Japanese 履歴書 is a standard form with fixed fields and a photo, traditionally handwritten, not a free-form Western CV. 職務経歴書 details your work history.

Remember it 履歴 (personal record) + 書 (document) → your record on paper.

入社にゅうしゃしてすぐ、一か月いっかげつの研修けんしゅうがありました。

Right after joining the company, there was a month of training.

Usage 研修 is formal training run by an employer: 新人研修 (new-employee training), 研修期間 (probation period). 練習 is practice you do yourself.

Remember it 研 (to polish) + 修 (to master) → polishing someone into shape.

上役うわやくの許可きょかがないと、この書類しょるいは出だせない。

This document can't go out without my superior's approval.

Usage 上役 is a superior at work, a slightly old-fashioned word. 上司 is the everyday term. Its opposite is 下役 (したやく), rarely used.

Remember it 上 (above) + 役 (role) → the role above you.

営業えいぎょう部門ぶもんの責任者せきにんしゃとして働はたらいています。

I work as the person in charge of the sales division.

Usage 部門 is a broad division of an organization, or a category in a competition: 部門別 (by division), 優秀賞部門. 部 and 課 are specific departments and sections.

Remember it 部 (section) + 門 (gate, field) → a field of the organization with its own gate.

彼かれは大阪おおさか支社ししゃに転勤てんきんになった。

He was transferred to the Osaka branch.

Usage 支社 is a branch office; its counterpart is 本社 (head office). 支店 (してん) is a branch of a bank or shop.

Remember it 支 (branch) + 社 (company) → a branch of the company.

本社ほんしゃは東京とうきょうにあり、工場こうじょうは地方ちほうにあります。

Head office is in Tokyo and the factory is out in the regions.

Usage 本社 is a company's head office; 本店 is its main shop. Their counterparts are 支社 and 支店.

Remember it 本 (origin, main) + 社 (company) → the company's main seat.

彼女かのじょは四十代よんじゅうだいで取締役とりしまりやくに選えらばれた。

She was appointed a director in her forties.

Usage 取締役 is a member of the board of directors: 代表取締役 (representative director, often the CEO), 取締役会 (board meeting).

Remember it 取り締まる (to supervise, control) + 役 (role) → the role of keeping things in check.

祖父そふは小ちいさな旅館りょかんを経営けいえいしています。

My grandfather runs a small traditional inn.

Usage 経営する means running a business; 管理する means managing tasks or things. 経営者 (けいえいしゃ) = the person running it, 経営難 (financial difficulties).

Remember it 経 (to manage) + 営 (to operate) → managing and operating.

このイベントはボランティアによって運営うんえいされている。

This event is run by volunteers.

Usage 運営 is running an organization or event: 運営する, 運営費 (operating costs), 運営側 (the organizers). 経営 is running a business for profit.

Remember it 運 (to carry on) + 営 (to operate) → keeping things operating.

会社かいしゃの方針ほうしんに従したがって仕事しごとを進すすめる。

We carry out our work in line with company policy.

Usage 方針 is a policy or course of action: 方針を決める, 方針転換 (a change of course), 基本方針 (basic policy). 政策 is government policy.

Remember it 方 (direction) + 針 (needle) → the needle pointing the direction, like a compass.

海外かいがい市場しじょうで勝かつための戦略せんりゃくを立たてた。

We drew up a strategy to win in overseas markets.

Usage 戦略 = strategy, the big picture: 戦略を立てる, 経営戦略. 戦術 (せんじゅつ) is tactics, the specific moves.

Remember it 戦 (war) + 略 (plan) → a plan for war.

今年ことしの目標もくひょうはJLPT N2に合格ごうかくすることです。

My goal this year is to pass JLPT N2.

Usage 目標 is a concrete target you aim at; 目的 (もくてき) is the underlying purpose. 目標を立てる (set a goal), 目標を達成する (achieve it).

Remember it 目 (eye) + 標 (marker) → the marker your eye is fixed on.

納期のうきに間まに合あうよう、全員ぜんいんで作業さぎょうを進すすめています。

Everyone is pushing on with the work to meet the delivery deadline.

Usage 納期を守る = to meet the deadline, 納期に間に合う = to make it in time. In Japanese manufacturing this word carries real weight.

Remember it 納 (to deliver) + 期 (a set term) → the date by which delivery is due.

午後ごごから取引先とりひきさきと打うち合あわせがある。

I have a meeting with a client this afternoon.

Usage 打ち合わせ is a working meeting to plan details: 打ち合わせをする, 事前の打ち合わせ. 会議 is a more formal meeting.

Remember it 打つ (to strike) + 合わせる (to match) → striking in time together, like musicians matching their beat.

新あたらしいパソコンを買かうには稟議りんぎを通とおす必要ひつようがある。

To buy a new computer, you have to get it through the internal approval process.

Usage 稟議 is the Japanese system of circulating a proposal (稟議書) for managers to approve with their seals. 稟議を通す = get approval, 稟議が下りる = approval comes through.

Remember it 稟 (to report to a superior) + 議 (to deliberate) → reporting upward for deliberation.

新あたらしい工場こうじょうが来月らいげつから稼働かどうする。

The new factory will start operating next month.

Usage 稼働 is machines or facilities operating: 稼働する, 稼働率 (utilization rate), 24時間稼働 (running around the clock).

Remember it 稼 (to earn) + 働 (to work) → working to earn.

作業さぎょうの効率こうりつを上あげるためにツールを導入どうにゅうした。

We introduced tools to raise the efficiency of the work.

Usage 効率がいい = efficient, 効率化 = streamlining, 効率的に (efficiently). 作業 (さぎょう) = work in a practical sense, 導入する = to introduce a system.

Remember it 効 (effect) + 率 (rate) → the rate at which effort produces effect.

テレワークで生産性せいさんせいが上あがったという報告ほうこくが増ふえている。

Reports that productivity rose with remote working are increasing.

Usage 生産性 = productivity: 生産性が高い, 生産性を上げる. テレワーク is the usual Japanese word for remote work. The 性 suffix means the quality of.

Remember it 生産 (production) + 性 (nature) → how productive something is.

家事かじを夫婦ふうふで分担ぶんたんしている。

My spouse and I share the housework.

Usage 分担 is dividing up tasks or costs: 役割分担 (division of roles), 費用を分担する (split the cost), 家事分担.

Remember it 分 (to divide) + 担 (to carry) → dividing up what to carry.

退職たいしょくする前まえに、後任こうにんへの引ひき継つぎを済すませた。

Before leaving the company, I finished handing over to my successor.

Usage 引き継ぎ is a handover of work: 引き継ぎをする, 引き継ぎ資料 (handover notes). The verb is 引き継ぐ. 後任 (こうにん) is your successor.

Remember it 引く (to pull) + 継ぐ (to succeed) → pulling the work across to your successor.

先月せんげつは残業代ざんぎょうだいが三万円さんまんえん出でた。

Last month I got 30,000 yen in overtime pay.

Usage 残業代 = overtime pay: 残業代が出る (overtime is paid), 残業代が出ない (unpaid overtime). 〜代 means a charge: 電気代, 食事代.

Remember it 残業 (overtime) + 代 (payment) → payment for overtime.

この会社かいしゃは住宅じゅうたく手当てあてが出でる。

This company pays a housing allowance.

Usage 手当 is an allowance on top of salary: 住宅手当 (housing), 通勤手当 (commuting), 家族手当. It also means first aid: 傷の手当をする.

Remember it 手 (hand) + 当てる (to apply) → something handed to you, or a hand applied to a wound.

この会社かいしゃは福利厚生ふくりこうせいが充実じゅうじつしている。

This company has excellent employee benefits.

Usage 福利厚生 covers employee perks: health insurance, housing support, company gyms, discounts. 福利厚生が充実している is a big selling point in job ads.

Remember it 福利 (welfare) + 厚生 (well-being) → welfare and well-being.

退勤たいきん時間じかんを過すぎても、まだ仕事しごとが終おわらない。

Even past clocking-off time, I still haven't finished work.

Usage 退勤 is leaving work for the day: 退勤する, 退勤時間. Its opposite is 出勤. In speech, 帰る or 上がる (お先に上がります).

Remember it 退 (to withdraw) + 勤 (work) → withdrawing from work.

父ちちは銀行ぎんこうに勤務きんむしている。

My father works at a bank.

Usage 勤務 is working at a place or doing your shift: 勤務する, 勤務時間 (working hours), 勤務先 (employer), 夜勤 (night shift).

Remember it 勤 (to work diligently) + 務 (duty) → carrying out your duties.

週しゅうに二日ふつかは在宅勤務ざいたくきんむをしている。

I work from home two days a week.

Usage 在宅勤務 = working from home. テレワーク and リモートワーク are the common loanwords. 在宅 alone means being at home: 在宅介護 (home care).

Remember it 在宅 (at home) + 勤務 (work) → working at home.

派遣はけん社員しゃいんとして三年さんねん働はたらいている。

I've been working as a temp for three years.

Usage 派遣 is dispatching people: 派遣社員 (agency temp), 派遣会社 (staffing agency), 自衛隊を派遣する (dispatch troops).

Remember it 派 (to send off) + 遣 (to dispatch) → sending out.

契約社員けいやくしゃいんから正社員せいしゃいんになることができた。

I was able to go from contract employee to permanent staff.

Usage 契約社員 is a fixed-term contract employee. Japan's job types: 正社員 (permanent), 契約社員 (contract), 派遣社員 (agency temp), パート / アルバイト (part-time).

Remember it 契約 (contract) + 社員 (employee) → an employee on a contract.

安定あんていした生活せいかつのために正社員せいしゃいんになりたい。

I want to become a permanent employee for a stable life.

Usage 正社員 is a regular, permanent full-time employee, with job security and benefits. 非正規 (ひせいき) covers all non-permanent workers.

Remember it 正 (proper, regular) + 社員 (employee) → a regular employee.

優秀ゆうしゅうな人材じんざいを育そだてることが会社かいしゃの課題かだいだ。

Developing talented people is a challenge for the company.

Usage 人材 = talent, human resources: 人材を育てる, 人材不足 (labor shortage), 人材派遣 (staffing). 人手 (ひとで) is simply manpower.

Remember it 人 (people) + 材 (material, timber) → people as the timber an organization is built from.

彼かれは営業えいぎょうで多おおくの実績じっせきを上あげてきた。

He has built up a strong track record in sales.

Usage 実績 is a proven track record: 実績がある, 実績を上げる / 積む, 過去の実績. 業績 is business results.

Remember it 実 (real) + 績 (achievement) → real achievements.

この仕事しごとの報酬ほうしゅうは一回いっかい一万円いちまんえんだ。

The fee for this job is 10,000 yen per session.

Usage 報酬 is payment or reward for work: 報酬を得る, 成功報酬 (payment on success), 役員報酬 (executive pay). 給料 is a regular salary.

Remember it 報 (to repay) + 酬 (to reward) → repaying and rewarding.

彼かれは上司じょうしに辞表じひょうを出だした。

He handed his letter of resignation to his boss.

Usage 辞表 is a formal letter of resignation: 辞表を出す / 提出する. For ordinary staff the document is often called 退職届 or 退職願.

Remember it 辞 (to resign) + 表 (a formal statement) → a formal statement of resignation.